What is Szimpla Kert in Budapest?

Szimpla Kert (meaning 'Simple Garden') is Budapest's original ruin bar, located at Kazinczy utca 14 in the 7th District Jewish Quarter. Opened in 2004 in a derelict apartment building, it became the template for the ruin bar genre. It holds multiple indoor and outdoor bars, eclectic salvaged decor, live music, film screenings, and a Sunday farmers market.

Is Szimpla Kert touristy?

Yes. Szimpla Kert is one of Budapest's most-visited tourist attractions. Expect an international crowd, especially Thursday through Saturday nights. Prices are higher than local bars. Locals still visit, particularly for the Sunday market and during off-peak hours.

Is Szimpla Kert cash only?

No. Szimpla Kert accepts both cash (Hungarian Forint preferred) and major credit cards. Some internal bars within the venue may operate cash only. Prices are listed in HUF; EUR is generally accepted but at unfavourable exchange rates.

How many floors does Szimpla Kert have?

Szimpla Kert occupies a multi-storey building with a large ground-floor area, an open central courtyard, and an upper floor. The exact layout varies because it was built in a converted residential building. Most visitors move between the ground floor bars, the courtyard, and the upper-floor seating areas.

What are the opening hours of Szimpla Kert?

Szimpla Kert is open Monday through Friday from 15:00 until 04:00, Saturday from 12:00 until 04:00, and Sunday from 09:00. On Sundays, the Szimpla Háztáji Piac farmers market runs from 09:00 to approximately 14:00, after which the venue operates as a bar until 04:00. Hours may change on Hungarian public holidays.

How much does it cost to get into Szimpla Kert?

Entry to Szimpla Kert is free. There is no cover charge. A refundable glass deposit of 500 HUF is charged when you order a drink.

What is the Szimpla Sunday market?

The Szimpla Háztáji Piac is a weekly farmers and artisan market held every Sunday from approximately 09:00 to 14:00 in the Szimpla Kert courtyard. Vendors sell local produce, cheese, honey, bread, and handmade goods. A portion of proceeds goes to charity. It operates independently of the bar's nighttime atmosphere.

Szimpla Kert, Budapest

Prices, hours, and practical information for Budapest's most visited ruin bar. Verified sources. No affiliate links.

Address: Kazinczy utca 14, 1075 Budapest, Hungary

District: VII (Erzsébetváros / Jewish Quarter)

Nearest station: Astoria (M2), 4 min walk. Deák Ferenc tér (M1/M2/M3), 8 min walk.

Tram: 47 or 49 to Astoria, then walk north on Károly körút.

Opening hours

Szimpla Kert has 9 internal bars with different schedules. The building opens at 3pm on weekdays, noon on Saturdays, and closes at 4am.

Monday: 15:00 - 04:00

Tuesday: 15:00 - 04:00

Wednesday: 15:00 - 04:00

Thursday: 15:00 - 04:00

Friday: 15:00 - 04:00

Saturday: 12:00 - 04:00

Sunday: 09:00 - 04:00

Prices

Prices from Szimpla's menu (photographed 2023). Szimpla is a major tourist bar. Expect tourist-zone pricing.

Practical info

Entry: Free on most nights. Some special events carry a cover charge.

Payment: Card accepted at most bars. The wine bar and shisha bar are cash only. There is an ATM on site, but it charges a €5 fee. Bring HUF with you.

Queue: Monday to Wednesday: no queue. Thursday to Saturday after 9pm: 20–30 minute wait. Arrive before 7pm to skip it. Late nights (after 11pm) may hit a capacity cap.

Reservations: No table reservations. Walk-in only. For groups of 20+, the Szimpla Szalon (private room, first floor) can be booked at least 8 days in advance. Contact: szalon@szimpla.hu.

Safety: Dealers are active outside the entrance. Reports of spiked drinks at night. Do not leave bags or drinks unattended. Standard city awareness applies: go in groups after dark.

Toilets: Consistently described as bad by visitors. Set expectations accordingly.

Dress code: None. Wear sneakers. The floors are uneven.

Cloakroom: No cloakroom mentioned in any source. Dress in layers. Indoor areas can be cold.

Smoking: Smoking in outdoor areas (courtyard). Shisha bar indoors. No official policy found.

Age policy: No official age policy found. ID checked at the door during peak hours. Kids welcome during the day and at the Sunday market.

Szimpla Cards: Skip-the-line cards: 10,000 / 20,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 HUF. Must be purchased before 7pm. There is also a pre-bought wristband that includes one drink.

Closed dates: December 24, 25, 26, and 31.

What it's like

The building is an abandoned 1800s factory that was scheduled for demolition. From outside, it looks derelict. There is no sign.

Inside is a different story.

Sunday Farmers' Market

Sundays, 9am to 2pm

Sources

This page compiles information from 15+ sources. We mark confidence levels on data points and tell you when we are unsure.