2,474 reviews
#124 of 3,849 Restaurants in Budapest$$$$, International, Hungarian, Vegetarian friendly+36 30 603 2480+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Mon
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Tue
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Wed
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Thu
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Fri
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Sat
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
$8.00 – $32.00
CUISINES
International, Hungarian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Is this an Austrian restaurant?
Details
About
Hungary's most famous and only Hungarian restaurant is unmissable, the most famous and bucket-list place in Budapest and Hungarian gastronomy! Today's Gundel is back to the original mission of "Gundel is for everyone!" We believe in and promote the founding idea of Károly Gundel, under the auspices of which we offer our dishes the most famous Gundel classics, surrounded by legendary hospitality! The Gundel menu, its backbone, did not need to be written, it has been ready for 80 years. The dishes are based on the best Gundel tradition, at the heart of which is the "National 11", the eleven iconic Gundel dishes that we all regard as the most important Gundel heritage. Through them, we show visitors from other countries and cultures what we Hungarians like, what we eat, what we consider to be the basis of Hungarian cuisine.Gundel, its Hungarian cuisine and these flavours compete in the international gastronomic arena.
PRICE RANGE
$8.00 – $32.00
CUISINES
International, Hungarian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Family style, Non-smoking restaurants, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.5
2,474 reviews
Excellent
1,526
Very good
521
Average
228
Poor
111
Terrible
88
Hugh S
Tournus337 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
This restaurant is in a fantastic location and feels very 1930ish with fabulous decor and high ceilings . It felt like a bit of bygone luxury and looking by the list of guests who have eat there you can see why it has a fine reputation in Budapest. The food was excellent. we started with the Amouse Bouche which was a form of panna cotta with a flavorsome biscuit. For starters I had goulash soup and partner had chicken noodle soup, both were very good and packed with flavour. mains I had Mangalista ( wild boar) which was truly outstanding and a taste never to forget. partner had steak Rossini which was good but we both felt a bit overpriced. The restaurant has musicians playing who come and play at your table , they know a huge variety of songs and play to a very high standard , reminded us of the cafes in St Marks square Venice.
And so to my moan about this place . I ordered a bottle of Bock Merlot and when it came to the table the manager ( sure it wasn't a sommelier) poured some of the wine into a separate glass and started to tell me how Hungarians taste wine. This was a ridiculous bit of unnecessary theater as i am an expert on red wine and have sampled hundreds of bottles from all over the world and in a large number of Michelin starred restaurants. Why I was picked out for this charade I have no idea , maybe because I wasn't wearing a suit as I didn't see anybody else in the restaurant enduring this experience. Annoying as its not professional , was not required and of course he was drinking a quarter of a glass of wine I had paid for . A very annoying experience but decided not to make a scene in the restaurant as everything else was excellent. So despite this service blip a very good meal in a fantastic restaurant , still giving it 5 stars .... but they so nearly lost one !
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gundelkozma
Dear Mr Stacey,
Beside our private conversation about your Gundel experience let me express our gratitude for your 5 bubbles review.
Thank you for your kind evaluation of ambiance, cuisine, service and music.
We have clarified the issue with our maitre'd, and please accept again our apologies for his non-perfect behavior.
Hoping to be able to serve you again
Kálmán Kozma
Gundel's brand ambassador
Written March 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tibor M
Budapest38 contributions
Dec 2021 • none
The Budapest restaurant, which has seen more beautiful days, gives less after opening than before. The coat is not taken away at the entrance and the coats are placed on the chairs at the tables as well. The interior of the restaurant has changed, with pictures of famous painters disappearing from the walls. Many green plants try to make the room elegant, with little success. A carriage has been placed in the middle of the restaurant, which takes the place of the tables. The women's gypsy band coming to the carriage gives a medium performance, even though there are many good Roma bands in Budapest. During the two-year closure, the wine stock was not replaced and the storage was probably not professional either, as aging can be felt on the wines. The ordered wine didn’t get into the wine cooler either, only at the end of dinner, when it no longer made sense.
The food is not convincing either, for example, "Crumbly mangalica ribs" was chewy, succulent, after our complaint we tried to correct it with a "Bakonyi sirloin".
Overall, the Gundel has remained an elegant restaurant, but the high prices are not justified due to the many shortcomings.
Written January 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Dear Tibor M,
The Gundel building is celebrating its 127 years anniversary and proudly holding the Gundel name since 1910.
Thank you for your critics about service, we assure you, we will use them in staff briefings.
In hope of a seamless experience next time waiting for you.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Written March 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ioana C
107 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
We had lunch there on the second day of Christmas and they had a set menu with about 3 options for every meal, so it was really perfect for everyone. They had half price and same size portions for kids, which seems a bit of a waste, but then it's not something to really complain about. They had a dessert bar with lots of delicious sweets. Everything was very good, the table was very elegant and the service astonishing. Some Hungarian live music, Hungarian wine as much as you like. Would definitely do there again.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gundelkozma
Dear Ioana C,
We are grateful for the evaluation of your Gundel Sparkling Sunday experience sent to TripAdvisor.
Thank you for your kind words about selection of dishes, our generous offer for kids under 12 years, our rich dessert bar, the table setting, live music and service.
Hope to have you at our premises in the not too distant future for another Sparkling Sunday or for a totally different dinner dining experience.
Kálmán Kozma
Gundel's brand ambassador
Written January 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
winterorchid
Orlando15 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
The good: the band was very good and was a special and unique touch, the goulash soup and the bread were wonderful. The atmosphere was beautiful. Service overall was good.
Pike perch was way too salty served on top of salty risotto.
They charged 12.5% service charge. I don’t know what for because they also expect tips as well. I hope they use that service charge for the band.
My husband was at Gundel many years ago and was going through a exuberant trip down memory lane.
As for me, I’m glad I had the experience. But if I was to go there again, I would just get the soup and bread and enjoy the band.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gundelkozma
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your opinion about your Gundel experience on TripAdvisor. We are glad to read your evaluation of music, atmosphere and service.
I have forwarded your comment about saltiness of pike-perch and its risotto.
The service charge is distributed among a broad pool of employees, including service staff, cooks and dishwashers.
Looking forward to your next visit
Kálmán Kozma
Gundel's brand ambassador
Written March 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
brispen0805
Lytham St Anne's10 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
My wife and I visited Gundels on Valentines night.
The interior is art deco which, together with the background (live) music presents a very relaxing ambience.
The staff were all very attentive and knowledgeable about the food and wines and couldn't do enough for the diners.
Food was excellent, this was the first time that I have had a fillet steak that I could cut with my fork (beautifully tender). We also tried Hungarian wines which were also very good.
The cost for three course meal, beer, wines was about 30% less than a meal in U.K. which would not have matched Gundel for quality.
This is a must go to if you're in Budapest.
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Dear brispen0805,
We are grateful for the fantastic evaluation of your Gundel dinner.
We hardly work to offer a real dining experience to our guests, composed of all the elements you are describing, from reception to cuisine, service, music and ambiance.
In hope to serve you again in the not too distant future.
Gundel Cafe Patissserie Restaurant Team
Written March 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Razorblade2508
Heusden-Zolder6 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
This restaurant was recommended by several locals, with good reason.
It is one of the best restaurants in town. Star-level food, great surroundings, private little orchestra playing, wonderful service.
What do you want more?
It is not cheap, but if you limit yourself to one main dish, it will be only a bit more expensive then the average tourist trap in Budapest.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline W
Wells31 contributions
Aug 2022 • friends
We went on a Thursday evening and sat outside on the enchanting terrace. Gundels has so much potential to be glorious but it fell short. Expecting a little more glamour we were dismayed that people were wearing casual t shirts etc… my friend ordered the goats cheese appetiser and it was served, (a tiny amount I might add) hidden beneath an untidy pile of scratchy salad leaves and plain boiled cauliflower florets. Strange.
The strawberry champagne sorbet was floating in a kind of syrupy mix of champagne so you didn’t know whether to drink it or eat it with a spoon or both. Again, strange. The famous Gundel pancakes were a little on the stodgy side too.
Highlights were the paprika chicken, which was quite delicious and the lovely Hungarian champagne.
The pianist played enthusiastically too, which lifted the slightly sombre atmosphere.
There were more waiters than diners (a slight exaggeration but it seemed like that) and we left a little downhearted and saddened that Gundels seems to be no longer what it was.
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Dear Guest,
Thank you very much for your feedback, our staff was surprised to read your post.
We're sorry you didn't leave our restaurant with the best experience.
Thank you for being our guest. We hope to see you again.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant Team
Written November 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sue11
Wimborne Minster165 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
We booked Gundel restaurant particularly because we understood the interior to be very attractive, but when we arrived (Saturday 27th August) the inside was shut and all diners were being seated outside on the terrace. Our table was just covered with a standard table cloth and it all looked very standard, nothing special.
The male server who seated us and served alongside another male server was not very friendly and unwilling to help us order a taxi to arrive at the end of our meal, we had to talk to the lady stood welcoming arriving diners to get a taxi booked.
We had booked the ala carte menu and we all decided to order mains and desert rather than 3 courses as we may get too full.
My mains of sirloin was okay but not amazing, the potatoes were a bit bland and I was left feeling that I had not chosen the best dish. Our friends, one of who also had the steak agreed with me as to the taste and quality, another dish, the paprika chicken was enjoyed by my other half, this seemed to be a good choice. The last dish ordered which was the potato casserole was also declared to be fine.
Deserts were also hit and miss, the chocolate cake with sour cherries was good but the pancake was a bit heavy.
As the sun went down the terrace area was lit up with fairy lights which did help it to look more attractive but this did not make up for our disappointment at not seeing the inside.
Overall I would not recommend Gundel restaurant both for the outside seating area and the food.
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your feedback, we are surprised to read your comments. For us, the guest experience is the most important. We are very sorry that you are disappointed with our restaurant.
Thank you for being our guest! We hope to see you again.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Team
Written November 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gary M
Portsmouth116 contributions
Apr 2022 • couples
This is a superb restaurant, the decor is fabulous, the building has so much history.
The waiters were very polite, attentive and knowledgeable about the food and the wines.
The chef came out to talk to us and explained how it took almost 3 years to perfect his "lard foam" which I have to say was amazing.
We both had the 4 course menu. All the food was cooked to perfection. I had steak (rare) my partner had medium and both were amazing.
We both had a different wine suggested by the waiter and they were excellent choices. I finished with a coffee.
The most amazing thing was the price.
£106 (48000 HUF) for the two of us.
Such amazingly good value for such high quality food and service.
Written April 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Kedves vendégünk, köszönjük szépen, hogy maximálisra értékelte éttermünket. Külön öröm, hogy ízlettek a magyar ételek. Örömmel olvassuk kedves szavait és az ajánlást, szeretettel visszavárjuk. Gundel csapata
Written July 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gareth C
York39 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
Every now and then you should treat yourself. By this, I mean you should spend a week’s food budget on one meal. At Gundel, you will feel you have spent your money very wisely - and you can go twice on that budget.
From the warm welcome by the cheerful receptionist who takes your coat, to the waiting staff and musicians, everyone here wants you to relax and enjoy your visit and your meal.
The food is amazing. Even the simplest of dishes, like brisket and mash with a side of peaches sprinkled with sweet paprika, are prepared to perfection.
And here’s the killer: considering the quality of the food and the dining experience, the prices are very reasonable.
Written February 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
András M
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your kind feedback and the five star rating.
The Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant Team is looking forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Written February 27, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kimeb91 .
Yokosuka3 contributions
Nov 2021 • friends
Restaurant indicates that they were temporarily closed recently, probably due to COVID-19, however after contacting them via messenger they replied with a reservation for their reopening. Showed up on the date and at the time of reservation and the restaurant had lights on and tables set, but doors locked. Planned our whole day around this reservation only to be stranded in the dark!
Written November 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Kedves vendégünk, köszönjük szépen, hogy értékelte éttermünket. Örömmel olvassuk kedves szavait és az ajánlást, szeretettel visszavárjuk. Gundel csapata
Written July 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Venture63369157419
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • friends
Dining at Gundel was a first-time experience for both my friend and myself, but we wanted to see whether the fame and revered history of the restaurant will match the quality of the food and service provided. Sadly, I was disappointed in both. The meat in the chicken paprikash was rubbery, undercooked and lacked flavor. The sauce was bland and thin. I have been cooking Hungarian dishes and sampling the food in many Hungarian restaurants for several decades, and this was a mediocre dish at best. The cucumber salad was swimming in a thin sour cream sauce, which I found unpleasant.
The signature Gundel palacsinta was also way too sweet, at the level preferred in the US but not in Hungary.
I also found the menu selection very limited, with odd meal offerings that certainly are not among iconic Hungarian dishes (bean croquet with zakuska?).
The servers never came to check with us whether we needed anything else, or how we liked the food, which I found surprising at a restaurant that prides itself as one of the best in Budapest.
The ambiance was fine with live piano music and a Roma band playing throughout the evening.
Overall, I am sad to say that I was very disappointed.
Written October 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
András Morvai
Dear Guest!
First of all, we would like to thank you for visiting us and sharing your comments about your visit. We are very sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations and we apologize that we were unable to fully meet your needs. Your feedback is very important to us and allows us to improve our services.
First of all, let us emphasize that Gundel is an iconic restaurant with a long and honorable history. Last year we received more than 90% positive feedback from 50,000 guests and were awarded the title of best restaurant based on Dining City reviews for the excellence of our food and service.
When creating the menu, we keep traditions and iconic Gundel dishes in mind, such as the Gundel pancakes, which we make based on the original recipe. In addition, we try to expand our offer with seasonal dishes in which we carry on the legacy of Károly Gundel, we always have the opportunity to present new and special dishes. Chicken Paprika is one of our most popular dishes and we usually get positive feedback about it.
Every comment and feedback creates an opportunity for us to develop and improve. We look forward to welcoming you back, and if you visit us again, we are preparing a little surprise for you.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your comments and we look forward to serving you with more pleasant experiences in the future.
Sincerely yours,
The Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant Team
Written October 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ailbhe R
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
Gundel was like nothing we've ever experienced before, the attention to every detail was amazing. From the decor, live musicians and staff (especially our server Joseph), a trip to Gundel is not just a fantastic meal but an entirely magical experience. The food was delicious and authentically hungarian. Our server Joseph along with the other staff really went above and beyond in every way- even teaching us the five steps to wine tasting.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gundelkozma
Dear Guest,
Let me express my gratitude for the fantastic evaluation sent to TripAdvisor about your dining experience at restaurant Gundel.
Your words are very motivating not only for our entire staff but for our future guests as well.
We are very proud about our motivated colleagues, as Mr József Lukács, who does not spear a moment to pamper his clients with his famous five-step wine tasting show.
We sincerely hope to have you again at our premises
Kálmán Kozma
Gundel's brand ambassador
Written January 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynda P
Broadstone89 contributions
Nov 2022 • couples
Great atmosphere, piano player to listen to alternated with a couple of violinists playing in the background to cap off a relaxing meal.
We had a couple of salads, a gin and tonic each, a special coffee topped with cream and flakes of gold leaf, mint tea and two fantastic desserts - all of it it was first class. Very good quality service who were attentive, but not overly. The building itself is right next to the zoo and adjacent to the park and inside is simply stunning, reminding us of the glamorous art deco period. A real treat.
Written November 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Dear Lynda,
Thank you for the kind words and the outstanding review! Our team works every day to ensure that our guests leave with good memories.
We look forward to welcoming you back!
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Team
Written November 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta17369 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
We visited this restaurant in 2013 and had a wonderful experience. About six weeks before our recent trip I email the restaurant and made a reservation for a table in the Restaurant, not the Cafe Patisserie. We eagerly anticipated this evening.
We had another amazing dinner. Much of what I wrote about our first visit still holds true today.
There has been a restaurant in this building since 1894, and since 1910 the family has operated it as Gundal. The dining room has changed over the years but still retains the feel of an elegant restaurant from the turn of the 20th century.
The tables are well spaced, so we felt like we had a lot of privacy. And once again we enjoyed the background music provided by a string quartet and a pianist who alternated performances, playing classical music and some movie themes.
White gloved servers provided impeccable service with a relaxed pace.
We began with a basket of breads accompanied by infused spreads, and an Amuse Bouche, a fried fish ball on tartar sauce.
We each selected the three course menu with wine paring. My wife started with the Goulash soup, and I ordered the “Death by Pate’”. That is not what the menu calls it, but that would be an appropriate way to describe it. It was the sampler of three house made pates. One was a smoked “steak” or slice of pate served on a sauce of nuts and berries. The second, described as Pate’ Foam, was creamy, light, and whipped. The third was cold goose liver in a ramekin covered with its own fat.
For entrees we selected the Pike Perch and the Pork Neck with parsley buttered rice.
Each course came paired with a wine selected by the sommelier to pair with the plate we had selected.
For our third course we moved to a table on the floor to be closer to the piano player. We ordered the House Specialty, the pancake rolled around a walnut cream filling and topped with chocolate fudge and more walnuts. For our second dessert we selected the special Chocolate Layer Cake with Sour Cherries. We shared them and could not agree on which we preferred.
It was not an inexpensive evening, but it was worth every penny!
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant
Dear Guest,
Thank you for the kind words and the outstanding review! Our staff is always delighted to read such satisfied reviews. We are particularly pleased that you mentioned our waiters and that you liked our food.
Thank you for being one of our returning guests!
The Gundel Restaurant Café team looks forward to welcoming you back!
Written December 1, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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