Reštaurácia Houdini

In the wider centre of Bratislava, not far from the Danube embankment, lies the unassuming Restaurant Houdini. Part of the boutique Hotel Marrols, it offers a perfect retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle. Dining in this elegant hotel restaurant, with its timeless design, is a true pleasure. The attentive and friendly staff focus on detail and strive to create a feeling of an above-standard experience. Gestures such as opening the door for guests, escorting them to their table, and providing correct food service are slowly disappearing from today’s dining culture. Here, however, they are carefully preserved. Under the leadership of Chef Michal Škrabák, the kitchen delivers distinctive seasonal flavours. The only area for improvement would be a bolder use of sour and crunchy elements. Guests who prefer a more conservative approach to cuisine will feel particularly at home at Houdini. The excellent rooster broth, appropriately seasoned and enriched with a delicate chicken liver soufflé, clearly demonstrated the kitchen’s strengths. The duck, both leg and breast in our case, was superb, with perfectly rendered cracklings and beautifully crisp skin encasing tender, flavourful meat, an ode to culinary tradition. The house-made mango cake with yuzu was more restrained in character, yet in no way diminished the overall impression of the visit. Restaurant Houdini wins guests over with its elegance, flavours, and excellent wine selection, and makes it genuinely hard to leave.