We’re not looking for a concert hall, but a place where you can enjoy music while having a beer or a delicious goulash. From jazz to local music. 

Places with balance, which are not desolate without music and with it, they are not just any concert. 

Here is a list of places where music is as common and necessary as a good pint of ice-cold beer. 

Best Live Music Venues in Budapest

Opus Jazz Club

Mátyás u. 8, 1093 

We start this list with a real jazz club. Elegant, it displays great quality both on stage, with big European and Hungarian names in jazz music, and at the table. 

When the lights are dimmed, your senses are carried away by the high level of music that visits the place, but if, on the night you visit, there is no concert, you don’t have to worry, you can still enjoy a fantastic dinner. 

You will have a wide choice of dishes from all over the world, with innovative concepts and very well presented. 

A wide range of hot and cold dishes that can be accompanied by the best Hungarian wines. And don’t forget to order one of their delicious desserts. 

It is a place worth a visit, even if it is on the outskirts of the city. But apart from being a fantastic place, it is only a two-minute walk from the Central Market. 

Restaurant Halászbástya

Budapest Budai Vár, Halászbástya – Északi Híradástorony, 1014A 

Totally unique place, with soul, beauty and a great history behind it. We are talking about the Fisherman’s Bastion. And although this impressive castle and its interior restaurant may seem miles away from the city, it’s actually about a 12-minute walk from Buda Castle. 

The original structure was built between 1895 and 1902 to plans by architect Frigyes Schulek. Severely damaged during World War II, it was restored by the architect’s son, János Schulek. 

Its latest renovation project was completed in August 2010, and a month later the restaurant opened its doors. The establishment occupies more than 1,800 square metres. 

The restaurant’s cuisine is primarily based on traditional Hungarian food. It offers an innovative gourmet dining experience in a unique setting. The views you can enjoy while dining or simply sipping a glass of wine, of the Danube and the Parliament, are breathtaking. 

Is there anything that can improve this wonderful place? Yes, the music. Almost every evening you can enjoy live music from a small band playing typical Hungarian songs and some international tunes. Simply magical.

Doblo Wine Bar

Dob utca 20, 1072 

Located in the city centre and surrounded by bars of all kinds. This is how we find this place, with an interior reminiscent of a wine cellar with exposed brick walls, ceilings and vaults, which is a touch of tranquillity in the midst of so much noise. 

As its name suggests, its speciality is wine and it is a warm place with a homely feel where you can enjoy top quality wines from all over the country, from sparkling to prosecco, from Pálinka, the traditional Hungarian drink, to champagne.

The final touch of sophistication is provided by the improvised jazz music that the place enjoys. The sum of all these elements gives the place a soul of its own and creates a special and unique atmosphere. 

If you want to accompany your wine or cocktail with something to eat, we recommend you choose something to nibble and share, as the food menu is not very extensive or varied, although this does not mean that it is not of high quality. 

There are cold starters, such as homemade cheese and meat dishes. The pâté is another of the great dishes on offer and is the perfect accompaniment to an evening of wine. 

If, after finishing your wine, you decide it’s time to start a night of dancing and partying, you’re in the right place. In just 4 minutes on foot, you will reach the most famous and well-known ruin bar; Szimpla Kert.

Mazel Tov

Akácfa utca 47, 1072 

Without having to change district, in the middle of the Jewish one, we find our next stop on the list. As with the previous establishment, Szimpla Kert is just a few metres away. 

This establishment presents itself not as a bar or restaurant, but as a cultural club, and with good reason. Inside, urban gardens, music and Mediterranean and fusion cuisine come together.

Although the menu is extensive and well-balanced, as all dishes are of high quality and presentation, the absolute star of the place is the ambience. And this is achieved thanks to its gardens and music that invades the place but allows you to hold a conversation without raising your voice. 

There is a resident band that creates a pleasant backdrop with its melodic and acoustic music. Occasionally guest artists arrive, such as the recurring András Jász, and this makes the audience dance and sing along. 

The interior is stunning, with its green gallery and floral decoration. There are several places to enjoy food and company, such as the rooms decorated with exposed brick or the inner courtyard. Great space, good food, friendly service and fantastic music.

Budapest Jazz Club

Budapest, Hollán Ernő u. 7, 1136 

We come to the beating heart of Budapest’s Jazz music scene. This is where the best names in the business come together with the greatest up-and-coming talent. In the middle of that union you can be there, enjoying a drink or a great dinner. 

The space is divided into three different parts. On the one hand we have the space where the concerts take place, with a stage and tables of various heights so you can enjoy the music while having whatever you want. 

On the other side, there is a classic style café that will transport you to another era. This is usually the meeting point just before the concerts. And finally, there is a bistro where you can sample the best flavours of the local cuisine. 

With concerts almost every day, the popularity and importance of the venue is growing year after year and it has become an obligatory stop whether you are a jazz fan or not. 

Where can you enjoy it all? The club is located between the Margaret Bridge and the pinball museum, Flippermúzeum. Two great stops to visit before enjoying a night full of rhythm and warm atmosphere. 

Lámpás Student Pub

Dob u. 15, 1074

A few steps from the Great Synagogue of Budapest you will find this pub which, despite its name, does not focus on students. That may have been its original idea, but today it refers to the spirit of the place and the jovial atmosphere rather than the average age of the patrons. 

Its fantastic location in the city centre, low prices, ruin bar appearance and varied live music make this a bar to visit for a taste of Hungarian urban culture. 

In the basement you’ll find a wide variety of drinks, although we recommend the beer as a main course, and some simple starters to share. Here you’ll feel like you’re in a cosy and intimate place, full of décor that mixes artwork with typical ruin bar objects. 

Escape to this pub full of history and let the friendly staff recommend a great night of music and fun.

Jedermann Jazz Café

Ráday utca 58

Don’t be fooled by its front, this café hides great surprises inside. The modern exterior contrasts with a cosy interior where music and jazz are in the air. 

Next to the Petöfi Bridge, and a 10-minute walk from the Central Market, you’ll find this club, which is a meeting point during the day where you can have a coffee, admire the people passing by and enjoy the peace and quiet or good company. At night it transforms into a lively club where jazz is at the centre of everything. 

Its great nightlife scene is mainly made up of people from the music world, as well as local artists and students. To be here is to rub shoulders with music people who enjoy artists like the Dresch Quartet and Kristóf Darvas.

A great quality coffee, numerous drinks and great service complete the offer of this personal, intimate and vibrant club. Never before has a place combined the tranquillity of the day with the rhythm of the night so well. 

IF Jazz Café

Ráday utca 19, 1092 

We are still linked to jazz. This time we move to the Central Market area of Budapest, which is about a five-minute walk from the IF Jazz Café. On Ráday Street you will find many places where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the city. 

Its main attraction is the music, which is played daily from 7:30, and which brings together musicians, jazz lovers, and people who are just looking for a good time with family and friends over a beer or a good wine, both of which are specialities of the place. 

The café has a friendly service that will help you choose the perfect dish for you. Although its interior is simple, its strong point, when the weather permits, is the large terrace. It is also true that enjoying the best jazz in such a cosy interior has a special charm.