During our Erasmus in Budapest, we wanted to try something a little different from the usual tourist attractions. While looking for interesting places to visit, we found Zoo Café, a café where you can have a coffee while spending time with different animals.
The café is located in the city centre, on Fejér György utca, close to Kálvin tér. It opened in 2014 and has around 20 different species and 65 animals, so it is definitely not a normal café.
What can you find inside?
When you enter Zoo Café, you immediately realise that it is very different from a normal café.
There are many different animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, snakes, chameleons, lizards and birds. Some of them stay in their own spaces, while others can be brought directly to your table by the animal keepers.
The café is quite small and cosy, so you can see the animals very closely. It was interesting to look around and see something different in almost every corner.
Meeting the animals
The best part of the experience is when the animal keepers start bringing the animals to the tables.
During our visit, we had the chance to meet different animals one after another. We could see a rabbit, a turtle and a chameleon, and we also had the opportunity to get close to a snake.
The keepers brought the animals directly to us and explained how we could touch or hold them. At first, we were a little nervous about the snake, but the staff showed us what to do and made us feel comfortable.
It was really nice because we were not just looking at the animals from a distance. We could actually interact with them and spend a few minutes getting to know each one.
Every animal is different
One thing we liked was that every animal had a different personality.
The rabbit was quite calm, while the chameleon was much more interesting to watch because of the way it moved. The turtle was also very nice to see up close, especially because we normally only see these animals in zoos or pet shops.
The snake was probably the most unusual experience for us. We had never imagined that we would be sitting in a café in Budapest and suddenly have a snake in front of us.
The staff were always there to explain what to do and made sure that the animals were comfortable too.
A few things to know
The most important thing to know is that you need to make a reservation before going. The café recommends booking in advance because it can get busy.
The Zoo Café is open every day from 10:00 to 21:00 and is located at Fejér György utca 3, 1053 Budapest.
There are also some simple rules to follow. You have to disinfect your hands, listen to the staff and you cannot take animals out of their cages or terrariums yourself. Photos are allowed, but without flash.
Is it worth visiting?
For us, yes.
Zoo Café is a nice place to visit if you want to do something different in Budapest. It is not a typical café, but it is also not like visiting a normal zoo.
We really enjoyed the experience because we could get so close to the animals and actually interact with them. The fact that they are brought directly to your table makes the experience even more unusual.
As Erasmus students, we are always looking for new places and experiences in Budapest, and this was definitely one of the most unusual ones.
If you like animals and want to try something different, we definitely recommend visiting Zoo Café. Just remember to book a table before going!
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