Budapest | Ruin Bar, a Flower Bloomed from the Ruins

Eastern Europe Travelogue - Budapest, First Edition While strolling through Budapest, it’s hard not to be captivated by the ruin bars that everyone talks about. 🤔 The words “ruin” and “bar” seem like an unlikely pair, a stark contrast akin to coffee and Moutai. ☕️🥃 But since we have Luckin Moutai, having a ruin bar, especially one that has become an iconic landmark of Budapest, doesn’t seem so strange after all. 🤷‍♀️ Below is the story of Szimpla Kert, the first ruin bar, as gathered from the locals. This bar was born in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, a place you’re sure to pass through if you visit Budapest. 🏙️ Originally home to a large Jewish population, the Jewish Quarter became a ghetto, a designated area for the isolation of Jews by the Germans during World War II. 🏰 After the war, the area fell into decline, with abandoned and dilapidated buildings as far as the eye could see. 💀 As in any other corner of the world, urban wastelands often become fertile ground for artists. 🎨 Around the year 2000, four young people came up with a novel idea: to offer something different in a Budapest filled with cafes and restaurants. 🤩 Lacking funds, they chose a dilapidated building in the Jewish Quarter slated for demolition. 🏚️ They furnished it with second-hand furniture salvaged from attics and junkyards, and of course, added music. 🎸 These elements together formed Szimpla Kert (which I believe means “small garden” in Hungarian, please correct me if I’m wrong). 🌿 It sounded very underground. 🤫 However, things destined to be underground often emerge into the light, transforming into their opposites. 🌅 Szimpla Kert’s underground days were particularly short; it’s said that after only a few days, young people in Budapest were already spreading the word about this hidden gem, and its nights have been packed ever since. 🥳 Today, Szimpla Kert is a must-visit destination for every tourist coming to Budapest. 🗺️ The underground status may be gone, but the style remains. 😎 Let’s talk about the bar itself. It’s a two-story building, retaining its dilapidated exterior. 🏠 Inside, amidst layers of graffiti and worn-out furniture, within a green metal framework, there’s an impressive multi-story open-air plant area. 🌱🌳 It’s a splash of vibrant green amidst the devastation, much like the bar itself, a flower blooming from the ruins. 🌸 The interior furniture and decor (the aforementioned second-hand furniture) are refreshed every year, even every quarter. 🛋️ So, each visit offers a different experience. 🔄 On Saturdays, there’s a flea market; on Sundays, a farmers’ market; and once a month, there’s an art event. 🎨🎉 The bar is fluid, and so are the people. 🧑‍🚻 How could it be anything but a moving feast? 🍽️ If you come to Budapest, be sure to stop by for a visit. ✈️ It might not have the best drinks, but you’ll surely love the atmosphere (even if the neighbors might not). 👍 The next article will be about the Jewish Quarter, a place unique enough to give birth to Szimpla Kert. 🤰 #Travel # citywalk