The best wine bars in Budapest

What is it? At one end of Budapest’s main shopping street of Váci utca, St Andrea was founded by the winery of the same name in Egerszalók and has the drinks list you’d expect from a leading producer. An extensive champagne selection is accompanied by excellent Hungarian varieties from local grapes such as Kadarka and Kékfrankos.

Why we love it Because you can explore the wealth of Hungarian wine while watching the sun set over the capital – there's a whole directory of Bull's Blood options, for example, for which Eger is best known.

Time Out tip: Cocktails are another speciality here – Ruthless Seduction features a St Andrea red, along with Patrón Silver tequila, Campari and Aztec chocolate.

Address: Deák Ferenc utca 5/Váci utca 1, 1052 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 3pm-midnight

Expect to pay: Glass of St Andrea white Mária Egri Cuvée Grand Superior Ft 6,000 (€15). Glass of Dremus Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszú Ft 4,600 (€13.50). Ruthless Seduction cocktail Ft 5,400 (€13.70)

What is it? Anchoring a busy corner of Budapest’s bar zone since 2011, Kadarka contrasts with the tourist traps and booze lagoons surrounding it. A knowledgeable love of wine and wine culture shines through, thanks to the enthusiastic founder who ditched a career serving other masters at major restaurants in town to strike out on his own. A few wine courses later, having found the perfect site, he set up Kadarka and hasn’t looked back.

Why we love it Its pavement terrace a hub of lively conversation and discerning consumption, Kadarka appeals to the post-work crowd and more sensible visiting couples without being staid. This is where grown-ups gather to chat, sip, nibble, even dine, and discover the full range of Hungarian and regional wines.

Time Out tip: Here, some 100 bottles are open at any one time, and all labels are available in small measures for sampling. For a couple of euros or so, you can investigate a handful of little-known Hungarian varieties before taking the plunge and opting for a proper glass or bottle. Don’t be afraid to try the natural wines and don’t miss out on the fresh salads or sharing platters, either.

Address: Király utca 42, 1061 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 4pm-midnight

Expect to pay: Toronyi Kadarka (Szekszárd red) glass/bottle Ft 1,890/7,690 (€4.80/€19.50). Nyolcas Leányka (Eger white) glass/bottle Ft 1,490/Ft 5,790 (€3.80/€14.70). Kadarka platter for two Ft 7,590 (€19)

What is it? Bookending the Dob utca end of tourist-packed Gozsdu Udvar, Dobló has long been a favourite of oenophiles. Its bare-brick interior contains low-lit niches for couples to canoodle over a vast wine selection, all available by the bottle, glass or tasting sample.

Why we love it While knowing Hungarian wines from Zala to the Mátra, exploring Balaton, Villány and Eger on the way, the dedicated team behind Dobló gently encourage you to have a good time. Solid advice on a Szekszárd red or a Pannonhalma rosé is given without anything being forced upon you – raise a glass, you’re here to relax. The platters of sought-after cold cuts and cheeses are another delight.

Time Out tip: From midweek onwards, it’s worth booking a table – ask about the regular live jazz sessions, too, either to take in the show or sit away from the combo.

Address: Dob utca 20, 1072 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Thur 4pm-1am, Fri-Sat 2pm-3am, Sun 2pm-1am

Expect to pay: Böjt Egri Bikavér Superior glass/bottle Ft 5,790/22,980 (€14.70/€58.30). Cseri Irsai Olivér (Pannonhalma white) glass/bottle Ft 2,290/Ft 8,980 (€5.80/€22.80). Tasty meat platter (for 1-2 people) Ft 12,880 (€32.70)

What is it? A wine bar in bare-brick, bohemian garb, Cintányéros occupies an end-of-row building in an unsung part of District VIII behind the Corvin mall complex. Fun and informal, it attracts musicians, artists and unpretentious oenophiles.

Why we love it Anyone who wishes to sample Hungarian wine, particularly from around Lake Balaton, and do so affordably, should be happy with a visit here. Staff are lovely and informative – by all means let them advise.

Time Out tip: During the week, get here late afternoon if you want to beat the after-work crowd to a pavement table. While the view isn’t picturesque, it is photogenic – those bullet holes pockmarking the building façade are either from World War II or the 1956 Uprising, when the fiercest fighting took place in these very streets.

Address: Bókay János utca 52, 1083 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-midnight. Closed Sun

Expect to pay: House Szekszárd red cuvée Ft 810 (€2.05) per dl. Baráth Sándor Juhfark (natural white wine from Balaton) glass/bottle Ft 2,280 (€5.80) per dl/Ft 14,860 (€37.70). Mangalica pork pâté on sourdough bread Ft 3,750 (€9.50)

What is it? Born out of the Junibor initiative in 2008, one created by young winemakers, most notably the offspring of famous wine dynasties, DiVino still works from a Hungarian-only selection – and still basks in a prominent location directly facing the Basilica across Szent István tér.

Why we love it With DJ sets three nights a week, DiVino has long been a lively mainstay for stylish locals to let their hair down once the working day is done. Alternatively, its terrace is just a nice place to plot up and watch crocodiles of tourists congregate towards the Basilica.

Time Out tip: Wine tastings and winemaker presentations are a regular feature here – most are English-friendly to a certain extent. Check the website for details.

Address: Szent István tér 3, 1051 Budapest

Opening hours: Sun-Wed 4pm-midnight, Thur-Sat noon-2am

Expect to pay: Gere Andi Fekete Járdovány (red from Villány) glass/bottle Ft 3,500 (€8.90)/Ft 15,500 (€39.30). Bolyki Jani (Sauvignon Blanc, Eger) glass/bottle Ft 2,000 (€5)/Ft 9,000 (€23). Zsirai Kata Tokaji Aszú glass/half-litre bottle per dl Ft 5,900 (€15)/Ft 26,500 (€67.25)

What is it? An achingly trendy spot in a former laundry right in the heart of town, Cabrio is essentially modern European bistro and a showcase for the finest natural wines from Hungary, Austria, Germany and France.

Why we love it In any another European metropolis, this kind of place would be up itself, but here in this quiet corner of Budapest, at the end of an atmospheric street of artisanal boutiques, it works. Order a natural wine to go with a few small plates, enjoy the birdsong on the terrace and let the world go by.

Time Out tip: Between March and October, on busy Friday evenings or Saturdays, book a table outside for the complete Cabrio experience.

Address: Vitkovics Mihály utca 3-5, 1052 Budapest

Opening hours: Wed-Fri 5pm-11pm. Sat noon-11pm. Closed Sun-Tue

Expect to pay: Barnag Kékfrankos (natural red wine from Balaton) glass/bottle Ft 1,900 (€4.80)/Ft 11,000 (€28). Horst Hummel Bumblebee (natural white wine from Villány) glass/bottle Ft 1,790 (€4.50)/Ft 9,900 (€25). Tomcsányi Pét-Nat from Balaton bottle Ft 13,000 (€33)

What is it? This expat-run spot in the theatre quarter is best known for hosting its popular interactive Wine Mafia nights of blind tastings and sensory challenges. With live music on Saturdays and regular wine-centric events, Bortodoor is as much a fixture on the social calendar as a straight-up wine bar – although it operates as that as well for most of the week.

Why we love it Extremely welcoming to international guests, Bortodoor feels like a home-from-home for visiting oenophiles, and has long built up relationships with Hungarian winemakers to offer the most interesting labels on the market today. Explanatory soundbites in English ensure that the wine list is immediately accessible.

Time Out tip: Bor- (‘Wine’) -todoor was originally conceived as a delivery service, but is also well-versed in catering to private events and major functions.

Address: Zichy Jenő utca 32, 1066 Budapest

Opening hours: Tue-Thur & Sun 5pm-midnight. Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. Closed Mon

Expect to pay: Sauska Cuvée (Villány red) glass/bottle Ft 3,800 (€9.65)/Ft 18,000 (€45.70). Gilvesy Rajnai Rizling (Balaton white) glass/bottle Ft 2,800 (€7)/Ft 13,000 (€33). Nádas Blanc de Blanc (sparkling white from Etyek) bottle Ft 13,000 (€33)

What is it? At the gateway to trendy, gallery-lined Bartók Béla út, Palack sits across from the Gellért Hotel, currently under reconstruction. It’s a pleasant, pedestrianised spot, with a view of the Danube and Liberty Bridge from the terrace, interrupted by the regular passing appearance of old-school yellow trams heading over the river.

Why we love it It may attract a younger, urban crowd but Palack takes its wines very seriously – hence the house variety cultivated over several years at Balatonszőlős on the sun-catching slopes near the lake. These whites and rosés share shelf space with a deftly chosen selection from across Hungary, with all the major wine regions represented. Don’t be shy to ask for recommendations.

Time Out tip: Palack shares the same building as the Proféta Gallery, a showcase for contemporary artists staging a dozen exhibitions a year.

Address: Szent Gellért tér 3, 1114 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Tue noon-11pm, Wed-Sat noon-midnight. Sun noon-10pm

Expect to pay: Soltész Pajados Bikavér (Eger red) glass/bottle Ft 2,300 (€5.80)/Ft 11,500 (€29). Palack Olaszrizling (Balaton white) glass/bottle Ft 1,600 (€4)/Ft 8,000 (€20). Cheese selection with own-made sourdough bread Ft 3,990 (€10)

What is it? In business since 2010, this wine shop-cum-wine bar sits by Margaret Bridge, near a hub of auction houses and antiquarians. Refined rather than raucous, it attracts serious wine buffs.

Why we love it Sitting in the dark-wood interior completely surrounded by bottles of varied provenance, you sense the depth of knowledge and reverence here, as if walking into a library of rare editions.

Time Out tip: The selection changes daily, literally, so see what’s chalked up on the board behind the server. If it’s a nice afternoon, ask for a recommendation, and take a bottle and some tapas to Margaret Island a short walk or one tram stop away.

Address: Balassi Bálint utca 27, 1055 Budapest

Opening hours: Bar Wed-Sat 5pm-midnight. Shop Mon-Tue 9am-7pm, Wed-Sat 11am-midnight

Expect to pay: Wines/prices change daily, sample example Balla Géza Kadarka (red from Arad, Romania) Ft 1,490 (€3.80) per dl. Pálffy Olivin Furmint (white from Köveskál, Balaton) Ft 1,390/€3.55 per dl

What is it? A classy slice of Italy near busy Kálvin tér, recently opened TERRA operates as both boutique and bar, offering the finest reds, whites, cold cuts and cheeses to a discerning clientele pleased to have found another worthy addition to Budapest’s authentically Italian eateries and trattorias.

Why we love it TERRA could easily charge far more for what it serves and the stylish surroundings it envelops you in. This is an exclusive experience – just look at the labels around you – yet you can wine and dine affordably.

Time Out tip: Check out Franciacorta, a particular sparkling wine from specific hills near Brescia using traditional methods going back centuries. You can sample one of the five varieties here by the glass.

Address: Erkel utca 18, 1092 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 8am-10pm

Expect to pay: Poderi Colla Langhe Pinot Nero (red) glass/bottle Ft 2,500 (€6.35)/Ft 11,000 (€28). Tenuta Terre Nere Etna Bianco (white) Ft 2,600 (€6.60)/Ft 12,000 (€30.45). Tenuta Ambrosini Batudé Brut (sparkling Franciacorta DOCG) glass/bottle Ft 3,300 (€8.40)/Ft 15,000 (€38)

What is it? A family-run coffee and wine bar by Millenáris Park in Buda, Szalonspicc of 2012 vintage was an early pioneer in this field, from an era when quality wine bars were a rare find in town. Like the initial outlet it sprang from up in the Buda hills, it carries an international selection with a particular focus on bubbles, champagnes, cavas, proseccos and sparkling wines.

Why we love it Set on a leafy, mainly pedestrianised street, unpretentious Szalonspicc gives a flavour of verdant Buda beyond without having to clamber aboard a bus and then back again. In chillier weather, the interior feels cosy and lived-in, a place where many have imbibed and conversed.

Time Out tip: On a late sunny afternoon, if you’ve been shopping at the Mammut mall or strolled down this way from Buda Castle, pull up a chair in the natural shade of the terrace, order a crisp white from Lake Balaton and forget about the world for half-an-hour.

Address: Lövőház utca 17, 1024 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 3pm-11pm, Thur-Sat 3pm-midnight. Closed Sun

Expect to pay: Kovács Nimród Syrah (Eger red) glass/bottle Ft 2,500/Ft 11,900 (€6.35/€30.20). Jásdi Olaszrizling (white from Csopak, Balaton) glass/bottle Ft 1,250/Ft 8,900 (€3.20/€22.60). Hungarian platter Ft 3,750 (€9.50)

What is it? A marriage of sheer indulgence. The ‘Wonka’ in vinoWonka refers to chocolate, which shares the spotlight here by the Corvin Plaza mall with wine. If this puts you off, don’t be shy – staff know their stuff and the 40-50 Hungarian wines on offer have been expertly curated.

Why we love it This is a rare place where you can keep all members of the family happy, vinoWonka can serve you a fine red from Eger at the same time as a delicious warming drink made from artisanal chocolate. They have toasted sandwiches, too.

Time Out tip: If it’s a balmy weekend evening, to avoid being turned away, book a table on the terrace.

Address: Corvin sétány 2, 1082 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 4pm-10pm

Expect to pay: Tóth Kadarka (Eger red) glass/bottle Ft 690 (€1.75) per dl/Ft 4,800 (€12.20). Haraszthy Irsai Olivér (Etyek white) glass/bottle Ft 520 (€1.30) per dl/Ft 3,590 (€9.10). Szászi Gyöngyözőbor (Balaton sparkling white) glass/bottle Ft 430 (€1.10) per dl/Ft 2,990 (€7.60)

What is it? Once an idiosyncratic restaurant on the Danube embankment, ‘Cheetah & Spaceship’ re-emerged as a wine bar in the student quarter behind ELTE University, where it successfully relies more on regulars and word-of-mouth recommendations than footfall.

Why we love it Opening from midweek, Cheetah feels buzzy, the funky décor and select, upbeat soundtrack setting the tone, while friendly, knowledgeable staff and affordable prices encourage a longer linger.

Time Out tip: The selection isn’t huge – flip the wine list over for international labels – but what there is has been carefully curated and is adjusted every few months. It’s also a shop, so pop in, try a glass and take home whatever takes your fancy.

Address: Szerb utca 15, 1056 Budapest

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 5pm-11pm. Closed Mon-Tue

Expect to pay: Tüske Pince Kadarka (Szekszárd red) glass/bottle Ft 1,300 per dl/Ft 8,900 (€3.30/€22.60). Váli Budai Zöld (Badacsony white) glass/bottle Ft 1,500 per dl/Ft 10,500 (€3.80/€26.70). Chorizo in red wine Ft 2,860 (€7.25)