Gay and Lesbian Budapest

Budapest has had a significant gay and lesbian population all the time. Discrimination started to decrease after 1990. A Hungarian word ”meleg” was born for homosexuality without abusive, discriminating content. (It’s original meaning is „warm”) This term, used in this context, did not exist in the colloquial speech prior to 1990.
Gay and lesbian Budapest is still preserving its separatism even today. Their annual celebration is the LMBT Festival (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual Festival) which is traditionally held in early July. The Budapest Pride is the biggest and oldest  festival of its type in central Europe ( www.budapestpride.hu).
The following list is changing relatively quickly. It’s is advisable to check the addresses on well maintained Homepages (E.g.: www.navegre.hu, www.budapest.gayguide.net )

Gay bars

Action - V. Magyar u. 42. cruising for men only, www.action.gay.hu
Cafe Smile - VII. Nagydiófa u. 17.
CoXx - VII. Dohány u. 38. - cruising bar for men only with special parties. www.coxx.hu
Habroló Bisztró - V. Szép u. 1/b. - Nice and tiny place. www.habrolo.hu
Mylord Café - V. Belgrád rkp.  3-4. - A very pleasant place at the bank of the Danube. More gay visitors in the evening.

Le Café M - V. Nagysándor József u. - Medium size, friendly place with Internet facility, which is suitable for providing information for foreigners. www.mysterybar.hu

Clubbing

Pure - the biggest gay party in Budapest. Check their site for dates and location. www.pure.i-shop.hu

Candy - gay party in a small Buda club, check their site for dates and location. www.candybudapest.com

Bohemian Alibi - IX.th Üllõi út 47. - mixed disco with drag shows. www.clubbohemian.hu
Capella Café - V. Belgrád rkp. 23. - Disco with two dancefloors. Not gay, but with drag shows. www.capellacafe.hu

Alterego bar & lounge (VI.distr. Dessewffy Street 33.) the most exclusive and exciting gay club with a transvestite and live show in Budapest. The club is visited by the hottest gay crowd from Wednesday to Saturday.

Lesbian parties

Living Room - V. Kossuth Lajos  u. 17. - Lesbian party on the last Saturday of the month.
Jailhouse - IX. Tûzoltó u. 22. - Lesbian disco on the last Saturday of the month from 10.00 p.m. Lesbian and hetero party on the first Friday of the month.

Gay-friendly restaurants and cafees

Eklektika - VII. Nagymezõ u. 30. - The unofficial lesbian café of Budapest, also popular with gay men.
Amstel River Café - V. Párisi u. 6. - Holland-style café and restaurant in Dutch ownership.
Club 93 Pizzeria - VIII. Vas u. 2. - One of the oldest “gay” restaurant with plenty of pizza and pasta.

Useful info

Navégre (At last) Free of charge gay monthly with the latest information. Available in gay bars,clubs and saunas. It has an English language section, gayguide and calendar of events. www.navegre.hu

Gay helpline (Hatter) Phone: 06-1- 329-3380 from 6.00 to 11.00 p.m everyday.
Toucan Tourist - XIII. Radnóti Miklós u. 15/b. - Gay travel agency, www.toucantourist.hu . 
Astoria Fitness Center  - V. Károly krt. 8. - Gay friendly fitness. www.astoriafitness.hu

Sexshops

Sex shop - VII. Dob u. 11.
Connection Sexshop  - VIII. Berzsenyi Dániel u. 3., www.connectionbt.hu
Intim Center - V. Károly Krt. 14., www.szexplaza.hu
Erotik Center - XIII. Hegedûs Gyula u. 1., www.erotikcenter.hu
L’amour Gay Movie& Szexshop - VI. Király u. 72., www.szex-shop.hu

Gay dvd www.gaydvd.hu

Gay Switchboard Budapest

We reply on every Email within 48 hours
Webpage: http://gayguide.net/Europe/Hungary/budapest
Hotline (free Info) +36 309 32 33 34 from abroad and 06 309 32 33 34 (inside Hungary).

Rainbow Association for Homosexual Rights

PO Box , 690, Budapest 1293

Masok

PO Box 388, Budapest 1461 (+36 1-337 0327)

Other sites

www.navegre.hu
www.budapest.gayguide.net
www.pride.hu
www.gay.hu
www.labrisz.hu   (for Lesbian)
www.femfatal.hu (for Lesbian)
www.otkenyer.hu : Christian gays (In Hungarian: “five pieces of bread”)
www.gaydanube.com (Gay Accommodations in Europe)
www.hatter.hu