You might know some great pet-friendly places in Budapest, with water bowls thoughtfully placed on the floor. But our city still lacks spots where pets are in the spotlight, instead of being only companions on a coffee break. Well, the arrival of The Dog Bakery Budapest changes the setup a bit: pooches are treated as royals here. They can sit on top of tables, run around and have beer and cakes. We visited the place, which opened in the 7th district in the autumn, settled down for a coffee, and petted Mokka and Maya, the local four-legged gang.
Entering The Dog Bakery Budapest, you will immediately notice that there is a large empty space in the middle. This is mainly for the dogs to run around and play, while their owners can settle down at the tables along the wall. Dogs can also sit on top of these tables, as nothing's off-limits for them in the Dog Bakery. There are some rules, but once a dog is inside, it is the main attraction, and the owner is just a chaperone.
Dogs will be treated to cakes, treats, snacks, and other surprises specially prepared for them,
Dogs will be treated to cakes, treats, snacks, and other surprises specially prepared for them,
while owners can enjoy pastries, Italian coffee, or fresh juices in the middle of the pooch party. You don't need to own a dog to enter though, The Dog Bakery welcomes you with arms (and paws) wide open even without a four-legged friend. In that case, Mokka the dachshund and Maya the poodle will keep you entertained. They belong to the founder of the Bakery, Ákos Lénárt, and are usually on duty with him. They won't let you just sit and daydream; they will ask for their fair share of attention.
Ákos and his partner lived in Stockholm for a couple of years, and they were amazed by the culture of life with dogs there. Many Swedish people have dogs, and it's only natural to take them anywhere, be it a shop, a café, or a restaurant. Dogs are as welcome as their owners almost everywhere in Sweden. Ákos and his partner returned to Hungary with the determination that, since there are plenty of dog owners in Hungary, only the culture is not as widespread as in Sweden, they would create it themselves. Or at least do something about it. Therefore, The Dog Bakery Budapest opened its doors.
As well as treats and cakes, you can also purchase different accessories for your pets from bowls to collars.
As well as treats and cakes, you can also purchase different accessories for your pets from bowls to collars.
And not just ordinary accessories, but items made by European designers. But back to the food, let's not forget about the drink we've certainly never seen anywhere else before; The Dog Bakery offers dog beer. But don't be alarmed, it won't make your dog an alcoholic or even get them drunk. It's naturally non-alcoholic.
Although the place has only been open since the end of October, they already have regular customers. The Dog Bakery has quickly become popular, which is probably also due to its ideal location on Kertész Street in the 7th district (almost on the corner of Király and Kertész Streets). As for now, the majority of their guests are foreigners living here, and they even had a couple visiting with their dog who is staying in Budapest for only a few days. Nevertheless, their goal is to reach more local people, both dog owners and non-dog owners. They have lots of plans for the future, from dog daycares to summer open-air pop-up events and adoption days.
The Dog Bakery Budapest is closed on Mondays, but on the other days of the week, it is open from 9 am to 6 pm (5 pm on Sundays). The prices are quite reasonable: coffee is between HUF 650-1,050, snacks (croissants and cookies) are between HUF 900-1,500, juices are HUF 750, and orange juice is HUF 300/dl. Dog treats range from larger to smaller ones and are around HUF 1,000. We witnessed first-hand as the local forces, Maya and Mokka, eagerly devoured a cake and licked their mouths with enthusiasm. At The Dog Bakery Budapest, they can indulge in this passion as well as two other favourite pastimes: hanging out with their owners and playing with other dogs. In other words, The Dog Bakery is a Dog Kingdom, which they only need to leave to answer the call of nature. Otherwise, they are allowed to do almost everything inside. But only them.
