Szimpla Kert in Budapest named best bar in Europe

The European Bar Guide has released its annual ranking of the 100 best bars in Europe, prioritizing atmosphere, local culture, and social scene over luxury or glamour.

Szimpla Kert, a legendary ruin bar in Budapest, Hungary, secured the top position. Operating since 2002 in a former factory, the venue is noted for its eclectic, labyrinthine interior featuring graffiti, mismatched furniture, and repurposed objects like old cars.

Rounding out the top three are Retsins Lucifernum in Bruges, Belgium, which functions as a combination of a bar and a museum in a former Masonic villa, and La Fleur en Papier Doré in Brussels, Belgium.

Other notable mentions in the top five include Goupil Le Fol in Brussels and Zlatna Ribica in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The top ten list also features establishments from Cologne, Prague, Barcelona, and Liege.