Alterego Club

Budapest's signature gay club, Alterego is a below-ground venue open only on Fridays and Saturdays and hiding in a quiet side street near the city center in District 6. Alterego's claim to fame is the midnight drag shows, available on both days, skillfully moderated by Lady Dömper, a fixture of the Budapest gay scene. The one-hour event features a stand-up, dance performances, and lip syncs by a number of drag queens.

After the show, a DJ takes over the packed dance floor and plays classic beats until the wee hours. There are two spacious bars and booths for people who didn't bring their dancing shoes and prefer a lower-key setting with conversations. Alterego attracts a motley crew of gay men, both young and old, chic and unfashionable, moneyed and less so. Admission is €7 (or €5 before midnight).