Budapest Xperience

The 1894 Food & Wine Cellar - officially opened in the spring of 2002 - is new addition to the Gundel dynasty, which is situated in the 100-year-old cellars beneath the famous restaurant.

The new wine cellar, named 1894 after the date when the original Wampetics restaurant was built, has a more relaxed ambience and guests can pop in for a glass of quality Hungarian wine from the highlighted selection chalked up on a board.

The 1894 Food & Wine Cellar has two separated wine cellars returned to their original design: the Susanna Cellar bears the name of Transylvanian Princess Susanna Lorántffy; the first Tokaji Aszú Wine was processed in her vineyard, which was called “Oremus,” in the mid-seventeenth century. The other cellar is named after Saint Orban (Urbanus), the guardian of vineyards and cellars - wine growers used to sprinkle St. Orban’s statue with wine in gratitude for the good harvest.

The low arches, candles in wrought iron holders and bare brickwork evoke a feeling of history. Barrel-tops are decorated with crests of villages of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region carved by wood artist Edgár Végh, and rustic furniture complements the design.

The Cellars can be reached from the main floor of the restaurant by elevator or a flight of steps. Special dinners or any other events can be served here.

The selection, which includes more than 100 wines from all grape-producing regions of Hungary, is changed every month, allowing visitors to purchase by the glass rather than splashing out for a whole bottle.

Guests can sit in a side room, on high stools by a large wooden bar decorated with mini wine barrels, consulting with the sommelier about which bottle to select. Those who fancy just a few drinks or wish to sample some of the best Hungarian wines can also nibble on delicious dishes. Guests can treat themselves to three top Gundel wines accompanied by deluxe nibbles.