Szimpla kert

Four guys wanted to make a place for themselves where you can be who you are and anyone can turn up at any time. Their first place was basically just an open court-yard with crumbling walls around and no advertisements. That was enough for a new trend to appear in Budapest’s nightlife and find a bigger building with similar setting to start a carrier in the pleasure grounds of the Western world. To offer something unique for the constantly hungry crowd is to see a potential where others don’t. Thus a new genre was born: ruin pub. The idea of converting a hopeless place into a popular night spot inspired a wave of other ruin pubs to pop up in the area, today maybe there are 30 of them and Szimpla kert has became an icon.

The final Szimpla Kert opened at 14 Kazinczy street just few blocks away from the first one in the Jewish district, where many old and dilapidated houses were standing waiting for decay and disappearance in the unknown. This one flour building was a factory and later a living quarter with the typical ambulatory looking down at the inner court-yard: the perfect ruin for the original idea.

Everything started gradually with one bar and an open-air court-yard in the back developing into almost a labyrinth with the many different style of rooms up- and down. The furniture and the interior design which looks like a flea market with a collection bric-a-brac is put together by one of the owner who is also an artist and never stops developing it. And one feels the heart behind all arrangements and events which take place in this science fiction movie scene like atmosphere, when the people had to hide because the robots took the over to control the Earth.

One can wonder around for a long time to discover the different stations and bars of this underground experience or just have a relatively cheap drink and food in one of the island and inhale the vibes generated by the constantly moving crowd. Just to mention some, there is a shisha room, a cocktail bar, a wine bar, a lab bar where the beer called “ The Mad Scientist” is served by the bar tenders in lab coats, a saloon hosting monthly changing exhibitions with the proper art opening and a concert, and also an art corner where you can gratify your passion about drawing if it is necessary with the help of the Hungarian fire water (snaps).
It is still a community place coming up with different kind of new missions for the area and its people like the farmers’ market they host every Sunday from 9-2 am connecting shopping homegrown products and having an elegant brunch in the Saloon. Once a week they present an open stage with those who registered before the session in order to protect the openness of the audience and get rid of the trolls. Dog lovers are also welcome and they get a day, too to hang around with their favorite four legs and a beer.

Most visitors are tourists at night, but during the day come the regulars, the resident senior citizens. Due to the popularity of Szimpla kert and its escalating prices the tumble-down local pubs had to close and compensating their forsaken members they get a discount, last century price.
It is a pioneer and iconic place for freedom lovers, hipsters and for you getting the best taste of a ruin pub.

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+36 (20) 261 8669