Sir Lancelot: how to get there

The address and the district

Sir Lancelot is at Podmaniczky utca 14, postcode 1065, in Terézváros, Budapest's sixth district on the Pest side. The district was named in 1777 after Queen Maria Theresa and became one of the city's districts in 1873. It is known for its nightlife, and Andrássy út, Budapest's great avenue, runs through it. The restaurant sits on an ordinary city street among apartment buildings, so go by the street number in your map app rather than looking for a sign from far away.

From Nyugati station

The easiest approach is Nyugati station, a short walk from the restaurant. Its iron-and-glass hall was built by the Eiffel Company. The M3 metro stops at Nyugati, and trams run along the Grand Boulevard outside. Walk away from the station building, along the streets of Terézváros, and check the last stretch on your map app. It is a short walk, not a trek, though a map helps after dark.

From Oktogon and Andrássy út

Oktogon, the big junction on Andrássy út, is also within walking distance of the restaurant. That makes it a pleasant walk if you are staying near the avenue, and the Millennium Underground runs beneath Andrássy út. From the city centre, the metro to Nyugati saves the longer walk. If you are tired from a day of sightseeing, a tram on the Grand Boulevard saves your legs for the evening, and the walk from either point takes you through ordinary Terézváros streets.

Getting home after dinner

Plan your return before you sit down. Nyugati has the M3 metro and Grand Boulevard trams, so the quickest way back to most central hotels is to walk the same short way to the station. Check the timetable for your route before you book a late sitting, since service patterns change late in the evening. If you would rather not wait, a taxi from the street outside is an option; agree the fare or use a booking app, and have your hotel's address ready in Hungarian. Whichever way you go, keep the walk to the station in mind when you decide how long to stay at the table.

Arriving, your ticket and paying

The start time for your night sits in your booking confirmation, so trust that over anything you read elsewhere. The ticket is a mobile ticket, so open it on your phone before you reach the door; nothing needs printing, and a screenshot of the confirmation is a sensible backup. Hotel transfers are not part of the booking, which is why the transport above matters. Extras are paid at the table, and the restaurant's website lists cash in forints and the major cards. Tips are not included.

Eating with your hands

Expect to eat largely with your hands. The restaurant's menu page tells guests to wash their hands while the cook works, since the servant provides no fork. That suits the theme: medieval diners shared dishes and used knives, spoons and fingers, and table forks were limited to Italy until the 14th century and reached common use across southwestern Europe only by the 16th. Treat it as part of the show, bring patience for sauces and sleeves, and ask for a napkin if you need one.

Read next: Eating at a medieval table

What to wear

Dress as you would for a relaxed restaurant. Choose clothes that cope with a spill, since the menus are generous and hands do much of the work. Layers are sensible if you arrive by tram in cold weather, because you will be walking a few minutes in the open. Costume is not required, and there is no need to dress up as a knight. Comfortable shoes help on Budapest pavements, and a small bag is easier than a large one in a crowded hall. Bring a jacket if the evening is cool, since you will walk the last stretch in the open.

How the evening runs

Dinner and entertainment alternate. You get a welcome shot, then dinner and the first acts arrive together, and swordsmen, jugglers and belly dancers perform in short parts with pauses between them. The whole night runs about three hours at the table. That is not three hours of non-stop show: the pauses are there so that you can eat and talk. Drinks and food beyond the booking are bought at the table, and tips are not included, so keep some cash or a card handy. The restaurant also lists a wine list and a drinks list on its website if you want to look ahead.

Around Nyugati before or after

The station is worth a look in itself. It opened on 28 October 1877, and its iron-and-glass hall is one of the landmarks of the Grand Boulevard. If you arrive early, a short walk around Nyugati tér and the streets of Terézváros fills the time. After dinner the district is lively, and the Grand Boulevard trams make it easy to carry on to another part of the city.

Children, groups and access

The booking states that the evening is not suitable for wheelchair users, so ask the restaurant before you book if you have another mobility need. If you are travelling with children, ring the restaurant before booking to confirm they can join your group, and check the menu with them in mind, since all of the menus on the booking are meat-based. For a group, book everyone together so you are seated as one party. The restaurant's phone number is on its website. Ask before you book, not at the door. Mention any allergy when you book your table, not once you are seated.

Who this isn't for

It is not for wheelchair users or for anyone who needs a step-free evening confirmed in writing. It is not for people who cannot eat meat, gluten or dairy, because the menus carry all three. It is not for anyone who wants a quiet, long conversation over dinner, and it is not for guests who dislike eating with their hands. If any of that applies, the restaurant can tell you what else it offers. Nor is it for anyone who would rather order from the menu at a table of their own, because the restaurant takes those reservations by phone.