The Turks: they came, they saw and they stayed with us – at least in Eger

The restaurant in the castle’s courtyard was definitely unique and a niche design. Where did the idea come from and what did the locals of Eger have to say?

In 2011 there was a calling for a tender, which created the opportunity to open a restaurant here in the castle. My wife and I applied, and we won. We bit off more than we could chew. The site of the current restaurant was an art gallery with crumbling plaster, cement and sawdust floors. The interior was designed by Zsolt Máté, interior designer and owner of Newage Interior Ltd., according to my wife's instructions. There are only two restaurants situated in a castle in the entire country (Buda and Eger) which is why the locals can be so proud of the 1552 restaurant in Eger Castle.

How hard is it to keep with Turkish cuisine?

The concept was to match the look with the food. We managed to find the right chef, Dávid Tóth, and move forward with this idea with him. Representing international cuisine, we have specifically Turkish dishes and use a great deal of Turkish and Mediterranean spices and ingredients. Traditional Turkish coffee is a permanent fixture on the drinks menu, served authentically with coffee grounds and a service appropriate to Turkish coffee culture. At the same time, as guests love Hungarian flavours, there is no reason to go in a completely Turkish direction. In the kitchen of 1552, we mostly use locally sourced ingredients from regional producers. We regularly hold wine evenings and cheese tastings, where we use the best products of the Eger wine region and the products of local producers, such as the cheeses of the Tamás Sándor cheese factory in Mónos, Soma ham, as well as chicken and Hungarian Grey Cattle from Bükkszentmárton.

Are there other events at the restaurant?

One of our most successful occasions was part of a series of events. We invited famous chefs, including András Wolf, and the so-called "Four Hands" event was full-house. The evening consisted of a 5-6 course menu prepared jointly by the guest chef and our chef. It was a huge success, with the locals from Eger and tourists coming to the city scrambling to buy tickets in advance. Due to the location, we are obviously affected by all the events that take place in the castle. For the biggest event of the year, the Castle Festival, which attracts 8-10 thousand people, reservations are required months in advance. 

How did the idea come about to develop 1552 and turn it into a hotel? 

1552 was an iconic year that everyone in Hungary can associate with the historical events that took place in Eger. It was therefore a great opportunity to build a brand around this, leading to the creation of the 1552 Hotel. In 2019, an iconic building in the most densely populated part of Eger became available for sale. The locals in Eger called it the "General's House", which was used as barracks, a school, a Chinese shop and a restaurant, but it has never had an individual owner. We managed to purchase the building. The idea, which is found nowhere else in the country, was to display all the characteristics of this region in the various rooms. Each room is different, as is typical of the boutique hotel genre. The interiors of the 15 rooms have a Turkish theme, while the suite is themed around the castle. Yet the Baroque room, the forest, the beach, the nearby Szalajka Valley, the wonderful wines of the local vintners: the egri csillag, the bikavér, all inspired the look of a room, also designed by Zsolt Máté, interior designer. This was our way of commemorating and presenting visitors what we, the people of Eger, are most proud of: our history, our natural assets and everything else related to the name of Eger.