Gundel

Gundel Review

This is probably Hungary's most celebrated restaurant, both for its history (opened in 1894) as well as its renovation in the 1990s by Hungarian-American restaurateur George Lang. The gorgeous setting in the City Park includes an Art Nouveau bar designed by Adam Tihany. Fin-de-siècle grandeur shines through in the glorious dining room, tastefully adorned with 19th- and 20th-century Hungarian paintings, and a 10-piece gypsy band adds an earnest nostalgia to the place. The food, sadly, is just a bit above average, though some classics such as goose liver pâté and Gundel pancakes are well executed. Nevertheless, a visit is a uniquely memorable experience. Or go just next door to their (literally) sister establishment, Bagolyvar, created by George Lang as a restaurant and a kitchen exclusively run by women. Though with a humbler interior, the food is just as good and a little less pricey.