The City Park has always been regarded as a bastion of entertainment for all walks of life. At Gundel, which opened 130 years ago, everyone likewise found something to suit them and a place of their own, as it was a friendly pub, not a luxury restaurant. Even today, their aim is to ensure that Gundel’s doors remain open to everyone. Alongside its legendary hospitality, social responsibility and sensitivity have always been part of Gundel’s core values, and have shaped the attitude of those who work here. This is now reflected in the Gundel mission through the care and attention given to guests with visual and hearing impairments.

To mark this milestone anniversary, the Eventrend Group, which operates the restaurant, has launched a unique CSR project, which it presented to the public at a press event. CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. The programme was hosted by Károly Gundel’s great-grandson, Gábor Gundel Takács, who evoked the legacy of the legendary restaurateur. He emphasised that, alongside innovation, this had always been accompanied by a democratic spirit and openness towards the general public.

The Gundel Mission

–A Gundel ‘It is not merely a restaurant, but a part of our living history, the guardian of our cultural and gastronomic heritage, which means something to most Hungarians,’ said Jenő Magyary, managing director of Gundel. According to him, Károly Gundel was not only a talented businessman and a creative artist with exquisite taste, but also a great innovator who demonstrated his social awareness on countless occasions throughout his career. Attention to detail and respect have always been key pillars of the restaurant. This ethos is linked to 

The restaurant’s latest innovation: from now on, guests with hearing or visual impairments can enjoy the authentic Gundel experience even more fully. The waiting staff have learnt the ten most important sign language gestures for guests in both English and Hungarian, whilst a Braille menu detailing the history of the dishes helps to provide an even higher standard of service for guests with visual impairments. In addition to all this, accessibility is also a priority throughout the restaurant.

The Eventrend Group One of the founding owners, Zoltán Kőrössy, said that 

Károly Gundel ran the City Park restaurant – founded in 1894 and later named after him – with the intention of keeping its doors open to everyone. He shaped Gundel into a place defined by hospitality, culinary artistry and the preservation of tradition – a place where it is always a pleasure to visit. 

This is the legacy that the current operator, Eventrend, also fully embraces and continues to build upon. Attention to detail and respect are key pillars of the restaurant

Gundel is particularly proud that its team is made up of such an inclusive community, which works day in, day out to ensure that everyone feels at home there. This Gundel hospitality, which is also extended to people with disabilities, is demonstrated in a short film shot recently, directed by Péter Bergendy, who is also known for his work on films such as *The Exam* and *Post Mortem*. As well as its emotional value, the short film also has educational significance. 

The film director said: the short film produced in collaboration with Gundel is a deeply human story which, as well as offering a glimpse into the workings of this unique restaurant with its rich history and constant capacity for renewal, also presents a fine example of people looking out for one another – a value that is increasingly being lost in today’s world. This is precisely why it is important that we remind ourselves time and again just how simple an act it is to pay attention, and yet what everyday miracles it can bring about.

 The creators plan to enter the completed short film into festivals and competitions.