At the Gundel dance evenings, the world of cheerful, light-hearted entertainment is brought back to life thanks to the dancer Andrea Keleti and the presenter Zsolt Lukács.

Újházi chicken soup with homemade noodles. Carpathian pike-perch fillet with mushrooms and crayfish, in a buttery sauce. The original Gundel pancakes. The Gundel-style National 11  We sampled three of their signature dishes, whilst it became clear that, from now on, this time-honoured establishment will offer more than just food.

After all, Gundel has always been more than just a restaurant; within its walls, people didn’t just eat and drink, but also enjoyed balls, gatherings with gypsy music, and evenings after which one’s feet would ache for days from all the dancing. And from April, they’re bringing this world back: with evenings of music and dancing, they’re enticing those who believe that entertainment doesn’t end with a glass of wine and a good dinner to get up and move.

So what can we expect? First of all: dancing.

Dancer Andrea Keleti and her husband, Zoltán Kovács, teach the guests a different dance at each event, so even those less familiar with the world of ballroom dancing will feel more at ease on the dance floor.

In addition, presenter Zsolt Lukács will ensure that the dancers’ moves are complemented by a touch of culture – he will be recounting the history of Gundel and its balls, and the elegant celebrations of the past 130 years.

Nowadays, when nights out often boil down to standing around in a noisy club, Gundel offers a genuine alternative: an evening where you don’t have to be young to have a good time. The evenings will be accompanied by delightful live music, ranging from classical to swing, whilst the restaurant will provide gastronomic delights of its usual high standard. The emphasis, however, is not on pomp, but on elegant yet relaxed socialising, because it is shared experiences, not formalities, that make the best dance evenings memorable.

The Gundel dance evenings – which take place on the last Wednesday of every month – will be free of charge, but it’s still worth booking a table and, of course, sampling the chicken soup, the pike-perch fillet and the iconic pancakes, amongst other dishes. And if all goes well, Gundel won’t stop there: if the public takes to it, the dance evenings could become a regular summer fixture. What’s more, the aim is to eventually bring back the classic ball – meaning that anyone who starts learning the tango now will be able to show off their skills at the real Gundel Ball next year, which is planned for February 2026. 

The first music and dance evening kicks off on 23 April and will then be held once a month until September. In the event of bad weather, the event will take place inside Gundel, but weather permitting, there will also be dancing in the garden.

Further dates: 28 May, 25 June, 30 July, 27 August and 24 September 2025. For further information and to book a table, please visit the On the Gundel website.