Finally the season has arrived when we do not necessarily need a roof above our head and only the sky is the limit. Then let’s look around for a nice view and amiable atmosphere to enjoy the city life from above and let’s check the best rooftop bars out in Budapest. They are all within walking distance of each other.
In the fast beating heart of Budapest there are some rooms with a view in the Hotel Aria and on the top of the building a bar with incredible sight of the St. Stephan Basilica and its surrounding. There are 5 stars, but not on the sky they indicate the rank of Aria hotel and the prices, still it is not a bad deal to have a cocktail for about 10 EUR while sunbathing and enjoying this luxurious calm atmosphere. It is open all year around with a glass covered terrace offering business lunch menu and a bar menu after 5 pm. The place is dog friendly.
On the top of a very imposing building in the very center of the elegant tourist area St. Andrea bar and restaurant is welcoming those who want to stimulate their taste buds and please their eyes at the same time. It is not a place for a casual evening it is rather an event with a dress code and having a gourmet experience with an incredible choices of drinks and the right meal creation with it. St. Andrea Wine and sky bar is among the top 5 cocktail bars in Budapest according to the Dining guide and the food is made by the chef of the year. They are open all year around (except on Sundays). Next to the open terraces there is a closed glass hall in the middle of the restaurant with a minimal architecture in order not to interfere with the great view of the most beautiful parts of Budapest. Your credit card should be “fat”: One glass of wine starts at 5 EUR and the cocktails about 12, but they really prefer quality over quantity.
Another hotel terrace looking at different angle of the St. Stephan Basilica and having a total 360 degree view of the area is also located in the business district, few blocks away from the Aria Hotel. Sitting on your chair you can see the top of the treasury building decorated with Zsolnay porcelain, the towers of the Parliament, the Buda Castle and some hills on the other side of the Danube. Everybody is welcome on the 8th floor, not only the hotel guests. Hotel President is a bit more pocket friendly with only 4 starts: a hamburger costs about 15 EUR and they have also a business lunch menu. The former helicopter landing ground became a super rooftop restaurant with its 300m2 space in summer and it function as an ice terrace with its skating rink made by “fake ice” in the winter.
It lives up to our expectation concerning its name, because it is on the top of the highest building on Andrassy street, the fanciest avenue in Budapest offering a sky tour by walking around the bar. You can’t find it easily. It does not have any flashy advertisements on the street. You have to look for the side entrance of the unique Parisian Department Store built in a late secessionist style which is unfortunately closed at the moment. It is a meeting place for the local urban crowd as well. There is no dress code, come as you are and everything is very affordable. It is like having a barbeque party with lemonades and cocktails and later in the afternoon with a DJ in the background. In winter 8 transparent heated foil igloos (Eskimo ice home) comfort you against the cold and all of them are furnished in different style.
