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Budapest is famous for its ruin bars. They’re a “must visit” for any visitor. The most famous of them all, the most recommended is Szimpla Kert. In fact, it’s so famous that Lonely Planet has named it one of the top bars in the world.
Old apartment buildings and unused open spaces are reclaimed and transformed into trendy places for locals and tourists alike to drink cheaply. The bars are generally decorated with whatever furniture is found in the buildings resulting in a eccentric collection of furniture and artwork. This is where the name “ruin bar” comes from. Szimpla Kert was the first ruin bar in Budapest, settling into its home in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest’s seventh district in 2004. Since then, many more ruin bars have popped up around the city.
Many ruin bars have local bands provide music, and organize other events like film nights and art shows. But in the case of Szimpla Kert, every Sunday it houses a farmer’s market full of artisan jams and jellys, fresh produce and tasty meats and cheeses.
There was surprisingly a lot of people at the market. It was quite crowded the whole time I was there.
There was plenty to look at and to buy. From fresh produce to various meats and sausages, to cheese and breads.
Liver creme anyone? Surprisingly tasty. I really enjoyed this.
These are cheeses all with different flavours.
In general, everything was more expensive than what you would find at other markets.
But they all looked delicious. The Boy and I ended up walking out of there with a bunch of different sausages and meats, cheese and bread.
Smoked cheese – They’re like cheese strings in a circle.
The bar was fully functioning. There are plenty of non alcoholic options as well. Even though it technically is a bar, it operates like a cafe during the day (and evenings as well).
I have only ever been to Szimpla at night and visiting it during the day was an interesting experience. You can see even more clearly the fascinating collection of artwork and graffiti throughout the building. Things that you can’t see very well under the cover of darkness among all the people.
The Kert in the name literally means garden when translated into English. Accordingly, a large part of Szimpla is outside in the open air. In the summers there is no ceiling and it is rather liberating to be sitting in an open courtyard staring up in the night sky.
Ever wanted to have a drink in the backseat of an unused car?
There is a cover in the winter months. Want to go swing with a gnome?
For a unique experience, try going to during the day and on a Sunday to visit the Szimpla Kert Farmer’s Market. You’ll see the ruin bar in completely different light. For more photos from my visit, check out my Flickr page.
Szimpla Kert
1075 Budapest, Kazinczy utca 14
http://www.szimpla.hu/
https://www.facebook.com/SzimplaPiac
The farmer’s market is open every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm
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The Dessert Engineer says
February 23, 2014 at 1:23 AMThat place definitely has a lot of character. I would love to try the cheese, but I don’t think I’m brave enough to taste the liver creme.
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:19 PMI didn’t think I was brave enough to try the liver creme either, but it really wasn’t all that bad. Not to strong of liver flavor. It had other herbs and onions mixed into it too. Spread thinly onto some bread and its delicious.
A Southern Gypsy says
February 23, 2014 at 2:46 AMI love love love markets! They are a great way to get to know a place 🙂 Lovely photos too!
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:18 PMThanks Ashley! Hopefully you’ll make it to Budapest one day 🙂
Stacey Veikalas says
February 23, 2014 at 9:27 AMWow it looks like a lot of fun! I love the markets when traveling and living abroad! I always love to look for great food and cool items! What a fun and informative Post! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:18 PMMarkets are so cool and such an affordable way of eating when traveling around.
frankaboutcroatia says
February 23, 2014 at 11:04 AMI was really curious what are “ruin bars”, as I’ve heard that term few times, but never did an effort to find out more about it. Yay, you brought it right to me on #SundayTraveler. And I love them! Really cool places. Great photos, too.
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:17 PMThanks! If you’re ever in Budapest, its definitely worth a visit.
Caitlyn says
February 23, 2014 at 12:31 PMI love Szimpla Kert! I just hate the toilets there, you need a gas mask when you enter 😛 I’ve never been to the Farmer’s Market though, which looks like a nice thing to do on a weekend. I also love the Thai restaurant across the road – I think it’s the best Thai food I’ve had in Europe 🙂
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:17 PMOh gosh I agree! The bathrooms are terrible. I try to avoid them as much as possible. I use to live up the street and I would purposely go home just to use the toilet. And that Thai place is amazinggg. It was my Asian food fix while I was living there. Whenever I missed noodles or rice, that was my go to.
Travels with Curley says
February 23, 2014 at 4:35 PMThis looks like a great way for our family to still be able to experience the ruin bars (albeit in a different light) with two youngsters in tow! Love your pictures and the quirky atmosphere that captured.
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:15 PMYes! Exactly! Visiting in the day time is much more family friendly.
SJ @ Chasing the Donkey says
February 23, 2014 at 5:13 PMI am a sucker for markets of any kind and especially food ones! When we were there we picked up so much stuff, inc Vodka with paprika. I loved that! Super photos, I reckon a few of those would be sellable!
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:15 PMWhoa, vodka with paprika – sounds intriguing. Thanks Sarah-Jane! 🙂
Nancie Lee says
February 24, 2014 at 2:52 AMWhat a great place!! The photo of the cheeses made my mouth water. It would be wonderful to see day and night. I LOVE places with so much character! Thanks for sharing!!
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:13 PMThe cheese had an interesting texture. They look spreadable, but they actually aren’t! Nonetheless, they were tasty though. Szimpla is definitely a place with a lot of character!
Jess says
February 24, 2014 at 6:44 AMI’ve never heard of ruin bars, but now I love the idea. That looks way more entertaining then the normal, outdoor farmer’s markets I’m used to!
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:13 PMIt definitely is a unique concept. I haven’t found them anywhere else other than in Budapest.
Mary {The World Is A Book} says
February 24, 2014 at 7:24 AMWhat a cool place to have a farmer’s market. Some places are meant to be seen in daylight and at night and I’m glad you got to experience both. It’s such an interesting place and I love all the artwork. I love cheese and the variety here is amazing.
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:12 PMI can’t believe I didn’t go in the daytime the whole time I was living there, only at night. It’s a completely different experience.
Travis says
February 24, 2014 at 12:59 AMGreat post Adelina! The farmer’s market at Szimpla was one of the coolest things we saw while we were in Budapest. We tasted so many delicious things while we were there. Plus, the design and decoration is unlike anything else…thanks for sharing!
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:14 PMIt’s definitely one of the more interesting experiences. Such a juxtaposition between the fresh food and the weird surroundings.
Phoebe @Lou Messugo says
February 24, 2014 at 11:46 AMThese ruin bars are such an original concept, I love it! And I’m so excited as I’m hoping to get to Budapest in April so I’ll definitely check this place out. The market-in-a-bar idea really appeals.
Adelina says
February 24, 2014 at 8:11 PMApril is a great time to go to Budapest. I hope you get to check out Szimpla!
Ace CB @ Life in Dutch says
February 24, 2014 at 9:01 PMI love this idea of a “ruin bar” – everything about it seems cool and ecofriendly. Thanks for sharing!
Adelina says
February 25, 2014 at 1:52 AMI don’t know about ecofriendly, but it definitely has a cool and unique vibe to it.
Dave says
February 25, 2014 at 9:44 AMI’m pretty sure I went to this place not long after it opened (or a very similar ruin bar), so this post brought back nice memories. The cheese at the market look fabulous, especially the smoked cheeses.
Adelina says
February 25, 2014 at 5:42 PMThat smoked cheese is delicious. So good!
Marie @ Substance of Living says
February 25, 2014 at 4:26 PMI love markets and trying new foods. The ruin bar looks like a great place to hang out day or night.
Cheers,
Marie
Substance of Living
Adelina says
February 25, 2014 at 5:40 PMIt definitely is a cool place to check out and have a drink or two!
Samantha @mytanfeet says
February 25, 2014 at 8:52 PMGreat photos! I love farmers markets like this, too bad it’s more expensive but I’m sure the product is great!
Adelina says
February 28, 2014 at 9:12 PMCompared to a North American market it is pretty average, but for Budapest it was definitely on the higher side. Everything looks really yummy though!
Wandering Educators says
April 16, 2014 at 3:54 PMOh, those photos. It made me hungry!