Helyszín címkék:
A New Chapter Begins in the Story of Platán Gourmet Restaurant - Hungary’s first and still only two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant outside the capital enters a new era.
Forrás: sajtóközlemény
The current permanent fine dining operation of Platán Gourmet Restaurant, the two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant within the Platán Tata complex, will conclude on 31 July 2026. The change affects only the Gourmet restaurant. Platán Bistro, awarded a Bib Gourmand distinction, Platán Udvarház, recognised with a MICHELIN One Key, and all other units of the Platán Tata complex will continue welcoming guests in their current form.
The decision marks the end of a professional era that has lasted more than a decade. After eleven years, Chef István Pesti will conclude his work with Platán, and Platán Gourmet Restaurant will cease operating as a permanent restaurant in its current format. Over the years, Platán Gourmet became one of the defining institutions of Hungarian gastronomy and made history as the first—and still only—two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant in rural Hungary.
The Closing of an Exceptional Professional Era
"When I arrived in Tata eleven years ago, very few people believed that a MICHELIN-starred restaurant could be built in the countryside. We believed in it nonetheless, and together with the team we followed that path all the way. Everything I wanted to achieve professionally, I was able to achieve here. I do not feel that anything has been left unfinished. I gave this place everything I could give at that moment in my life. For me, Platán Gourmet was never just a restaurant. It was a shared way of thinking, a creative workshop, and a team working toward the same goal for years. I am proud that together we created Hungary’s first—and still only—two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant outside Budapest, and that we proved the highest level of gastronomy can thrive beyond the capital. Now I feel the time has come to close this chapter, take a step back, recharge, and make room for whatever comes next. I am grateful to everyone who worked with us, believed in us, and became part of this journey over the past eleven years. What we built together can never be taken away from us." — István Pesti
Costes Group Exits the Project
"We can only express our deepest respect for the professional achievements of the Platán Gourmet team. When we joined the project as majority owners in the spring of 2024, we hoped that alongside preserving the extraordinary standards represented by Platán Gourmet, we could also help establish a financially sustainable operating model. The experience of the past two years has shown, however, that we have unfortunately not succeeded in achieving this goal; if anything, we seem to be moving further away from it. It is concerning that the operation of Hungary’s only two-MICHELIN-starred fine dining restaurant outside the capital has for years been sustainable only through significant financial losses, and the first months of this year have not indicated any meaningful improvement.
Unfortunately, this reality also says a great deal about the current level of demand for gastronomy in Hungary. At the same time, a restaurant of this calibre has a value that extends far beyond economics. Platán Gourmet has become one of the country’s most outstanding professional workshops, receiving extraordinary recognition from both guests and the wider gastronomic community. For that reason, despite the financial challenges, we considered it important to continue supporting its operation and remained hopeful that demand would eventually catch up with its achievements.
In recent days, however, Chef István Pesti informed us of his decision to close this chapter of his life. From the very beginning, Platán Gourmet was built around his creative vision, and the exceptional work created by him and his team played a decisive role in earning the restaurant the highest level of recognition from The MICHELIN Guide. Without him, we no longer see a reason to continue operating the restaurant in its current form, as we consider both the professional risks and the likely future financial losses too significant. Over time, we have developed a genuine friendship with the owners of the Platán Tata complex, but our involvement was limited exclusively to Platán Gourmet as both professional partners and co-investors. We are pleased to see that the team will remain together and that the space will continue with an exciting new gastronomic concept. However, we do not believe we can contribute meaningful added value to this new direction, and therefore we have agreed that we will no longer participate in the project as owners." — Károly Gerendai
István Pesti’s Creative Legacy Remains Part of Platán Tata’s Identity
Commenting on the transition, Vivien Varga, Director of the Platán Tata Complex, said:
"The story of Platán Gourmet represents one of the most significant milestones in the history of Hungarian hospitality. We originally created the restaurant to provide a platform for István Pesti’s creative vision and to explore how far talent, trust, and shared thinking could take us. What we achieved together over the years exceeded every expectation. Platán Gourmet became not only the first two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant in rural Hungary but also a professional workshop that placed Tata firmly on the international gastronomic map. We are deeply grateful to every colleague, partner, and guest who has been part of this journey. We do not see this transition as a loss, but rather as the dignified conclusion of an extraordinary professional era. The knowledge, mindset, and commitment to quality that were cultivated within Gourmet will remain an integral part of Platán Tata’s identity. Over the years, several units of Platán Tata have demonstrated that it is possible to build high-quality, sustainable hospitality in the countryside. The Bib Gourmand distinction awarded to Platán Bistro, the MICHELIN One Key recognition received by Platán Udvarház, and the continued development of the entire complex all prove that Tata has become a genuine gastronomic and tourism destination. This is the foundation we intend to build upon. We have many plans ahead. The further development of our garden and greenhouse project, strengthening our farm-to-table philosophy, and creating new gastronomic and tourism collaborations that generate long-term value are all part of our vision. Our priority has always been to develop the entire Platán Tata ecosystem in a sustainable way while preserving the uniqueness that continues to attract guests to Tata."
A New Purpose for the Platán Gourmet Space
"The Platán Gourmet space will not remain empty. We are already envisioning a series of special gastronomic events that will bring guest chefs, winemakers, and unique culinary concepts to Tata. Our goal remains unchanged: to operate the entire Platán Tata complex sustainably while giving a worthy continuation to the professional legacy created here." — Vivien Varga
The coming weeks will therefore represent not only the final months of a restaurant's operation, but also the farewell to a professional era that permanently changed the place of rural Hungary on the international gastronomic map. Until 31 July 2026, Platán Gourmet will continue to welcome guests in its current form under the leadership of Chef István Pesti.
