Szimpla Kert, a sprawling "ruin bar" in Budapest, has been named the best bar in Europe, topping a new ranking of 100 venues compiled by the European Bar Guide. The list was reported by the Daily Mail.
The ranking spans the continent, taking in a large number of Belgian bars alongside venues in Prague, Germany and Romania, popular London spots and several bars in Edinburgh.
Budapest's Szimpla Kert takes first place
Szimpla Kert, located in the Hungarian capital, is already one of Budapest's biggest tourist attractions in its own right. The original ruin bar is built around a huge atrium with low-slung interiors and graffiti-covered walls, filled with tropical plants, repurposed old cars and corners to explore.
Every Sunday the venue hosts a farmers' market accompanied by folk music, art exhibitions and film screenings, where visitors can sample fresh produce and local delicacies.
Bruges and Brussels take the next three spots
Second place went to Retsins Lucifernum in Bruges, an unusual venue where guests are greeted by a "butler" who shows them around a mansion filled with gothic art and antiques before leading them to a bar and garden courtyard on the ground floor. The bar can limit numbers to 20 guests at a time, giving visitors a wild atmosphere in an intimate setting.
Third place went to La Fleur en Papier Dore in Brussels, a bar whose walls are covered in photographs and which was once a meeting spot for a group of surrealist artists. The bar guide described it as the labour of love of one man, Gerard Van Bruaene, who ran the pub so well that it became a meeting place for the painter Rene Magritte and the surrealist community. The venue also offers live music and beer.
Fourth place went to another Brussels bar, Goupil Le Fol. It has a plain exterior, but visitors pass through a windowless tunnel lined with a jukebox and other quirky decor before reaching a cosy, jazz-styled bar inside. Alongside Belgian beer, the bar is known for fruit wines infused with blackcurrant and cognac.
Sarajevo and Cologne round out the top six
Fifth place went to Zlatna Ribica, whose name translates as "Golden Fish", a colonial-style bar in the popular Bosnian and Herzegovinian tourist city of Sarajevo. It is packed with antiques, gadgets, goldfish aquariums and ornate lampshades.
The bar is easy to miss while walking through the city centre, which one enthusiastic customer said in a Google review was probably the biggest mistake anyone could make in Sarajevo. The reviewer wrote that it had rightfully become one of their favourite places in the world, adding that no visit to Sarajevo is complete without stopping there.
Sixth place went to Papa Joe's Jazzlokal in Cologne, a jazz and blues venue popular with locals and tourists alike. The guide described it as friendly, sociable and glittering, with stage-like seating and daily concerts that are tallied on a scoreboard outside the bar. Visitors will also find a cocktail machine, Roman ruins and dolls near the entrance.
Beer bars in Bruges and Barcelona's absinthe haunt
Seventh place went to another Bruges venue, t'Brugse Beertje, whose name translates as "the Little Bruges Bear". It is a cosy, intimate bar known for high-quality beer, though it can get crowded. The bar offers so many different beer varieties that choosing just one can prove difficult.
Eighth place went to Marsella in Barcelona, a bar with a 200-year history. Inside, visitors will find signage from the Francoist era, vintage decor and an old dance floor. Cracked paint and faded grandeur give it a look as though it has decayed over time, but with style. The bar is best known for its absinthe, though it also serves many less potent drinks.
Prague and Liege close out the top ten
Ninth place went to U Hrocha, a typical Czech pub in Prague known for its traditional atmosphere and good prices. One visitor said that if you are lucky, you can find a seat on the windowsill to enjoy a beer and the atmosphere of the traditional Czech beer hall. Most seats are reserved for local regulars, so visits need to be planned in advance.
Tenth place went to Le Pot Au Lait in Liege, a distinctive venue decorated with graffiti, plants and taxidermy on the walls. One review said that anyone who likes strange, unique decor and colourful lighting should visit, calling it one of the most unique and fun bars they had ever been to. The venue is large, with mostly outdoor seating, and drinks are ordered by visitors themselves from an extensive menu.
Affordable European cities for an autumn trip
Separately, as reported by UNIAN, a travel company compared more than 50 popular destinations and drew up a ranking of cities where accommodation, food, transport and entertainment together cost less than 100 euros per person per day. The study factored in the average cost of a stay in a three-star hotel, a meal at an inexpensive restaurant, a cup of coffee, a public transport pass and tickets to paid tourist attractions.
