Legendary Gundel restaurant reopened for guests – PHOTO GALLERY
Since the coronavirus pandemic hit Hungary in March 2020, many restaurants have been struggling, and a lot of them had to close due to the hardships imposed by the restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus.
One of Hungary’s most iconic coffee houses and restaurants, Gundel, also had to close in March 2020, and the concern was that it might not reopen at all.
However, according to Travelo, the establishment was not idle in the past one and a half years. They renewed the restaurant, and once you step in, you will be mesmerised by the elegance of the building’s historical magnificence. Yet, the atmosphere is modern, familiar, and inviting.
Over the past 125 years, the fame of Gundel has reached many places all around the globe. According to Travelo, The New York Times wrote in 1939 that “Gundel is better publicity for Budapest than a shipload of tourist brochures”.
According to Csaba Szabó, the manager of Gundel, over the establishment’s existence, countless famous people have visited the legendary restaurant in the heart of Budapest, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Angelina Jolie, and royalties like Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom.
However, the manager of Gundel said that they would like to return to the roots of the establishment. They would like to welcome everyone to their coffee house, and not just the most elegant people in formal attire.
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Back when Károly Gundel operated the establishment, he was living upstairs with his family, and children would often run around among the guests.
Csaba Szabó said that even a soldier or a housemaid could buy something in the old Gundel. After the reopening, everyone could enjoy the coffee house, even walking in from the street. They could order breakfast and the famous Gundel desserts for about 2,000-4,000 forints (€6-12).
According to Világgazdaság, the restaurant’s menu was finished 80-100 years ago with traditional Hungarian dishes, such as goulash soup, chicken paprikash, and the iconic Gundel pancake.
The manager, Csaba Szabó, also said that when Spring comes, Gundel will reopen its garden for everyone, and since there will be a direct entry to the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, they will organise events where zoo animals might walk around Gundel guests in the garden.
If you are in Budapest, be sure to visit this iconic and legendary restaurant and coffee house. You will certainly not regret it.
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Source: Travelo.hu, Vg.hu
Gundel was a person who treated as person instead of catering to only well to do as far as price
Gundel also has its communist era shameful episode. Virtually all the people who worked there were communists and members of secret service. If a young culinary graduate refused to join the secret service, the management and workers made her life a living hell forcing her to quit with little hope for decent employment. Life under communist slime.
In my opinion, save for location and ambiance, a highly disappointing venue. Mediocre food, riduculously high prices, rude waiters. I can only wish that the pandemic has tought them some lesson.
I doubt if any of communist, secret service of Kádár era dictatorship are still alive, long gone.
Gundel is in good hands now.