The operator of Gundel Restaurant is planning a double-digit, 20 per cent increase in turnover this year, according to Jenő Magyary, Gundel’s managing director.

Jenő Magyary also said that turnover rose to 1.5 billion forints in 2023, with profit amounting to roughly 8–10 per cent of that figure, according to preliminary data.

    The restaurant reopened in 2021 and broke even in 2022, despite the impact of the pandemic. Whilst 55,000 guests visited Gundel Restaurant in 2022, last year’s figure was nearly 57,000; this year, their aim is to serve 70,000–75,000 guests. They have increased their workforce; having had 74 staff last year, they now have a team of 80.

    "I would like to ensure that 5–10 per cent of revenue is allocated to profit this year as well," he remarked.

    He pointed out that a restaurant has been operating in the building for 130 years, under the name Gundel Restaurant since 1910. The building requires ongoing maintenance; energy efficiency upgrades began in 2022, with a solar panel system installed at a cost of nearly 100 million forints, alongside the refurbishment of the gas boiler. This year, the modernisation of this listed building will continue in March with the refurbishment of the entire façade, and part of the event space will also be renovated, at an estimated cost of 30 million forints.

    Jenő Magyary explained that from now on, people with hearing and visual impairments will receive special attention at the Gundel restaurant, as the waiting staff have learnt basic sign language in both English and Hungarian, whilst those with visual impairments can now discover the stories behind the dishes at Hungary’s most famous restaurant via a menu in Braille. “Social responsibility and sensitivity have always been part of Gundel’s core values and have shaped the attitude of those who work here,” he said.