1. A38 Boat, Budapest
    Fotó: Szabó Gábor for Time Out
  2. A38 Boat at night, Budapest
    Fotó: Szabó Gábor / Time Out Budapest
  3. A38 Boat at night, Budapest
    Photograph: Szabó Gábor for Time Out | A38 Boat at night, Budapest
  4. A38 Boat at night, Budapest
    Photograph: Szabó Gábor

A38

The best nightlife spot in Budapest ticks every kind of box, writes Peterjon Cresswell
  • Nightlife | Late-night bars
Peterjon Cresswell
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Time Out says

What is it?

Long established as the city’s hottest spot for dancing on deck, live bands down below and dining in between, the A38 sits in a converted Ukrainian cargo ship, ideal for a sundowner while admiring the skyline of Budapest. A key showcase for all major Hungarian bands and DJs. 

Is it worth it? 

If you’re here for the weekend, it’s a must, and far less tacky or clichéd than some (ahem) of the city’s ruin bars.

What are the prices like?

Admission prices vary according to the act programmed for that day but this shouldn’t be much more than £5-£7 – and shouldn’t sell out. Tickets are available through the website or, slightly pricier, on the night. It’s not particularly wheelchair accessible. 

Can I eat there? 

The A38 has its own bistro, open from 10am weekdays, 4pm Saturdays and closed on Sundays. The fixed menu ranges from venison ragout soup to New York steak, with plenty of vegetarian options. The weekday lunchtime specials at £7 for three courses are a steal. Alternative options can be found at the next bridge, around Gellért tér.

🪩 The best nightlife spots in Budapest
📍 The best things to do in Budapest

Details

Address
Petőfi híd
Budapest
1117

What’s on

Too Many Zooz

5 out of 5 stars
From subway buskers to major European tours, Manhattan’s Too Many Zoos have brought their own invented genre, brass house, to many diverse audiences. Next up is Budapest, and the A38, on July 2. A trio consisting of Leo Pellegrino of Lucky Chops fame, Matt ‘Doe’ Muirhead and David ‘King of Sludge’ Parks, the combo brings in jazz, funk, ethnic rhythms and house to create something irresistible and danceable. As well as blasted out on stages across Europe this summer, the results can be enjoyed on two studio albums, including the most recent, Retail Therapy.
  • Funk, soul and disco

Ásgeir

5 out of 5 stars
Releasing tunes on the One Little Independent label, renamed from One Little Indian and home of those groundbreaking Björk albums, Ásgeir rose to global fame with In the Silence, released in 2014. An exponent of a genre known as folktronica, the Icelandic Ásgeir is currently on a world tour, taking in New York, the Faroes and Budapest, backing his most recent release Julia. Here he performs with his own band as part of the MOL-New Europe Stage – Voices of Emerging Europe series.
  • Pop
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