A gleaming first ball at Gundel Palace – photos

A tradition has taken root at Gundel: the Gundel Palace’s first ball captivated the stars with a full house.

Gundel Ball: another chapter in the long history

On Saturday, February 7, Gundel Palace opened its doors for an evening of ball, and it quickly became clear that a tradition had been born. The “Among the Stars” themed Gundel Ball was sold out, with 345 guests across three venues, becoming a genuine communal experience.

The evening was not merely an elegant social occasion, but a consciously crafted new chapter in the Gundel story. The building’s frontage brought the place’s history to life, while in the City Park the palace’s lights far away signalled that something special was afoot. The ball’s esteemed guests were three leading figures in Hungarian space exploration: Tibor Kapu, Gyula Cserényi, and Bertalan Farkas. Their presence did not only reinforce the “Among the Stars” concept, but also delivered the message that achievement, knowledge and community are parts of the same story.

Show and creative menu

One of the evening’s strongest moments came with the appearance of a hologram of Károly Gundel, and the opening was made memorable by Zoltán Latinovits’s voice. The past’s iconic characters connected with the present naturally – not as monuments but as living ideas. The dance floor filled rapidly after the first couples, with around fifty couples taking to the floor; soon it was evident the room was full and the mood carefree. Before the opening dance, a short yet spectacular show – featuring aerialists and mirror dancers – set the pace for the night.

The cuisine was playful and inventive, thanks to Wolf András, corporate chef, and Róbert Vérten, executive chef, and their teams. One guest favourite was a tube-served körözött, a tasty nod to the space theme. Among the activities, the “Tangible Space” stood out, widely popular with guests and proving that experiences truly work when shared. The hosts of the evening, Gábor Gundel-Takács and Anna Mikes, with their direct, amiable presence, contributed greatly to ensuring the ball felt not just beautiful but humane. Guests’ feedback spoke of perfect satisfaction, with one noting: “This ball had a soul.”

A new tradition?

The Gundel Ball was not a one-off. The future is already shaping up: summer musical-and-dance evenings will return, on a fortnightly basis, further reinforcing the sense of community that defined the inaugural ball.

The Saturday night event sent a clear message: in the Gundel Palace, a ball is not nostalgia – it marks the start of a new, living tradition.

Click for more of our articles in the issue:

• At Gundel, tasting the menu Pope John Paul II enjoyed during his ’96 visit to Hungary – photos
• Budapest’s Gundel restaurant, an unmissable experience