The Buda walking street, the pub life of Lövőház street
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
Table of Contents
GYöNGY ESPRESSO: "this is somewhat a Jamaican place"
SHAKESBEER – a different experience day and night
THE HENDRINX BAR – one of Europe's smallest great pubs
NA, THIS IS IT! BAVARIAN BEER SHOP
SANUR BAR & TERRACE – a good option for an early start
COOLTOUR BAR 3 – my ideal gastropub in the golden middle
SZALONSPICC COFFEE AND WINE BAR
The Lövőház Street Experience
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
Who doesn't know Lövőház street? You know, it’s when you get off Budán from the 4-6 tram, right before the Széll Kálmán "Moscow" square terminus and head (not in any other sense) between the two Mammoth malls. You leave behind the mammoth statue hanging over the sidewalk and the Fény street market. You follow the houses that embrace the distant horizon of Buda's green hills, and with the opening of Millenáris park in line it suddenly opens up this small not overly long, compactly magical strolling street section, with all its "fine little things."
Here you can explore in a wonderfully pleasant environment and it's worth it to pay attention to the details, both in the reliefs of the houses and in the individual shops.
Although the present of Lövőház street speaks for itself, I like to introduce the past of today's popular locations, especially with such a loud name, so at the end of this article, after I finish presenting the pubs, there will be historical tidbits about Lövőház street as well.
IMPORTANT: this article focuses specifically on theLövőház street strolling section, but the street continues longer in both directions, with more and even more valuable spots.
IMPORTANT 2: The street images (and even some pub images) come from various years, not just from the 2025 exploration, as I was already a regular visitor of Lövőház street before that.
The pub life of Lövőház Street in Budapest
To begin with, it is true that even as someone prepared with knowledge of Lövőház street, I never had in my head that this street would be so good for pub logistics. However, after my (more than) seven trials in February-March 2025, I think of it firmly and with a smile now. I knew the list of places and was somewhat familiar with them, but it was worth going deeper into their offerings and atmosphere and appreciating them even more through positive experiences.
The varied individual units themselves can be highlighted with several items. There are many examples, from the wine treasury through the Bavarian beer establishment and the spirit bar to the high-quality all-rounder, but together they especially painted a nice picture by the end. Importantly, while the overall high standard typically prevailed, there was also a notable directness everywhere, especially alongside the upper-middle price range.
Let's assume that a foreigner could pub crawl in Hungary only here. From the viewpoint of the Lövőház street segment, you could infer from the bar shelves here that the drink selection is superb everywhere in the country.
I have noted several beautiful Hungarian examples of cultured yet liberated female pub-going here (both middle-aged and older, let’s say well-situated women are sitting two by two for an alcoholic beverage, whether it’s mulled wine or beer. These characters are far removed from the female forms of the eternal socialist pub concept and pub imagery. Lövőház street perfectly completes what is perhaps still a lacking pub variety compared to all other European countries.
It was invigorating to pub crawl on Lövőház street, getting to know the individual places better. I consider this little strolling street section and its 2025 octet a great example of Buda, of the capital, and of Hungary.
I thank my dear co-pub crawlers for discovering Lövőház street with me, contributing not only their drinks and meals but even their observations, in gender and then alphabetic order: Ági, Panni, Rita, Szandi, Csabi, Jeti, Patrik, Zopán.
Let’s start the presentations at the further end of the strolling section since the more pub-like units are concentrated there.
GYÖNGY ESPRESSO: "This is somewhat a Jamaican place"
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
Gyöngy Espresso is a true gem of the street and all of Budapest. Previously, it even featured in my collection of Budapese retro pubs, as a representative of the rarer elegant side. Since then it has hit the restart button and the offering is no longer retro but rather progressively, multifacetedly contemporary, even futuristic, yet thankfully maintaining the beautiful, classic café style.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
SHAKESBEER: a different experience day and night
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
Shakesbeer was, according to my previous memories, a funny-named, but quite retro pub on the street, but it has been nicely renovated for 2025 and (importantly!) really nicely! At least the street-facing room has been completed with a tasteful and impactful elegance. It gained charm with the antique cabinet, ambient lighting, and the stunning black-and-white imagery of the scattered house. As a result, it is now not just a place with an understandable name, but a place with a meaningful community.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
THE HENDRINX BAR - one of Europe's smallest great pubs
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
I would gladly return to its former 800th consecutive pub tour stop. The interior microcosm is not easily matched in size by many European pubs. Its peak season is during terrace weather because the outdoor section is appropriately spacious for the street. Inside, however, there aren't any large tables, only side stools. The bottom line is that although it is small, it is immensely great.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
NA, THIS IS IT! BAVARIAN BEER SHOP AND TAVERN
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
Na, this is it! is a locally brewed beer and food-loving Bavarian beer shop and one of the youngest newcomers on Lövőház street. With its beergarden terrace it represents a rare sight not just on Lövőház street, but in similar streets as well.
In its relatively new phase of 2023 and also in 2025 I tried it with several companions and we always felt very good here and both times we met with Ancsá at the counter.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
SANUR BAR & TERRACE - a good option for an early start
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
Sanur became my oasis when I started my (re)discovery of Lövőház street on a Saturday noon in February 2025. First, I surveyed the area to see what had changed, and I happily noted that as far as I know, everyone was still there. When I looked for a place to sit down first, I was at a loss. Most were still closed, but there was already a big party at Sanur. As it turned out, it was a very cheerful reunion of former students from a French school and their former classmates, civilized with spritz and beer, and by the afternoon they already set a table. They interacted with me regarding my Kocsmaturista shirt.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
COOLTOUR BAR 3 - my ideal gastropub in the golden middle
Photo: kocsmaturista.hu
One of the most colorful, largest, and bustling during peak hours terraces is Cooltour Bar 3, also known as CTB 3 gastropub boasts. I made yet another return visit here at the turning point of 2025, and this time it was threefold. They have somewhat renovated since I last visited, which is always a dicey story, but it doesn't look bad, although I preferred the previous state. The most important thing is that the change does not detract from its exemplary nature.
Cooltour Bar carries the 3 suffix because there were previously several in Pest and Buda, but now only two remain. As a long-term pub crawler, I visited four, but I always considered the one on Lövőház street my favorite.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
SZALONSPICC COFFEE AND WINE BAR
Do you think they go overboard with the witty names of the pubs related to drinking on Lövőház street? I think you cannot exaggerate with cute names. After Shakesbeer and Hendrix, here is Szalonspicc, a mainly modern wine bar, somewhat a wine shop, and still relevant choices for any other related uses (for beer, cocktails, and snack).
You can come to Szalonspicc to drink something that is unavailable or only rarely found elsewhere: to start, their own branded wine, a divine Egri Bull's Blood, which is supported by Nimród Kovács. Literally I was left speechless by it. The picture showcases a reconstruction of an unforgettable experience. Although I am not a Bull's Blood fan, I am even less of a red wine fan.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.
BOHÉM 16 BISTRO & LOUNGE
Bohém 16 Bistro & Lounge at the very end of the strolling section of Lövőház street is not only “geographically” a borderline case in the collection of the street's pubs. At first glance, the "Bistro" element in its name seems more serious than the Bohemian aspect. If I had to choose, I would say they are the least bohemian hosting place among all the participants in this article, but my perspective is different from what they mainly convey. To be honest, before I returned, I contemplated whether to classify Bohém into the list of pubs or rather among other #notpuba bonus tips. I also surveyed my fellow explorers. My predecessor, Ági, convinced me that they are completely legitimate drinking spots in the collection as well. This persuasion was accompanied not just by words but also with a mulled Aperol spritz image, which I quickly rushed to taste myself.
For more details, visit kocsmaturista.hu.