Tarpan comes loaded with pleasure

After a day of jumping at the nearby stables with some shiny mares, stop in for a delightful lunch or dinner at the Tarpan. A little difficult to find, but once there, you'll be glad you made the effort.
We say it's in Petržalka but actually it's in Ovsište, behind the Ekonomická Univerzita, next to the riding club. To get there turn off the main road on the east side of Petržalka just south of the university, turn immediately right and follow a charming road through the woods. The enjoyment starts just driving up to the restaurant, housed in a beautifully maintained building set against the riding academy.
Once inside, the pleasure continues. You are greeted by a delightful host and seated. The decor is wooden with an equestrian theme and spacious high ceilings. The tables are far enough apart that you don't feel you are dining with your neighbor. In the middle, Tarpan has a grill on display from which the smell of sizzling meats and chicken will immediately delight your nose and later your stomach.

Address: Májová 21 (Petržalka)
Hours:Every day, 11:00-23:00
Cuisine:Slovak
Prices:Sk Sk
Reservations:Recommended - (Tel.: 841-585)
English menu: No, German
Credit Cards: No
Recommended:Definitely


After a day of jumping at the nearby stables with some shiny mares, stop in for a delightful lunch or dinner at the Tarpan. A little difficult to find, but once there, you'll be glad you made the effort.

We say it's in Petržalka but actually it's in Ovsište, behind the Ekonomická Univerzita, next to the riding club. To get there turn off the main road on the east side of Petržalka just south of the university, turn immediately right and follow a charming road through the woods. The enjoyment starts just driving up to the restaurant, housed in a beautifully maintained building set against the riding academy.

Once inside, the pleasure continues. You are greeted by a delightful host and seated. The decor is wooden with an equestrian theme and spacious high ceilings. The tables are far enough apart that you don't feel you are dining with your neighbor. In the middle, Tarpan has a grill on display from which the smell of sizzling meats and chicken will immediately delight your nose and later your stomach.

Tarpan has taken steps to comply with the new smoking law by having a non-smokers section, but hasn't quite started implementing it; it forgets which side shuns cigarettes as we found ourselves in this section but surrounded by smokers. The high ceilings helped, though. Nevertheless, the food, atmosphere and service are rare examples of what we are looking for in an establishment. A special mention goes to the service, which is attentive without being intrusive; the staff obviously enjoys providing good service. Tarpan caters extensively to non-carnivores, offering mushroom goulash, broccoli and cauliflower au gratin and a nice, fresh salad bar. The goulash comes loaded with dumplings and fresh mushrooms and is a big filler, especially if you have a hearty appetite, though it can be inconsistent.

We started with an appetizer of pancakes stuffed with sheep's cheese that was fried. Although not mentioned in the menu that it was fried, it turned out to be a perfect beginner, as did the salmon with mustard sauce. The broccoli cream soup also is something very special.

One of our dishes, the roasted chicken stuffed with nuts and served with a black currant sauce is a delight, even if it was served a little dry. The sauce, though, was a hit. The steak, ordered rare, was prepared rare, and served with a moderately hot devil's sauce which complemented the meal.

We could go on and on about Tarpan but what is best to note is that it's a great place to take a client, or a potential one, for a business engagement. Yet it is romantic and a great choice for that special occasion. Order some wine from the small but impressive list and select something off the menu that you fancy, and you're in for a super evening. Dinner for two cost 570 Sk without drinks.

Author: Michel Litt, Graham Wood

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