Don’t monkey around – swing over to the Monkey Bistro for summer cocktails and alfresco dishes

Rooftop bar without the vertigo

Rivalling the view of panoramic rooftop bars, the Monkey Bistro is easily reached by climbing the steps of the historic Várkert Bazár. No need to take a lift to the top or unduly worry your drinking companion who’s no good with heights.

It would have been a wasted opportunity not have allowed visitors to sip lemonade and clink glasses here at the site of the legendary Ifipark – but last year they managed to turn the page.

People in the capital can now benefit from the chance to enjoy the view of the Várkert Bazár from the street front or from the Pest side, but also to look directly at the Danube, Budapest and Buda Castle from there – whether in the sparkling sun, at sunset or in the evening, when it shows a completely different face the of city.


It feels wonderful to sit on their upstairs terrace, whether with a delicious coffee or a house cocktail, a cool G&T or a spritzer. Before you stretch the river and cityscape, behind the storied wall of Buda Castle.

Everything to quench your thirst and liven your mood

It hits the spot, too. The Monkey Bistro has a very wide selection of drinks, with many options to relax over alcoholic refreshments, but if you prefer a mocktail, they can still conjure something up. The Ginpánz bar showcases all the classic G&T combinations and this summer’s big hits for 2022.

Painstakingly crafted, the G&Ts avoid the usual citrus tropes and are made with exciting ingredients such as thyme, dill, coriander, lavender or chili. In fact, they even stock their own gin, just ask the Monkey crew!

It’s also a good idea to ask for not only pure prosecco but the variety with rosemary and grapefruit or peach and pomegranate, for example. It’s great on its own, but for a more summery feel, this really is a winning combination.

You can also select from lagers, IPAs, APAs, wheat and cherry beer on draught, and bottled craft beer by Fehér Nyúl, FIRST Craft Beer and Horizont. Their wine list is concise and ideal for the summer season as well – fresh, crisp whites and fruity roses can also provide the base for spritzers.

Don’t just drink, let’s eat!

The kitchen is headed by Tamás Hodnics, who with all his domestic and foreign experience creates Monkey Bistro favourites. He also carefully compiled the latest summer menu in a democratic fashion. This means that it should be as pleasing to tourists as it is to Hungarian guests.


The dishes inspired by Hungarian flavours and international cuisines dovetail nicely, and you can find plenty of meat-free options and gluten- and/or lactose-free choices. It’s important that terrace dining in summer is light, and this is certainly the case for most of the dishes.

If you’d prefer snacks to accompany your chatter and cocktails, take a look at the tasting section: meat-free and meat spreads await, but you can also lean towards the Mediterranean tasting platter, which includes buffalo mozzarella, Serrano ham and marinated roast peppers. The chili king prawns are best for dipping with your baguette, it’s a great wine snack!


Few places make gazpacho these days, even though this chilled Spanish soup is a real summer refreshment, and appetising with it. There will be plenty of olives to pick at, too.

For the above-mentioned Hungarian section, they have a very decent beef goulash, their chicken paprikash arrives in the form of a roulade, with egg dumplings and sour-cream foam.


Their deep-fried meat gets a coating of Japanese breadcrumbs, meaning you can opt for an interesting side dish rather than the usual rice or potatoes. Tamás has conceived of a fennel-and-apple salad alongside and instead of plain mayonnaise, you can dip your crispy meat into a bowl of aioli.

You really can find all the dishes on their menu that are essential in 2022: they make burgers, they cook steaks, they don’t forget about salmon steak or variations of chicken breast, and they chose excellent Greek manouri to use as grilled cheese, perfect with goats’ or cows’ milk. At Monkey, it arrives with a smoked-paprika crust and a salad livened up by pecans and raspberry vinaigrette. Creamy, sour and fresh in one.

You won’t be disappointed with their desserts either. They’re particularly proud of their Somló galuska, fine-tuned and prettier for 2022. Speaking of freshness, they make their own lemon-curd sundaes and mango mousse, with no added sugar, just tropical fruit.

Sit back and relax…

The week runs from Tuesday to Saturday, when you can head here for lunch, though sunset-chilling and balmy evenings are the best. Lounge music is always provided by a DJ, giving the whole atmosphere a more intimate feel. You won’t be subjected to Despacito, but you'll find yourself dependent on Shazam during each special Monkey sunset set!