What Costes Group does

Costes Group is a privately held Hungarian hospitality group founded in 2008 by Károly Gerendai and headquartered in Budapest. It operates a portfolio of 12+ owned restaurant, entertainment, and event venues spanning fine dining (Costes Restaurant — Hungary's first Michelin-starred venue since 2010 — Costes Downtown, Rumour, MÁK, and Platán Gourmet, Hungary's only two-star countryside restaurant), bistros and heritage venues (Hoppá! Bistro, Kismező, Kádár Étkezde), entertainment and specialty concepts (VIBE, Costes Izakaya, Costes Beach Club), and event services (Lupa Event Hall in Budakalász and Costes Catering). Culinary leadership is anchored by patron chef Jenő Rácz and named chefs István Pesti and János Mizsei.

The business operates with no proprietary technology platform; guest reservations are handled via the third-party Sevenrooms booking system across venues, and event/catering bookings are taken through direct inquiry forms. Revenue is generated almost entirely through transactional dining covers, per-event venue rental, and catering engagements — there is no subscription, SaaS, or licensing model. Pricing is not publicly disclosed: fine-dining venues command premium ticket sizes via tasting menus and chef's-table formats, while heritage venues (Kádár Étkezde) and bistros offer accessible price points, and Lupa Event Hall pricing is quote-based.

The group serves three primary customer segments: individual fine-dining guests and tourists in Budapest; couples and families booking private celebrations (notably weddings at Lupa Event Hall); and corporate clients using Lupa Event Hall and Costes Catering for conferences, gala dinners, and exhibitions. Marketing is conducted through owned websites, Facebook, Instagram, and Tripadvisor, supplemented by Michelin Guide earned media and newsletter sign-ups. The group has remained founder-controlled since inception with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent entity.

Name

Costes Group

Legal name

Costes Group

Website

https://costes.group

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Costes Group is a privately held Hungarian hospitality group operating 12+ owned fine-dining, bistro, heritage, entertainment, and event venues in Budapest and Budakalász, serving individual diners, private event clients, and corporate customers through Costes Restaurant, Rumour, Platán Gourmet, Lupa Event Hall, and Costes Catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Food Service Contractors (722310), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB), Venue-Owned/Operated Event Organizers (In-House Promoters) (MPAKADAI), Rooftop Bars & Beach/Pool Bars (THAFAEAJ), Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Fine dining restaurants
• Michelin-starred dining
• Event catering services
• Hospitality venues
• Culinary experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Budapest

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining Services: Revenue from operating multiple fine dining restaurants, bistros, and casual dining venues in Budapest including Costes Restaurant, Costes Downtown, Rumour, MÁK, Hoppá!, Kádár Étkezde, Kismező, and VIBE nightlife venue. Customers pay per dining experience with varying price points across venue types.
2. Event Venue Rental and Catering: Revenue from Lupa Event Hall venue rental (375m² indoor, 300m² terrace) and Costes Catering services for weddings, corporate events, conferences, and celebrations. Catering brings culinary standards to events of every scale with tailored gastronomic experiences.
3. Beach Club and Lifestyle Venues: Revenue from Costes Beach Club (Portofino Beach Club) offering seasonal beach experiences with cabanas, cocktails, and casual dining outside central Budapest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Costes Group operates a portfolio of owned restaurants, bistros, heritage venues, an entertainment venue, a beach club, and event spaces in and around Budapest, Hungary. The group's offerings include Michelin-recognized fine dining (Costes Restaurant, Rumour, Costes Downtown, MÁK, Platán Gourmet), bistros and heritage restaurants (Hoppá!, Kismező, Kádár Étkezde), an entertainment/nightlife venue (VIBE), a beach club (Costes Beach Club), and event services (Lupa Event Hall, Costes Catering) for weddings, corporate events, conferences, and celebrations.

Product overview

Costes Group is a Hungarian hospitality group founded in 2008 by Károly Gerendai, operating a portfolio of restaurants, entertainment venues, and event spaces across Budapest. The portfolio includes fine dining establishments (Platán Gourmet Restaurant, Rumour, Costes Restaurant, Costes Downtown, MÁK), bistros (Hoppá! Bistro, Kismező), heritage venues (Kádár Étkezde), entertainment venues (VIBE), specialty restaurants (Costes Izakaya), a beach club (Costes Beach Club), and event services (Lupa Event Hall, Costes Catering). The group is anchored by Michelin-starred restaurants and offers dining experiences ranging from contemporary Hungarian bistro cuisine to fine dining, entertainment venues, and comprehensive catering services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Costes Restaurant Hungary's first Michelin-starred restaurant founded in 2008, led by patron chef Jenő Rácz, offering classic fine dining with refined technique and exceptional ingredients.
• Rumour Restaurant A contemporary Chef's Table concept inspired by 1920s speakeasy bars, created and led by Jenő Rácz, offering an undisclosed tasting menu in an art-driven space where gastronomy unfolds as performance; ranked among the world's 14 best Chef's Table concepts by the Michelin Guide.
• Costes Downtown A modern urban fine dining experience in Budapest combining seasonal ingredients, refined technique, and contemporary gastronomy in a relaxed, guest-focused atmosphere; Michelin Recommended.
• MÁK Contemporary fine dining led by Chef János Mizsei featuring personally selected local ingredients, zero-waste philosophy, and acid-driven techniques with strong juice and non-alcoholic pairing programs.
• Platán Gourmet Restaurant Hungary's first and only two Michelin-starred countryside restaurant set on the shore of Lake Öreg within the historic Esterházy estate, featuring Hungarian cuisine with French precision and Asian inspiration.
• Hoppá! Bistro A modern Budapest bistro offering Michelin Selected quality with relaxed hospitality, featuring seasonal ingredients, French technique, and Hungarian flavours with Carpathian Basin wine selection.
• Kádár Étkezde A Budapest institution since 1957 serving traditional Hungarian and Jewish-Hungarian dishes, reopened by Costes Group preserving its original spirit with simple interior and generous portions.
• Kismező A contemporary Hungarian bistro on Nagymező Street in Budapest's theatre district offering classic Hungarian dishes in modern form built on seasonal ingredients.
• VIBE A venue in Budapest where dining, music and nightlife merge, offering refined cuisine, signature cocktails, curated music program, and late-night bar culture with DJs and immersive visuals.
• Costes Izakaya Asian fusion cuisine restaurant offering high-quality domestic and international ingredients in Budapest city centre.
• Costes Beach Club (LUPA Beach / Portofino Beach Club) Beach club located near Budapest offering white sand, sun, and cocktails with canopy beds, approximately 30 minutes from Budapest city centre.
• Lupa Event Hall A lakeside event venue by Lupa Lake offering 375 m² indoor hall and 300 m² terrace, providing flexible settings for conferences, weddings, concerts and large-scale celebrations.
• Costes Catering Catering service bringing the culinary standards of Costes Group to events of every scale, designing tailored gastronomic experiences for private celebrations, corporate gatherings and large-scale events.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Hungarian restaurant to earn Michelin star in 2010; maintained continuously since
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SevenroomscoreTechnology or IntegrationSevenrooms is the reservation and booking platform used across all Costes Group restaurants and venues. The platform enables table reservations, event bookings, and customer management for the group's fine dining establishments and event spaces.
• WallismotorminorOthersWallismotor is listed as a featured partner on the Costes Group website. No specific details on the nature of the partnership were provided.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Big Mamma Group: Pan-European restaurant group operating multiple Italian fine-dining and trattoria concepts across major European capitals. Directly comparable as a multi-concept, design-led premium restaurant group capturing culinary tourism, with portfolio breadth across price points similar to Costes Group's 12+ Budapest venues.
• D&D London: Premium London restaurant group operating restaurants, bars, event spaces, and hotels (Soho House-adjacent space). Comparable for its portfolio of distinct venues, event venue operations, and focus on high-end dining in a single major European city, mirroring Costes Group's Budapest-centric structure.
• Caprice Holdings: UK hospitality group operating iconic London restaurants and private members' clubs (The Wolseley, Scott's, Annabel's). Comparable as a multi-concept premium dining and entertainment operator with strong brand heritage and central urban locations, similar to Costes Group's fine dining and VIBE positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Elior Group: Major French contract catering and food services group operating across Europe. Comparable for its event catering and food service contractor capabilities, serving corporate clients and large events — overlapping with Costes Catering's B2B event services.
• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company. Comparable for its food service contractor and event catering capabilities (relevant to Costes Catering), though much broader and more B2B-focused versus Costes Group's consumer-dining emphasis.
• Minor International (Minor Food): Global hospitality and restaurant operator with portfolio of premium and casual dining brands across Asia, Middle East, and beyond. Comparable for its portfolio-of-concepts approach and premium positioning, though at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Nobu Hospitality: Global luxury hospitality brand combining Michelin-recognized restaurants with hotels and event spaces. Comparable for its fine dining reputation, chef-anchored brand, premium event capabilities, and international culinary tourism appeal, though much larger in scale.
• Soho House & Co. Global membership-based hospitality operator combining restaurants, bars, hotels, and event venues. Comparable for its event-driven revenue, multi-venue dining portfolio, and premium positioning, though broader and membership-focused versus Costes Group's restaurant-centric model.

Regional players

• Gerbeaud House: Iconic Budapest confectionery, café, and hospitality destination operating since 1858. Comparable as a heritage Hungarian hospitality institution in Budapest, sharing the same city and heritage positioning overlap as Kádár Étkezde within the Costes Group portfolio.

Emerging players

• L'Ambassade Group: Central European luxury hospitality operator with premium venues, restaurants, and event spaces. Comparable as a multi-venue premium hospitality group operating in a CEE/Central European capital city context similar to Costes Group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/costes.restaurant
• Instagraminstagram.com/costes_restaurant
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/costes-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Costes Group