Budapest’s pirate-themed experience restaurant, the Pirate Empire, comes with a feast you won't easily forget. This downtown spot offers a fun afternoon for the whole family: you can dine amid massive kraken tentacles, skulls, and a rum shack in a harbour, in the captain's room, or on board a boat. The setting is spot-on, evoking the adventurous world of pirates we recognise from the movies. The menu is rich in seafood, naturally, but you can also opt for pizza or pasta. And if you are looking to go for the full-on Jack Sparrow experience (and are over 18), you can down a glass of rum, too.
Cast your spell and raise the sail!
In 2019, a wizarding restaurant, inspired by Harry Potter’s world, opened in downtown Budapest. The MAGIC offers pints of Butter Beer, Beauty Elixir, Ogre Dream, and Unicorn Delicacy, but most importantly, a memorable experience for the family. The restaurant is a big hit among the little ones, teenagers, and Potterhead adults alike. So when the same team announced the opening of another fantasy-filled restaurant, we could not wait to have a look. This is what Pirate Empire, anchored near the Opera House, looks like.
An experience for all ages
Inspired by the pirate legendarium, especially the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Pirate Empire creates an experience for all ages, whether you are planning a coffee, lunch with the kids, dinner with friends, or a birthday party. Expect lots of wood, and mysterious lights: even if you arrive early, you can instantly get into character, leave the daily routine behind, and head for the harbour and the deck.
The kraken’s tentacle below, the captain’s room above
Downstairs, a harbour has been created, with powder magazines, a rum shack, gushing water, an elixir of eternal life flowing from the wall, and a giant kraken statue: the massive sea monster is about to break out of the waves, and you have to watch your back on the stairs to avoid getting caught.
Above, the deck itself and the pirate captain's desk await. When we visited, they were still working on the stern, which can be converted into a private room but will soon be open to guests. In the meantime, there are plenty of details to capture and “selfie spots”, so you can take the special atmosphere and the spectacular scenery with you.
A fantasy world
Entering this themed restaurant, you are invited to leave reality behind and try something new. So instead going to a hyped spot you googled on your way to Budapest, you can pop in here and neck a brew of the Surging Depth Potion or the Danger from the Green Island with childlike delight. (Yes, all food and drink have a fantasy name.)
Everything is about pirates and perilous seas
Children who love pirate stories and are loyal fans of Captain Jack Sparrow will be impressed by the Pirate Empire’s design and eager for their parents to read them the storybook menu. It’s worth starting with the Steaming Pirate Potions, presented by the lovely pirate girls and their groovy crew, accompanied by an old weapon and a fearsome skull, alongside a little pirate poem to go with your refreshments. In the meantime, pirate-themed music, battle songs, sea chants, and rum-soaked tunes are played.
Feast on the deck
Huge feasts await as if having a rich banquet following a successful catch, a battle at sea. Food from the Pirate Empire’s kitchen gets piled high on one of the family tables.
Get pizzas, which don’t exactly evoke the port of Naples, but have a style on their own. As well as the usual 30 cm diameter pizzas, you can also order a selection of mini pizzas called ‘Triple Blow’ if you can’t choose from the arsenal.
As pirates eat a lot of fish and seafood, the restaurant boasts dishes like swordfish steaks (Harpoon of Atlantis) and salmon steaks (Gold of Fishermen). We also enjoyed the fried squid rings (Kraken rings) and seafood black spaghetti coloured with squid ink (Song of Sirens). Rookie pirates can stick with the simple greatness of fish & chips (Smith’s and Gib’s).
There’s quite a variety of pasta dishes on the menu, too, as marine life requires energy. But it’s also good to drown the Beer of the Pirate King with a big bowl of penne all’arrabbiata (Cargo of the East Indian Company). Imperial main dishes include a giant Wiener Schnitzel with apple potato croquettes (The Looted Loot), and the More Peaceful Marauders’ meals are all about salads: hearty fish, meat, or vegetarian.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet to finish with, go for the walnut cake. Or the brownie, listed as the Fate of Barbossa among the sweets: few can resist a chocolatey cookie. Well, the Black Pearl’s first mate would be done with it in a heartbeat. After lunch or dinner, stay for a drink and a few photos: the Pirate Empire’s atmosphere is captivating for all wannabe-pirates. But beware, you might hear a siren song while eating, luring you back for another round.
If you get caught up in the pirate theme or other fantasy worlds, don’t hesitate to test the ‘magic room’ escape rooms. Their nine current next-generation adventure games also feature Captain Jack Sparrow.
Ahoy!
