Together with his brother, Viktor Balogh, Olivér was responsible for the comprehensive renovation and redevelopment of the historic Corvin Palace at Blaha Lujza Square, which now houses Time Out Market Budapest.

Olivér holds a BA in Political Communication from George Washington University and pursued studies in Quantum Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology between 2018 and 2021.

After returning to Hungary, he worked across a range of creative and business-focused roles, including serving as Creative Director of Corvin Club from 2015 to 2018. Today, he oversees the business development of both the Corvin Palace building and Time Out Market Budapest.

Since 2022, Olivér has also been a Partner at Blue Door Consulting, where he leads business development initiatives and builds strategic partnerships in Hungary and internationally. In recognition of his work, he received the Emerging Personality of the Year award at the Real Estate Awards 2025, as well as the Portfolio Special Award at the Portfolio Property Awards 2025.

1. Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Budapest, on the Buda side, with my parents and my younger brother, Viktor — who is now my partner in several projects.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose? 

I love Hungary, and right now I wouldn’t trade it for anything — my family and the projects I’m passionate about are all here. But if I ever did move abroad, it would probably be Rome or Lisbon.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary? 

Definitely my family and friends, which I did very much when I lived in the US for nearly 6 years.

4. Have you ever lived or worked abroad? 

Yes. After graduating from high school, I continued my studies in the United States. I lived in Washington, D.C. and later Boston for several years while completing my degrees.

5. Friends from abroad are in Budapest for a weekend – what must they absolutely see and do? 

When friends visit Budapest for a weekend, I always recommend starting with the classics: a walk along the Danube to take in the panorama, a visit to Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion, and a soak in my favourite thermal bath, Rudas — it’s a quintessential Budapest experience. I also encourage them to explore the city’s vibrant cultural side: wander through the Jewish Quarter, discover small galleries. And, of course, I would recommend them to come to Time Out Market Budapest. It’s the perfect way to introduce them to the very best of Hungarian cuisine in one place — from iconic local flavours to exciting contemporary dishes by some of the country’s best chefs. It’s a great spot to taste, explore, and understand the city’s culinary energy in just a few hours.

6. What is your favourite place in Hungary? 

Loads of different ways to answer this question. I love Lake Balaton, and have been spending close to a month there every single year for the last 30 years. In Budapest, probably walking on the bank of the Danube when it is closed for traffic. Etyek is also close to my heart, and will probably try to move there for a couple days a week in the future.

7. Buda or Pest side? 

I grew up on the Buda side, so I have many wonderful memories from there. But for the last 10 years or so, I've been living and working on the Pest side, so it's impossible for me to decide.

8. What did you study, and how has your educational background shaped your career path? 

After high school in Hungary, I completed my BA at George Washington University, majoring in Political Communication. Between 2018 and 2021, I studied Quantum Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It’s certainly quite different from what I do now, but each field taught me a unique way of thinking that I still draw on today.

9. What was your very first profession or job? 

As a teenager, I worked in my father’s business, helping with any small tasks I could, including packing books in the Libri bookstore warehouse. My first real job was at a video game retailer called 576 Kbyte, where I was responsible for managing their used video games system.

10. What inspired you to bring the Time Out Market concept to Budapest? 

I've personally known the brand since 2018, when I first visited the Lisbon Market, and since has been to several different ones. Corvin Palace – formerly known as the Corvin Department Store – has long been owned by our family.

Renovation of the building began in 2020, initially with a different purpose. Later, we were approached by a subsidiary of the company that leases the Barcelona Time Out Market, as they considered Corvin Palace’s exceptional location an ideal site for the Budapest Time Out Market. They were specifically looking for unique, characterful buildings, which brought Corvin Palace to their attention, and we found the project very interesting and exciting. 

11. What is the most rewarding part of your role as owner of Time Out Market Budapest? 

The most rewarding part is seeing the Market come to life every day: the energy of visitors enjoying the food and experiencing the community we’ve built. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that our decision to bring the Time Out concept to Budapest has created a space that celebrates local talent, supports small businesses, and brings people together in a vibrant, welcoming environment. It’s also wonderful to work with the chefs and their teams, as well as our own in-house team, who are all incredibly passionate about what they do.

12. What makes the Budapest edition of Time Out Market unique compared to other cities? 

Each Time Out Market around the world is built on the same idea: showcasing the very best of the city, with local talent at its heart. However, the execution of every Market is distinctly local. What makes Budapest unique is that we don’t only highlight the best of the city - we proudly feature exceptional chefs and restaurants from across the entire country.

The locations themselves also reflect local character - for example, Dubai’s Market is in a traditional souk, Lisbon’s is in a historic market hall, and Porto’s is housed in a former railway station. Similarly, Budapest’s Corvin Palace gives our Market its own special identity, making it unlike any other in the Time Out family. Moreover, we are more event-focused than other markets. We provide live events, from piano nights to live DJ shows to family brunches, every single day of the week.

13. How do you decide which chefs, restaurants, and vendors to feature at the Market? 

Everything at the Market is carefully curated. The experienced Time Out team first identifies the cuisines and food categories that define a city’s - or in our case, the country’s - culinary scene. They then create a shortlist of the leading representatives in each area. A wide range of chefs and restaurateurs are then tried and tested, and only the very best are invited to join Time Out Market. It’s an invite-only model, you can’t ‘buy a kitchen’ here.

14. What would you like first-time visitors to experience at the Market? 

I’d love first-time visitors to feel the energy and diversity of the Market — to discover new flavours, meet the incredible chefs behind the food, and enjoy the atmosphere that makes this place so special. Whether they come for a meal, a drink, or one of our events, I hope they leave with the sense that they’ve experienced the very best of Hungary in one vibrant space.

15. What dish at Time Out Market Budapest would you recommend no visitor should miss? 

I have a few personal favourites, so it’s difficult to highlight just one. What I love most is that the Market brings together outstanding flavours from across the country — whether someone prefers modern Hungarian dishes, international cuisine, or something sweet. I always encourage visitors to explore, try something new, and discover their own favourite. But if I had to mention three dishes, I’d say Tuna Tartare from Bigfish, Mákos Guba from Szaletly, and right now the Christmas Burger from Tuning Burger.

16. What is your favourite cuisine? 

Italian. I'd easily last a lifetime only eating Italian food.

17. If you weren’t working in hospitality, what career would you choose? 

A career in quantum physics research.

18. Book or movie? 

Since my daughter was born, I haven't had as much time to read, so nowadays, movies, but I'm a huge book nerd at heart.

19. Do you have a favourite book or podcast you’d recommend to the Xpat community? 

Right now, I'm reading Thinking Fast and Slow from Daniel Kahneman, and so far, I'd highly recommend it for those who have not read it!

20. Which achievement in your career are you most pleased about? 

Most certainly opening Time Out Market Budapest and bringing such a new and exciting concept to Hungary. I’m also proud to have received the Emerging Personality of the Year award at the Real Estate Awards, as well as the Portfolio Special Award at the Portfolio Property Awards 2025.