Budapest’s old Jewish quarter is home to the rage of ‘ruin bars’ – old mechanical structures changed over to drinking joints. So what’s everything the object about? I went to discover.
Started in 2002, Szimpla Kert is the oldest and most iconic ruin bar
It had been an old factory that had become dilapidated
The genius idea was to renovate it by making everything a bit worse
Not that there isn’t any innovation
With things to look at
While you’re having a nice beer in the bath
And if you don’t like what you see
Change it – just bring something to draw with
There are some empty spaces left
There’s plenty of greenery
With the odd bicycle and pair of legs thrown in
You can also buy a candle of the prime minister, Victor Orban to burn
Victor Orban declared Hungary an illiberal state
But it looks like liberalism is flourishing here
So who drinks in this bar?
After a couple of trips and a chat with a bouncer
I learned that a big proportion of the visitors were tourists
Who can come and do what they like
And then go home
And tell their friends that Hungary is actually really cool
