2026 Summer

More Than Support

Not every business success can be measured solely by numbers. Sometimes, the true value of a company is reflected in the level of care, social responsibility, creativity, and human attention behind it. Perhaps this is why it attracted attention that, as a strategic partner of Cápák között (Hungary’s version of Shark Tank), Raiffeisen Bank chose to recognize not three but ultimately five businesses this year with its special award—granting each of them one million forints in support, which they can use for training, skills development, or further growth.

The selected initiatives are diverse, yet they share something important: each of them goes beyond a business idea. They address real problems, build communities, respond to genuine social needs, and represent values that are becoming increasingly important in today’s world.

What they have in common is the intention to make their surroundings better—to drive development with the interests of the community and society in mind.

FIFA World Cup

A unique feature of this year’s FIFA World Cup is that it is being hosted by three countries simultaneously — something that has never happened before. Two cities in Canada, three in Mexico, and eleven in the United States will host the matches. The number of games is also a record: 104 matches will be played during the tournament. This expansion was made possible by FIFA, the world governing body of football, increasing the number of participating national teams from 36 to 48.

The final of the 39-day tournament will take place on July 19 in East Rutherford at the MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity of 82,500 spectators. During the halftime show, Shakira and Madonna will perform.

Which team will become world champion? If Argentina wins, the defending champion will retain the title and receive 50 million dollars in prize money in addition to the glory. However, Spain, France, England, or Brazil could also emerge victorious.

One sad fact remains: this World Cup will likely be the last opportunity to see the veteran superstars who have defined world football over the past two decades — Messi and Ronaldo.

“There Is No Losing Match”

Some people build businesses. Others build an entire philosophy of life. For Orbán Balázs Zoltán, success is not about momentary achievements, but about long-term thinking, discipline, and consistency. Today, the owner of Babylon Financial Group manages an international business network, while applying the same determination to building his family life, daily routines, and personal passions. A man who believes there is no such thing as a losing match — only an unrealized Plan A.

He has now been in the industry for nearly thirty years. By today, Babylon Financial Group has grown into an internationally active corporate group, developing relationships and networks across several European countries.

Alongside his professional career, family and a healthy lifestyle play an equally important role in Orbán Balázs’s life.

Beyond the business world, another entirely different universe has also become an important part of his life: contemporary art.

A Jewel Box in Szentendre

Modern? Exciting? Colorful? Cheerful?
Yes!!! If you love all of these, you’ve found your new home!

In a small, quiet street in the Old Town of Szentendre, a high-quality, two-story family house is for sale, offering 200 sqm of living space, 5 rooms, and 3 bathrooms.

Entering through the pedestrian gate, we arrive in a private 450 sqm garden, where a jacuzzi, a small sauna house, and sun loungers welcome us.

Stepping into the house, to the right of the entrance hall we find a bedroom with its own bathroom and toilet.
To the left, a breathtaking, ultra-modern living room, kitchen, and dining area has been designed with striking color contrasts.

Continuing further into the L-shaped home, we discover two children’s rooms, a bathroom, and a storage room.

Ascending the glass-walled staircase — flooded with natural light and alive with a vibrant play of colors — we reach the attic level. From the upstairs hallway, there are two bedrooms located on opposite sides of the upper floor, while in the center you’ll find a bathroom, a laundry room, and the boiler room.

“For Me, Sculpture Is a Prayer”

We speak with sculptor János Vizsolyi about his art, his beginnings, the past and present, his artistic philosophy, and his relationship to objects, people, and existence itself.

“When I was sixteen, on a rainy afternoon, I started playing with three kilos of clay that I had stored near the pantry stairs, and I was instantly captivated by it. The very next day, I went into Szekszárd, since we lived nearby, to get more, because I felt that this brought me joy. From that moment on, I was poisoned — in the best sense — by the desire to create something born within me, something that could even surprise me when I succeeded in bringing it to life.

That was fifty years ago, and the feeling has never changed. Even today, while creating, I enter a spiritual state that nothing else has ever been able to replace. For me, this became the language of love, a connection to life itself, because I always wanted to create a world unlike anyone else’s.”

The Guardian of Beauty

The historic changes of recent years have reshaped the way many of us think. Uncertainty, the accelerating pace of the modern world, and the shifting of values have prompted numerous artists and creators to reconsider their roles and sense of purpose. For ZSUD, the artistic name of Zsuzsanna Udvarhelyi, this period brought a profound inner transformation: the forward-looking spirit of progress gradually gave way to the role of a guardian.

“I increasingly began to see myself as a guardian,” the artist reflects. A person striving to preserve all that once represented culture, community, and human excellence. For her, the elegance of past eras, traditions, fading values, and the act of remembrance are not merely aesthetic concerns, but part of a deeper intellectual and spiritual mission.

At first, water became the focus of her attention. This was followed by the theme of air.

Now, another element has moved to the forefront: fire.

Lili’s Smile

“In invisible orthodontics, the decisive factor is not the brand, but who designs your smile. Don’t choose a system — choose an experienced orthodontic specialist.”

In our previous issue, readers were given an insight into the consultation process. Now comes another exciting step: how a digital scan is transformed into a detailed, personalized 3D treatment plan — and how you can preview the future transformation of your own smile.

Modern orthodontics today goes far beyond traditional “metal” solutions. With Invisalign invisible aligner systems, treatment is not only discreet, but also entirely digitally planned, taking personalized aesthetics to a whole new level.

Once the treatment plan meets every requirement, we meet with the patient again and go through the entire treatment process in detail.

However, the story does not end here!

TRIBE Budapest Airport

TRIBE is a relatively young yet rapidly international hotel brand whose story began in 2017 in Perth. Shortly after its founding, it became part of a larger international collaboration, allowing the brand to gain global recognition.

The TRIBE concept is built around affordable luxury, creating hotels that offer unique design, distinctive solutions, and memorable experiences, while remaining accessible to modern travelers.

An integral part of the TRIBE philosophy is the integration of art and local culture. Overall, TRIBE Budapest Airport offers a complex experience where design, art, functionality, and the advantages of the location all contribute to making even a short stay memorable.

The Man Who Rewrote Rock History

Born eighty years ago and gone for thirty-five years now, Freddie Mercury remains one of the few performers in popular music history whose name has stayed so vividly alive across generations. The legendary frontman of Queen was not only a defining singer of an era, but a true cultural phenomenon — an unforgettable voice unlike any other.

For Budapest, he also represents a particularly important memory. The 1986 concert at Népstadion has since become one of the most iconic moments in the history of Hungarian popular music. Queen’s performance behind the Iron Curtain was not merely a concert in communist-era Hungary, but a symbol of freedom itself.

Perhaps that is why it is especially significant that House of Music Hungary is honoring the singer with a major exhibition. The exhibition titled “Freddie” presents not only one of the world’s most famous rock stars, but also the man behind the legend.

Hotel Helikon

Hotel Helikon is one of the most attractive hotels on the western basin of Lake Balaton, located directly on the waterfront in Keszthely. Following a complete renovation, the hotel now welcomes its guests in a modern and stylish environment. Its location offers both peaceful relaxation and easy access to the city’s cultural and leisure programs.

“Our philosophy at Hotel Helikon is that every guest should find the experience that represents true relaxation for them,” says András Csere, the hotel’s director. “Whether it’s passive relaxation, gastronomic experiences, or active sports activities, everything is available here.”

The hotel rooms have been designed in a clean, contemporary style that meets today’s expectations.

The wellness area serves as a year-round center for rejuvenation, offering pools, a sauna world, and relaxation spaces for guests. During the summer season, however, the focus shifts toward outdoor experiences.

Twisted Soft Serve

Located on Pünkösdfürdő Street in Budapest’s Óbuda district, E-mese Fagyizó has been proving for nearly twenty years that great soft-serve ice cream still has enormous appeal.

According to owner and managing director Norbert Ercse, the secret of their success is simple: every ice cream is made in-house based on their own recipes, from the ingredients all the way to the finished serving.

The E-mese soft serve is still considered one of the country’s most sought-after twisted ice creams. Alongside the classic chocolate–vanilla combination, unique flavors based on vanilla soft serve remain continuously popular, including forest fruits, kiwi, and caramel variations. The selection also features unusual pairings such as lemon–blue grape and strawberry–melon combinations.

For guests, the experience is completed by a rich selection of toppings and sprinkles, but one of the absolute favorites is the melted chocolate coating. The cold ice cream is dipped into their own melted Belgian dark chocolate, which hardens within seconds into a crisp shell around the soft serve.

Macaron Variations

As is often the case, there are several competing theories about the origins of the macaron. Many historians argue that a similar pastry was already being made as early as 791 in the monastery of Cormery, located near Tours in France.

Other researchers believe that Persian sailors brought the recipe to Sicily, from where it later found its way to Venice. The name itself is thought to derive from the Italian words maccarone or maccherone. It was from Italy that Catherine de’ Medici brought the recipe to France, and following her wedding in 1553, the pastry rapidly gained popularity and recognition throughout the country.

The recipe was first recorded by François Rabelais in 1552.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the macaron experienced an explosion in popularity around the world. The distinctive characteristics of macarons in different countries are determined primarily by the type of filling or binding ingredient used to sandwich the shells together.

Hotel Abacus

The Abacus Business & Wellness Hotel**** Superior is located 25 km from Budapest, in Herceghalom. The hotel’s inspiring atmosphere, innovative environment and uncompromising gastronomical philosophy makes it the ideal place for family vacations, wellness weekends, conferences, business meetings and even weddings. The chef, Janos Kovacs, whose resume boasts with extensive foreign experience, uses simple, local and seasonal ingredients from Zsambek’s basin in his dishes. The majority of the spices he uses are grown in the kitchen’s own garden. Their dishes draw on both international sensibilities as well as the traditional Hungarian sense of taste; all while using modern culinary technology. The combination of gastronomical pleasures with a peaceful, familiar atmosphere and modern environment translate into more than half the guests being regulars. Their success was further confirmed when Abacus Business & Wellness Hotel won the title of Best Rural Business and Conference Hotel in Hungary.

The Birth of Forni di Napoli

Speaking with István Kárász, co-owner of the Forni di Napoli restaurant group, a story unfolds that perfectly illustrates how the greatest business successes are often born out of the most challenging times. According to the entrepreneur, whose interests span hotels, travel agencies, and the hospitality industry, success requires not only perseverance and hard work, but also the ability to recognize opportunities when they arise at the right moment.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I had heard this saying many times, but it was only through personal experience that I truly understood its meaning. The story of Forni di Napoli is not merely the success story of a restaurant chain; it is proof that even in the most difficult periods, new opportunities can be found if one keeps an open mind, believes in one’s ideas, and is willing to take risks.

Looking back, this turned out to be the greatest business success of the past few years.

Grilled Lángos

Lángos is one of the best-known street foods of Hungarian cuisine, traditionally deep-fried in oil. In recent years, however, a special variation has become increasingly popular: grilled lángos. This preparation method not only offers a lighter alternative, but also introduces new flavors and textures to the classic dish.

The dough used for grilled lángos is essentially the same as in the traditional version — flour, water or milk, yeast, salt, and sometimes a little oil. The difference lies in the cooking method. Instead of being fried in hot oil, the dough is placed directly onto a grill grate or grill plate, where it is baked at high temperature.

Grilled lángos can be prepared in many different ways, from the classic grilled version to stuffed, sweet, or even gourmet variations.

Another unique aspect is that it is closely connected to the outdoor dining experience. It can be a favorite dish at friendly barbecues, festivals, or summer evenings, as it is both visually impressive and highly social food.

Lángos

Many people consider it a Hungarian specialty, but as we will see, it is not. Nevertheless, for Hungarians, lángos is one of the defining tastes of summer. We queue for it at the beach, at festivals, in parks—and often it takes what feels like forever before we can finally hold the freshly fried, hot dough in our hands. Because there’s no denying that lángos is only truly good when it’s fresh and hot.

In terms of its origins, it belongs to a family of foods that dates back thousands of years. Baking dough on hot stones, as a method of food preparation, has been known since the domestication of fire and has been used all over the world.

The colorful world of yeast-based doughs was introduced into Hungarian cuisine during the period of Ottoman occupation in the 16th century, and like so many other things, our ancestors incorporated it into their everyday lives over the course of one and a half centuries. Frying in hot oil only became widespread much later, in the 20th century, and it was then that the modern version developed along the shores of Lake Balaton.

The Rarest Animals

The rarest animals in the world are not only extraordinary and fascinating, but also serve as warning signs: ecosystems are fragile, and human activity leaves a deep impact on them. One of the best-known examples is the vaquita, a small marine mammal. In a similarly critical situation is the Javan rhinoceros. Among rare big cats, the Amur leopard stands out as one of the world’s rarest large predators. Among primates, the Hainan gibbon is considered the rarest. Rarity is not always a matter of size. The axolotl, for example, is a small and unique amphibian capable of regenerating lost limbs. Among birds, there are also extremely rare species. The kakapo is a flightless, nocturnal parrot from New Zealand. Similarly endangered is the Philippine eagle, one of the largest eagle species in the world. In the desert world, the addax represents rarity.

Movie Mania

Summer and movies go hand in hand. It is the season when stories break free from everyday life and take on a bigger, more colorful, and more spectacular form. The long days and carefree atmosphere seem to invite us to immerse ourselves in new worlds—whether through thrilling adventures, light-hearted comedies, or epic fantasy tales.

In Minions and Monsters from UIP Media, the world’s most famous yellow troublemakers return for another adventure.

In The Odyssey, the protagonist Odysseus must confront the wrath of the gods, sea monsters, enchanting sirens, and the shadows of his own past as he journeys home.

Forum Hungary brings the animated feature Moana and Dog Constellation to the big screen.

InterCom returns with the latest Spider-Man installment, Brand New Day, as well as Wicked Witches 2.

ADS Films presents Bad Luck in Action and Mumbo Jumbo’s Great Adventure.

Embers and Protocol

The charm of garden parties lies in their informality, yet a professional host knows that true ease is built on meticulous preparation. When the living room gives way to the lawn, the rules of protocol do not disappear—they simply transform. The philosophy of modern grill parties is, after all, rooted in the communal experience around the “ancient fire,” where the most important “ingredient” does not necessarily reach its full potential on the embers.

The host’s attentiveness and the guests’ intentions—expressed through their attire, gift-giving, and behavior—together create an atmosphere in which rules do not restrict but rather support connection and genuine presence.
If we observe both the written and unwritten rules of etiquette, a garden gathering becomes more than just a meal: it turns into a memorable social occasion that will be talked about for a long time—very much in a positive sense.

Zema Unique Selection

Zema Unique Selection is an excellent curated selection of the brand’s most exclusive pieces.

The impressive, retro-style metallic setting of the Lycium Hotel Debrecen was not merely a backdrop for this exceptional evening, but an atmosphere, an inspiration — a kind of time portal in which the handcrafted jewelry seemed to come to life.

Guests and viewers were able to step into a world where craftsmanship, design, music, and a fashion-loving audience created a mutually reinforcing environment, offering them a truly unique and memorable experience.

Vitaviss Brain Hotel & Body Wellness

One of the greatest challenges of modern life is constant overload, while our bodies and minds increasingly crave recovery and renewal. Offering an innovative solution to this problem is Karvalics Attila, founder of Vitaviss Brain Hotel & Body Wellness, who harnesses the latest therapeutic technologies in the service of longevity.

At the heart of the concept is a comprehensive approach to physical and mental regeneration, where technology, health consciousness, and relaxation come together.

The range of services includes light therapy, oxygen therapy, an oxygen cabin, and an aromatherapy infrared cabin. These treatments may help reduce stress, alleviate inflammation, accelerate recovery, and enhance overall vitality.

This is a place where technology, wellness, and relaxation meet—with the goal of restoring balance to both body and mind.

Social life

Through our society column, we aim to offer our readers an inside look at various high-quality, exclusive events, parties, openings, film, theatre and fashion shows, exhibitions, concerts, and sporting events—at least those we consider truly exceptional.

The list is endless, but all these occasions have one thing in common: quality, elegance, and style. From issue to issue, we strive to report on captivating happenings and programs that spark interest and inspire.

In our summer issue, we attended a car launch event and a polo tournament.

SUVs Take the Lead

The IONIQ 9 offers a perfect harmony of comfort and innovation, with one of its greatest strengths being its impressive driving range.

The Chery TIGGO 9 PHV combines premium styling, advanced technology, and the benefits of a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The Chery TIGGO 7 PHEV is the Chinese manufacturer’s compact plug-in hybrid SUV, distinguished by its elegant design, modern features, and generous equipment levels.

The Ford Kuga is a bold, forward-looking statement about the future of mobility. It is designed for those who refuse to compromise between performance, technology, and sustainability.

The Ford Puma has become one of the most versatile and innovative compact SUVs in recent years, offering both efficiency and comfort.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival

For more than ten days in May, the world once again turned its attention to Cannes. Held on the French Riviera, the prestigious film festival delivered countless memorable moments this year, while the red carpet also served as one of fashion’s most important stages during the event.

The festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, was awarded to neighboring Romania’s director, Cristian Mungiu, for his film Fjord.

As always, celebrities flocked to the cinematic “capital” of the French Riviera, making Cannes the center of global attention.

This year, Cannes once again enforced a strict dress code to discourage overly revealing and inappropriate attire, aiming to steer celebrities back toward classic elegance rather than the attention-grabbing excesses that often dominate red-carpet appearances.

John Travolta received an Honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of his lifetime achievements. Another true legend, Barbra Streisand, was also honored with a lifetime achievement award. The third lifetime achievement award was presented to New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson.

Sleeping in the Same Bed with the Enemy

What began as an all-consuming love affair eventually turned into mutual hostility: former lovers became warring opponents who would gladly drown each other in a spoonful of water.

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
From dream couple to nightmare enemies. It is hard to believe, but even today the legal battles between the once “Brangelina” couple have still not been fully resolved.

Johnny Depp & Amber Heard
Their mutual hatred led them to publicly humiliate each other.

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills
They also showed no mercy toward one another. The world was stunned when, at the turn of the millennium, news broke of the romance and subsequent breakup between the legendary Beatles musician and the former model — more than twenty-five years his junior — who had lost a leg.

Halle Berry & Olivier Martinez
Even a surprise baby did not make things work. Halle stated that she was so disappointed in men that she no longer wished to be in a relationship.

Kevin Costner & Christine Baumgartner
In their case, the wife chose the neighbor.