A Guide To Budapest’s Jazz Scene

From smoky speakeasies to intimate clubs, we reveal the best venues to savour the sounds of live jazz in Budapest

From dimly lit bars to atmospheric burger joints, Budapest pulses with the sultry beats of jazz. The Hungarian capital has had a centuries-long love affair with the genre that shows no sign of letting up. Here we explore the humble beginnings of jazz in Budapest along with the finest places to catch its smooth sounds every night of the week.

The Birth Of Cool

The Budapest jazz explosion officially began in the 1940s, but it was during WWI when a blanket closure of New Orleans bars and watering holes promoted a mass exodus of down-on-their-luck musicians to seek their fortunes in Europe. Many descended upon Budapest—to be more precise, the basement bar of the Hotel Astoria. During the 1940s this joint was an incubator for Budapest’s burgeoning jazz scene, where the city’s own gypsy musicians jammed alongside American artists. Thus, the city fell for jazz’s laid-back beats.

Best For Classic Jazz

Jazz aficionados should make a beeline for Budapest Jazz Club, easily the city’s finest destination for the biggest international and local stars. Open six days a week, the intimate hangout presents performances from jazz icons such as James Carter and Terence Blanchard, often followed by free jam sessions for the public. There’s a smart bistro attached to Budapest Jazz Club, perfect for a pre-concert dinner.

Best For Contemporary Sounds

Having opened its doors in 2013, Opus Jazz Club may be a newcomer to the scene, but its incredible acoustics and pioneering programme of emerging talent make it an essential jazz venue in Budapest. Marvel at the skill of leading pianist Károly Gáspárs as he tinkles the ivories or tap along to the gear-shifting folk-funk of local trio, Jinja. Follow the locals’ lead and tuck into a gourmet burger—as well as smooth sounds, Opus Jazz Club serves up the most lavish beef patty in town, created from Angus sirloin.