WHERE Magazine, January 2007
"Already a scene of elegant dining intertwined with the glorious history of Buda's Castle Hill, the renowned Rivalda Café & Restaurant will now host even more life-changing events with completion of its new private banquet hall, a perfect location for small weddings, family reunions, birthday or anniversary celebrations, corporate events and much more..."
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WHERE Magazine, August 2006
"... Located next door to the National Dance Theatre, the Rivalda is one of the most impressive buildings in which to dine in Budapest. Ágnes Weninger and Chef György Gunst brought the Rivalda to life in a former manastery, a protected heritage building dating back to the 18th century..."
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KEY TO BUDAPEST Magazine, June 2006
"...there is, however, one garden that might be the most unique jewel in the city. The Rivalda restaurant has a romantic cobble-stoned courtyard off the beaten path offering peace and tranquility in a remarkably beautiful setting, offering first-rate food quality and service to boot. Just take a look at our cover and see what we mean."
WATERFORD NEWS & STAR Newspaper, USA, May 2006
"Restaurants and cafés abound in the Castle District. Recommended is Rivalda, which is beside the National Dance Theatre. The restaurant is casual-chic and if the weather is good, dine alfresco in the cobblestone courtyard.."
FALSTAFF Magazine, Austria, November 2004
"...Wir beginnen unseren Streifzug im ältesten Teil der ungarischen Hauptstadt. Am Burgberg befindet sich im ehemaligen Karmeliterkloster das Restaurant Rivalda. Agnes Weninger und György Gunst übernahmen das Lokal im Jahr 2000 und richteten es gemütlich, einer Theaterbühne nachempfunden, ein..."
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PASSPORT Magazine, USA, August 2004
"...It's hard to miss the ochre building in the castle district that is Rivalda Restaurant. Originally a monastery, then a theatre, now a theatrically themed eatery where live music enlivens the enormous cobble-stoned, inner courtyard. Two inside dining rooms have jewel tone scrims draped over riggings filled with theatrical lighting instruments and ropes. Classic dishes on the menu are nicely paired with vegetarian offerings, and al fresco diners are treated to great concerts of birdsong when the saxaphonist takes a break."
BUSINESS HUNGARY Magazine, July 2004
"Rivalda means 'footlights’' in Hungarian, and the theme is carried out in the décor of the restaurant's two pleasant dining rooms, where the walls are filled with theatre posters and prints of famous actors. Klieglights hang from the ceiling, setting the stage for treats that enliven the palate. Ágnes Weninger and her partner, Executive Chef György Gunst have created an engaging menu, with an emphasis on international cuisine currently in vogue, featuring fresh seasonal ingredients indigenous to Hungary, with few exceptions such as fresh fish flown in from abroad..."
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EUROPEAN Magazine, April 2004
"In the shadow of the Sándor Palace on Castle Hill, sits the Rivalda. The building was an 18th century monastery that was converted into a communal theatre and now it's a restaurant run by award-winning (ex-Gundel) chef György Gunst and Canadian/Hungarian entrepreneur Ágnes Weninger. The menu is another example of the Hungarian harmonising genius, combining modern European with a slight Mediterranean slant and French undertones, coupled with other world influences and adapted to indigenous ingredients. The menu changes with the seasons and as it warms up, you can eat in the delightful cobbled courtyard outside.2
FOOD & WINE Magazine, USA, May 2002
"...Budapest's hipness quotient is starting to rival that of nearby Prague— and so is its dining scene. The city's newest restaurants offer menus that riff on Hungarian staples and show off local wines. And you’ll have no trouble spending more than 30 a head. Located in a former imperial theatre, Rivalda is decorated with spotlights and portraits of Hungarian screen idols. Chef György Gunst, formerly of Gundel, laces wild boar soup with dill, stuffs pheasant breasts with pumpkin sees and spins sugar spires over poppyseed mousse hemispheres."
PASSPORT Magazine, USA, February 2001
"...On the city's vibrant and changing restaurant scene, a new star has arrived. Located on the site of a medieval Carmelite convent on Castle Hill, Rivalda is a cosy, casual place, with theatrical décor and peach-colored walls. The food is exceptional. First courses are especially tempting: grilled goat cheese with sweet cumin on fennel or grilled wild mushrooms in paprika sauce. Desserts are another treat—our chocolate ganache with ice-cream and fruit was heavenly."
