Remuera’s Hungarian restaurant – Café de Budapest
The Paul Lestre Group performing at Cafe du Budapest 1967 in Hutchison's Arcade, 351 Remuera Rd, Rykenberg Photography Auck Libraries 1269-19670504-04
Underneath Hutchison’s Arcade on Remuera Road, at number 351, was a Hungarian restaurant, Café de Budapest.
The Café was opened in the 1960s by two cousins, Bela Demeter and Gabor Csongor, who settled in New Zealand from eastern Hungary in 1957. The Café was decorated with Hungarian folk art as well as wooden platters and beakers. [1] [2]
The menu had popular Hungarian dishes such as Szekely Gulyas (Hungarian Goulash), paprika chicken, sauerkraut and palacsinta pancakes. Chef Gabor had trained as a chef in the Hungarian Air Force for five years, whereas Bela learnt to be a chef in New Zealand, based on his grandmother’s cooking skills.
Dinner for two in 1967 with a New Zealand wine cost between $6 and $7. [3]
[1] Auckland Scrap Book May 1969. Auckland Libraries.
[2] Auckland Scrap Book May 1969. Auckland Libraries.
[3] Auckland Scrap Book May 1969. Auckland Libraries.
[4] Auckland nightlife: the 1960s in colour. Gareth Shute & Chris Bourke. https://www.audioculture.co.nz/articles/auckland-nightlife-the-1960s-in-colour
The Paul Lestre Group with Lestre left performing at Cafe du Budapest 1967 in Hutchison's Arcade, 351 Remuera Rd, Rykenberg Photography Auck Libraries 1269-19670504-11
Cafe De Budapest Gypsy Orchestra_RemueraShops-1960s-1
The Paul Lestre Group with Oscar Huijsse on piano at Cafe de Budapest Remuera Road 1967. Rykenberg Collection Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1269-19670504-01
Manager Gabor and chef Bela
Hungarian folklore decorates a corner of the Cafe de Budapest.
Paintings on wall of Cafe de Budapest restaurant 3 Nov 2025
Saturday nights featured a small orchestra, the Paul Lestre Group, and later a gypsy band. Before the war, Lestre had played in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and at one of his first rehearsals, conductor Sir Thomas Beecham noticed him and asked his name. “Paul, sir,” came the response, but Beecham heard it as “Ball” and immediately said, “Very singular.” Lestre – whose birth name was Jim Callan – retired from playing Auckland clubs in 1978, only to return a couple of years later when Stephane Grappelli-style gypsy jazz made a comeback. He was part of the Hot Club de Ponsonby group and played many Cotton Club concerts. The pianist in this photo is Oscar Huijsse Sr., a Dutch émigré who began performing professionally in Auckland just two days after arriving in New Zealand in 1962. He played in most of the city’s leading venues and restaurants and was part of Lestre’s White Heron combo for nearly three years. [4]
Manager Gabor and chef Bela. Auckland Scrap Book ASB May 1969 – p.125-1 Auckland Libraries
PS 351 Remuera Road downstairs is now home to The Contemporary Yoga Centre
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