Updated 3/31/22
Wooooof! It’s time to sniff out the coolest dog-friendly places in Budapest (pronounced “BOO-DA-PESHT”). Summer has come to a close, but I can’t help but reminisce about those blazing hot experiences in Hungary. I would pant, pant, and PANT to offset the sticky heat and I often amaze myself (and humans) with a yorkie tongue so long that you could probably write out the intricate history of the city (or shall I say, two cities?), from the occupation of Celtics to the Romans to the Mongols to the Ottoman. Seriously, like a Guinness World Record-type tongue. Okay, maybe not THAT long. Whether you’re in Buda or in Pest, the heat will get to you with little you can do to escape (with the only real escape route is to stay indoors and spoil yourself with AC). As the top dog, I ensure my pack stays cool in the heat, and by that, I don’t necessarily mean temperature cool; I mean TOP DOG “cool.” Walk in the club like you own the place “cool.” Cream of the crop “cool.” So “cool” that the heat miraculously disappears from your mind. Here is my list of 10 Coolest Dog-Friendly Places in Budapest:
#1 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: BB’z Bar and Grill
Location: Kiraly utca 15 (Unfortunately, this BB’z location is permanent closed, but management is trying to find a new home for this paw-tastic dog-friendly place. Sniff for updates here.)
Why it’s COOL: First (and foremost), it’s dog-friendly; and by dog-friendly, I really mean it. It’s beyond your average “I guess you can come in, but make sure you stay under the table (out of everyone’s sight)”; it’s more like, “ALL dogs are welcome! Please come in and make yourself at home.” Yep – you heard it right. I can simply walk into this joint with my tail curled upright and not have humans glare at me like I don’t belong. Second, not only is it a bar and grill, but it is also a great place to party the night away; it’s a great venue to put my paws to the pavement and bust some dance moves while the DJ plays my favorite old school jams (from the 80s and 90s). Third, they have fabulous food options, ranging from meatless burritos to “must guard and protect” meaty burgers. I even get VIP water service (not to mention an honorary blankey and chips) from my boy Gabor!
What my tail WAGS to: The Vegan and Carne Asada Burritos!
#2 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: The Original Most Kortárs Bistro
Location: Zichy Jeno utca 17
Why it’s COOL: The menu is simply AMAZING! It’s diverse and offers traditional Hungarian meals, Indian dishes, and East Asian courses. It’s a true neighborhood favorite. The food here is spectacular, and by that, I mean – I’d stare it down, lick my chops repeatedly, and slowly (but surely) WILL IT to my mouth. Yes, all that intensity for one tasty bite of anything on the menu that I’ll literally slurp down in a second. CAUTION: OVER-sized yorkie portions! They also have one cool patio! If you are seriously trying to hide from the heat, this patio is a pretty safe bet; it is nicely covered with large umbrellas, wooden and brick walls, and rocks on the ground to create a somewhat rustic feel.
What my tail WAGS to: Egg Noodles (with vitamin salad) and Tandoori Chicken Mix.
#3 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Menza
Location: Liszt Ferenc tér 2
Why it’s COOL: They serve some ARF-MAZING traditional Hungarian food here that I just couldn’t wait to get my paws on. With a retro yet stylish interior, Menza is a fun place to wine and dine with your pooch. You can also sit outside (like I did) in their inviting, spacious patio.
What my tail WAGS to: Hungarian egg noodles a.k.a. nokedli or spätzle AND traditional beef goulash!
#4 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Pótkulcs
Location: Csengery u. 65b, 1067
Why it’s COOL: This is a unique spot for nightlife, branching away from your typical Budapest bar scene. If you hail from the Bay Area and miss the Berkeley-type vibe, this is right up your alley. While I’m far from being a hippie yorkie, I do love hidden gems and local spots; this is an untainted, marvelous nook that’s sweetly tucked away. You can relax in its laid-back outdoor patio, mingle with the down-to-earth locals and students, or hold hands and dance to soothing live music in the nook. The only problem you may have is finding the place; if you happen to come across a building covered with ivy and no apparent entrance, you have found the place. Just walk through the hidden door and savor the unforgettable experience.
What my tail WAGS to: Tasty drinks + wonderful music + earthy people = ONE AWESOME NIGHT.
#5 Coolest Place in Budapest: Kőleves kert
Location: Kazinczy u. 37, 1075
Why it’s COOL: On hot summer nights in Budapest, I like to drink generous pints of cold beer at this effervescent, colorful beer garden. It has a laid-back, yet lively vibe. This spot is no joke; it’s simply the real deal. Offering a variety of beers, including regional favorites, efficient bartenders don’t mess around as they quickly fill your glass up to the brim. Hungarians don’t joke around with their beers! Next time you’re in Budapest, avoid the overhyped, congested Szimpla Kert and order a few pints at this relaxing venue while spending the night dog-watching.
What my tail WAGS to: Pant no more… cold beers!
#6 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Café Vian
Location: 1061 Liszt Ferenc tér 9 & 1075 Király utca 13 / C
Why it’s COOL: They’ve been in the biz for over 22 years with two locations! ARF, I just love sitting my furry buttocks on their comfy red chairs. This red-themed place kinda feels like a high-end movie theatre! ARF, it’s so cozy yet classy, but far from pretentious with supaw friendly staff. ARF-so-COOL all around! AWOOOO, Cafe Vian boasts a variety of traditional Hungarian dishes that are worth digging up dirt for and burying away for a rainy day. They use only the freshest ingredients to cook up the most chops-lickin’ Hungarian cuisine, from soft homemade Hungarian noodles to succulent chicken paprika. This dog-friendly spot is so cool that it even has a California sandwich (grilled chicken breast with caesar dressing)!
What my tail WAGS to: Chicken Paprika, Beef Goulash, and traditional Hungarian Egg Noodles
#7 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Stifler Bar
Location: Erzsébet krt. 19, 1073
Why it’s COOL: This colorful sports bar is a TOP DOG place to take your dog to get your furry paws on a few iced cold Dreher Baks and watch a few football games while you’re at it. The ambiance is usually chill and laid-back (and not supaw noisy), just pawfect for a fun outing with your dog. Dogs are welcome to wine and dine inside (and ARF-course, go for an anaconda lick of those juicy burgers and greasy fries).
What my tail WAGS to: Beers, beers, and beers…bar food GALORE!
#8 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Hummus Bar
Location: Hollan Erno utca 6 (local chain with many locations)
Why it’s COOL: Hummus Bar represents the hip new age of Middle Eastern restaurants in Europe: quick and efficient over-the-counter service with fresh, healthy food that makes you feel oh so GOOD. A light and simple atmosphere that makes you feel at ease while licking hummus off your plate. You will get a dynamic mix of hummus and olive oil in practically every single dish, hence its name to fame. They have a wide array of healthy vegetarian treats that will make any dog (big or small) growl, hover, and protect his goods!
What my tail WAGS to: Hummus Chicken Breast and Green Shaksuka!
#9 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Paprika Vendéglő
Location: Dózsa György út 72, 1071
Why it’s COOL: I continue to dream about this Hungarian classic long after I left Budapest. Eating homemade goulash is a must while traveling throughout Central Europe, especially in Budapest. After sniffing (and marking) my way across this region of the continent, I stumbled across this treasure: my absolute favorite goulash! Want succulent, chops-licking brisket and appetizing veggies? Paprika Vendéglő is your answer. It’s a small, cozy restaurant with a charming, rustic setting in the Jewish Quarter. I can choose to sit outdoor or indoor – usually no pawblem! Goulash is a traditional slowly cooked stew that consists of meat, vegetables, noodles, and aromatic spices. This specific dish consisted of tender brisket, potatoes, carrots, and homemade noodles. All these ingredients were slowly cooked in a toothsome broth that was spiced to perfection. I will chew the oh-so-tender meat up into a billion pieces!
What my tail WAGS to: Bark no more, it’s all about the GOULASH!
#10 Coolest Dog-Friendly Place in Budapest: Incognito
Location: Liszt Ferenc tér 3, 1061
Why it’s COOL: It’s a love/hate vibe at Liszt Ferenc Square. Although I’m not that big on popular tourist areas, I have to give this place a big paws up; this vibrant restaurant with a modern twist sets off a very cooool, less touristic vibe at this bustling, pedestrian-friendly square. The reason why this place rocks is simple – quality food, fantastic drinks, fun atmosphere, and reasonable prices.
What my tail WAGS to: Want to get down and dirty your paws on traditional Hungarian meaty plates? Try my two favorites – Chicken Paprikash (with dumplings) and Plate with Traditional Hungarian dishes. (Yep, there is literally an item translated to “Plate with Traditional Hungarian dishes”; it comes with egg cream, hot “farm” sausage, “farm” ham, homemade smoked cheese, vegetables, and fresh-out-of-the-oven bread).
Now, for some sad news – I’m lowering my tail to bark that my favorite hipster cafe in Budapest Slow Foodiez has closed, but this is just to show you how COOL it was (and how dog-friendly the city is).
Location: Szondi u. 11
Why it’s COOL: When in Budapest, this is definitely my go-to SPOT: not only to devour a delicious lunch, but also to hang out while working. It’s colorful, stylish, young, and hip, yet far from pretentious. They have transformed traditional meaty dishes into worth-burying vegetarian (and even vegan) options, which comes in handy on my meatless travel days. AND again, it’s dog-friendly! I love blogging upstairs while enjoying a cup of coffee, dog-watching through the upstairs window, and devouring veggies like a real healthy dog.
What my tail WAGS to: Raw Vegan Sushi, Raw Foodie Veggie Wrap, Vegan Omelette, and Huxican Quesadilla.
Hope you enjoy my list of 10 Coolest Dog-Friendly Places in Budapest. Get your paws movin’, but stay cool with the coolest places in Budapest! Don’t forget to sniff out my pal Ryan’s post on why Budapest is his hidden treasure.
Want more recommendations? Sniff out my Destinations: Let’s Mark section!
Markin’ it up,
Roger Wellington a.k.a. The Doob
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Ah I love all the places the dogs are allowed to be! I wish I came across this post sooner! My sister recently went to Budapest, and I would have loved to tell her to visit some of these places!
I love the history! And all the food looks delicious!
Oh my goodness, this post is so stinkin cute! And I love that you were able to get the yourself (*wink) in the photos. I’m not sure what I thought goulash was, but this looks a ton better than what I was thinking, I can just imagine how good all of the spices & flavors were too. And I love hummus, so a hummus bar is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
Sounds amazing! Hubby and I are looking to travel out of the country once our little one is a little older to experience everything. Love this list!
I love Budapest! We have been many times as it is so close to Vienna and we always have fun. Great tips!
OMGGGG such cute yorkie!! Also loved all the food pics!! Will keep your suggestions in mind once I visit Budapest!!
Ohh. The food looks amazing… ive never traveled this far but your pictures look amazing.
Great places!! Thanks for the tips…we are planning to go next summer…I am so excited already.