Lion’s Locker

Ági Kreisz & Marcell Kreisz

How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
The idea came after a family trip to Barcelona. We noticed that there was still room in Budapest for a luggage storage concept. We found a location that was much bigger than what we needed for lockers alone, so we rented a coffee machine and started serving sandwiches and cakes.

Very quickly, we realized that what we enjoyed most wasn’t just running the business, but meeting people from all over the world. Hospitality became our real passion. My sister and I completed barista training, invested in our own coffee machine, and started sourcing different coffees, including decaf and filter options. After two years, we evolved into a concept that combines a brunch café with luggage lockers.

One thing that makes us different from many cafés is what we like to call coffee democracy. Whether someone prefers a classic dark Italian roast with robusta or a light-roasted 100% Arabica specialty coffee, we believe both deserve a place on the menu. At the same time, we built a breakfast menu inspired by our travels across Europe and the conversations we had with our guests.

From day one, our biggest difference has been that we’re a family business. Every member of our family worked here in the beginning, and that personal approach still defines the atmosphere today. We want every guest to feel as if they’re visiting someone’s home rather than just another café.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
The best part is definitely the service. Seeing guests enjoy a carefully brewed coffee, a creative brunch dish, and genuine hospitality is what motivates us every day.

We’re also passionate about developing new dishes, discovering new coffees, and working with local roasters. Together with our head barista, who is also a graphic designer, we even create our own merchandise.

Our team plays a huge role in everything we do. We mainly hire university students, train them according to our own values, and, after about a month, provide barista training so they can work both behind the coffee machine and on the floor. It keeps their work more varied while helping them develop new skills.

We also involve our team in brainstorming new menu items, drinks, events, and social media content because we genuinely value their ideas. We’re probably proudest of the team we’ve built and the welcoming atmosphere they create every day.

If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Definitely the coffee. We put a lot of care into every cup. We always encourage guests to tell us what kind of coffee they enjoy, and in most cases we’ll ask about their preferences so we can recommend the beans that suit them best.

For food, our Hungarian Breakfast has been on the menu since day one and has become one of our signature dishes. We’d also recommend the Turkish Eggs, which many guests say are among the best in Budapest, followed by one of our fluffy pancakes or our classic Nutella crêpes.

Our menu is inspired by breakfast cultures from across Europe and includes plenty of vegetarian options, so there’s something for everyone.

What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
One of our biggest recent challenges was the Airbnb restrictions in our district. Since a large part of our luggage storage business depended on tourism, it encouraged us to focus even more on becoming a destination brunch café rather than just a convenient stop for travelers.

It also reminded us that you have to keep adapting. We always keep an eye on current trends. If something works, we develop it further; if it doesn’t, we’re not afraid to try something new. That’s how ideas like our Bottomless Mimosa Brunch on Tuesdays and Fridays were born.

What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
We’re constantly inspired by some of Europe’s most iconic brunch cafés, from Lisbon to Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona, while also keeping a close eye on Budapest’s excellent coffee scene.

At the same time, we stay loyal to our own philosophy. As a family business, we simply try to create the kind of place where we ourselves would love to spend time as guests. Great food, excellent coffee, and genuinely warm service are always our priorities.

What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
In the beginning, Holybelly in Paris was a huge inspiration. They showed us that it’s possible to build a successful hospitality business while maintaining a strong family spirit and a personal connection with guests.

We’re also regular readers of Standart Magazine, which keeps us inspired by what’s happening in the world of specialty coffee.

Lately, we’ve been following Topjaw, whose storytelling around food and travel we really enjoy, as well as Fallow Chefs, whose recipes often inspire new ideas in our own kitchen.

Today, our biggest inspiration is Budapest itself. The city has an incredible food and coffee scene, with so many outstanding places to visit. At the same time, we’re constantly asking ourselves how we can improve, evolve, and create an even better experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
We’d love to collaborate with Tamás Buda and Gábor Rácz behind the Budapest-based bakery Termelo, whose pastries we really admire. We’d also enjoy spending a day with the European Coffee Trip team, exchanging ideas about specialty coffee, café culture, and what makes hospitality truly memorable.

Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
One detail many people miss is the four lion faces on the outside wall of the building. That’s actually where the name Lion’s Locker comes from.

The space itself also has an interesting history. It stood empty for nearly 25 years and was once believed to have been part of a leather factory’s offices. When we found it, very few people believed it could become a successful business, but we saw its potential from the very beginning.

If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
It wouldn’t be a single city, because every day we welcome people from all over the world. If anything, it would be a place where different cultures naturally meet over good coffee and brunch, a reflection of the international community that has grown around Lion’s Locker.

But if we had to choose one city, it would be Barcelona. That’s where the original inspiration came from, and we like to think we share the city’s vibrant, welcoming, and diverse spirit.

Choosing a single book or record would be much harder. Lately, we’ve had the latest Royel Otis album on repeat, and Foals is another band we keep coming back to.