I recently discovered the perfect place to spend a fun night in Budapest: it’s a bar, bistro, and escape room hub called Neverland! Whether as a couple, a family or a group of friends, at Neverland you will have a great night with fun entertainment and good food.
Disclaimer: Neverland invited me for an escape room game and a meal, but these opinions are my own. I had a great time and I look forward to going there again!
A few words about Neverland Budapest
I’ve been to good restaurants, and also to fun escape rooms in Budapest, but this is where Neverland is different: great escape rooms together with delicious food and creative cocktails, in a special setting that takes you out of the city.
Opened in 2018 and located in the popular party area in the 7th district, Neverland became popular because of its cool escape rooms. The delicious aromas coming out of the kitchen and the signature cocktails kept the customers there, and kept them coming – the wide choice is sooo inviting, including vegetarian and vegan options too.
But truly, the atmosphere there is magical and exotic. The painted walls decorated with rainforest motifs are a soft and comfortable frame for soft sofas and minimalist tables, while quirky paintings and neon lights are the perfect setting for funny selfies. There was so much to see that it took us a while to order our drinks.
On a summer Monday evening, it was getting crowded as we left, at around 21.30. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s very popular – that’s why they are open until 2 a.m. It’s a fun spot for people between 25 and 40, both locals and foreigners. When we were there, the music was FUN – the DJ put on 90’s songs that I still remember by heart! Even though it’s not a club, I could have definitely started dancing 😀
When they do organize a party, they take it very seriously. Their Halloween movie on Instagram looks simply impressive, check it out here. The New Year’s Eve celebration in Great Gatsby style must have been a fun party – Instagram pics here.
So, why choose Neverland? Because of their 8 escape rooms with exciting electrical puzzles to open secret compartments (Aztec Catacomb, Jailbreak, Insane Asylum, Wizard Trials, Wild West, Chernobyl, Serial Killer, Bank Robbery, all available in English and Hungarian, some also in French and Spanish); because of their unusual signature cocktails and incredible gin selection; because of their tasty burgers, tapas plates and starters, Mexican quesadillas and burritos (only until September 2023!), all perfectly cooked with juicy ingredients.
Let’s add that it’s dog-friendly, the value for money is excellent, it’s located in the heart of the city center, and they are open every day! Make sure you book in advance!
What else should you do in Budapest? Make sure you check my posts here!
Our experience in the Neverland escape room
It took me 30 seconds on the Neverland website before I knew that I wanted to do the Wizard Trials escape room 😀 yes, I was intrigued also by the Bank Robbery one and by the Chernobyl one (big fan of both TV series) … but Harry Potter-themed attractions will always win me!
I was absolutely happy with my choice. The Wizard Trials escape room was very entertaining! Challenging but not impossible, and very satisfying to figure out. It took all of our 4 brains, so I recommend it for at least 3 people.
We started our escape room experience with a friendly staff member who took us to the lockers for our bags and showed us a few details about the room. When we hit “START” on the screen, she left. Time to play! (By the way, the screen is also the way to ask for hints when you’re stuck).
Our mission was to retrieve the recipe for a dangerous potion held by a powerful wizard before an evil rival would try to steal it. The perfect setting to solve magic riddles!
From my past experiences, I expected the usual structure of an escape room: a first room to explore in order to unlock a door, and a second room where the solution is hidden.
Well, compared to the rest, here the level of detail and creativity with the decoration and setting was impressive. We were super excited and eager to start looking for clues, but we started by taking pictures and selfies instead 😀
All our senses were required: looking for clues, listening to noises, remembering sequences, feeling for hidden objects, and even our sense of smell!
The coolest part, of course, was using the magic wands! Simple yet magical magnetic wands that activate the mechanisms to find objects and open doors – but the wand is nothing without your brain: you have to figure out the right way to do it. It took us a few attempts, just like Ron learning Wingardium Leviosa 🙂
When we lined up all the elements to open the door and access the second area, it was even more impressive! We had a collective WOW moment, before we set off to solve the remaining riddles. Many details reminded me of the Hogwarts Legacy video game, which made me even more excited!!
The last riddle was protected by the statue of a cat. The wizard’s pet, a brilliant guardian to his precious secret!
Reaching the recipe for the dangerous potion was really fun and satisfying. The games create a diverse rhythm, so that you’re excited and alert on a riddle, and then calm and focused on another. Often at least 2 people were involved in solving them. My favourite thing about the experience was the wow effect of the rooms, all the details attracting your eyes and hands.
But that was not it! Our special reward was a secret cocktail, one that is revealed only to those who solve the room – there is a cocktail for each room. Of course we ordered it, and it was delicious!
Click here to book the escape room directly with Neverland.
Are food and drinks at Neverland good?
Everything that we tasted at Neverland was delicious, both drinks and food.
They offer many signature cocktails I had never seen before, and their gin selection is very large. It was pretty hard to make a choice. I loved my Neverland cocktail, and my friends enjoyed theirs as well: fresh and balanced, great for conversation and our happy mood.
We had a cocktail before the escape room, and afterwards we ordered the special secret cocktail with our dinner. It felt like a very special treat!
The Neverland Restaurant menu is quite American, with a European/Hungarian twist: the Angus burgers are juicy and tasty but not too big, sweet fried potatoes are available next to normal potatoes, and the beloved purple cabbage is used as a sweet touch… My Truffle Deluxe Smashburger was delicious, but next time I want to try one of their vegetarian or vegan options: all the salads and tapas plates were very inviting.
Click here to check out the menu and book a table.
Final thoughts on Neverland in Budapest
Neverland is a great place to spend a fun night in Budapest. This is probably one of the best escape rooms in Budapest, as well as an excellent restaurant. Trust me and make your reservation here!