A quick note before we begin
We’re not piglet experts. What we do is visit places, try them out, and share our experience. If we like what we find, we write about it and recommend it — and that’s what we did with the MiniPig Café. When the opening was announced, we heard both the excitement and the critical voices. Once again, we’re not specialists, but as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating — and from what we saw, most of the criticisms didn’t hold true. The piglets looked healthy, lively, and well cared for. Of course, the question remains of what happens to them once they grow up, but we received answers to that too, and we have no reason to doubt them.
Where did the piglet café come from?
When my younger brother was about ten, he and a friend started a band and performed their only hit song, Pigs in the ABC , in our childhood bedroom. Back then, I never imagined piglets would one day become a worldwide craze. But when the world — myself included — found out that George Clooney’s pet at home was not a dog or a cat, but a pig, it was clear something had changed. Suddenly, people began to see pigs differently. It turned out they weren’t just huge farm animals, but there were smaller breeds too — clever, intelligent, and undeniably cute.
That realisation led to the rise of piglet cafés in Japan, where visitors could spend time with miniature pigs while enjoying a drink. And now the craze has reached us too: in early July, MiniPig Café opened at the start of Paulay Ede Street.
MiniPig Café was opened by Krisztina and Levente, a young couple with solid experience in hospitality. After years of running nightlife and party venues, they had grown tired of the late nights and wanted to create something different — a concept that looks beyond traditional catering.
During a trip to Japan, Levente wandered into a pig café and was instantly taken by the idea. He thought such a place could work in Budapest too. The couple then spent a year preparing for the opening. The process was far from simple: not only did it take time to develop the concept and secure the necessary permits, but it was also a challenge to find a breeder who genuinely understood piglets — someone who didn’t just see them as livestock, but cared for and respected them.
Meeting the piglets comes with rules
MiniPig Café is split into two areas: the café itself is on the street level, while upstairs live the 13 piglets — a mix of Minnesota and Vietnamese breeds. They’re all the same age, though not the same size, as they don’t necessarily reach maturity at the same pace. At the moment they weigh around 4–5 kilos, but will eventually grow to about 50. By then they won’t be staying here — once they reach a certain size, they either return to the breeder’s farm or, if someone is willing to adopt, move to a new home.
The total space covers 140 square metres: the café downstairs takes up 40, while the piglets’ home upstairs spreads across 100 square metres, part of which is a gallery where visitors can meet the little snouts face to face. So, it’s safe to say this is no tiny studio-sized venue.
Meeting the piglets takes place under strict rules. Before going upstairs, visitors must swap their shoes for slippers and use sanitiser. You can book a time slot online, but there’s no problem if you just drop in from the street and feel like a little piglet playtime. Each session lasts 30 minutes, with a 15-minute break between groups and a longer pause at midday.
The café opens every day at 8 am, with the first group heading upstairs at 8.30 am. The piglets welcome visitors until 4 pm, after which only the café downstairs remains open — until 5 pm.
The animals are regularly checked by a veterinarian.
A maximum of 10 people are allowed in each group — but if you happen to be the only one booked, you’ll still get a private session with the piglets. A piglet encounter costs HUF 6500 for adults, while children aged 7 to 12 can join for HUF 3000.
The piglets are friendly, playful, and curious. Although animal rights groups have voiced strong criticism of the MiniPig Café, the piglets certainly don’t look as though they’re suffering — quite the opposite. Strict rules also ensure their wellbeing: you can’t pick them up, pull them close, or force interaction. Instead, you wait until they approach you — and they will, we promise. And when they do, it’s guaranteed to take a lot of stress off your shoulders.
you might not expect it, but spending time with piglets is surprisingly calming.
That’s why the place also makes a perfect spot for team-building. There are even plans to host children growing up in orphanages — and if anyone could use a little extra comfort and healing love, it’s them. The piglets are sure to provide it.
If you’re just here for coffee
Visiting the piglets doesn’t mean you have to order something from the café, and if you’re just here for a coffee, you don’t need to go upstairs either. The café itself is cosy, with prices similar to other neighbourhood spots: coffee drinks range from HUF 950 (espresso, americano) to HUF 1790 (matcha latte). There are also lemonades ( HUF 1790–2190), cocktails ( HUF 1490–4590), teas ( HUF 1690), soft drinks and waters ( HUF 650–1000), and hot chocolates ( HUF 1490). Plus, you’ll find craft beers ( HUF 1600–2000) and wines ( HUF 1490 per decilitre).
Of course, the real highlight here is the piglets. Even if you didn’t plan on going upstairs, once they snuffle at you — you’ll want to go. It’s also worth noting that animals naturally come with their own smell, which not everyone tolerates well. But at MiniPig Café this is taken care of: the piglets’ space is cleaned regularly, and a special air purifier ensures the atmosphere remains pleasant — even for those who only popped in for a quick coffee.
CONTACT DETAILS
MiniPig Cafe Budapest
Legyetek ott első városi piknikünkön!
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Ünnepeljük együtt a tavaszt, a találkozásokat és azt a pezsgést, amiért annyira szeretjük Budapestet!
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