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consultant
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HERE I AM
I’m Máté Szabó, a bartender turned consultant helping bars, restaurants and beverage brands build smarter, more sustainable and more memorable experiences. After shaping Elysian Budapest into a modern, locally rooted and forward-thinking bar program, I now focus on bringing that mindset to others.
I work on concept development, menu design, team training and operational strategy with one simple goal: make hospitality creative, efficient and genuinely enjoyable for both guests and teams.
If you want to level up your venue or brand with clarity and intention, I’m here for it.
Market Implementation
Brand Positioning and Identity Building
I help define where your product lives in the market, how it speaks and why bars should care.
On-Trade Strategy and Rollout
Smart, realistic plans for getting your product into the right bars with the right tactics and the right people.
Signature Serves and Sales Tools
Clear, bartender-friendly serves, tasting notes and sales materials that make your product easy to understand and even easier to recommend.
Product Development
Flavor and Recipe Development
I support R&D for new spirits, RTDs or mixers with a focus on balance, production logic and market fit.
Sensory and Cocktail Application Testing
Testing your product across techniques, styles and use cases to ensure it performs beautifully behind the bar.
Packaging and User Experience Consulting
Practical insights on bottle formats, closures, label structure and bartender usability so your product works in real life, not just on paper.
Brand Growth and Activation
Guest Shifts and Ambassador Programs
High-impact bar events, takeovers and bartender relationships that put your brand in the hands of the right people.
Training, Education and Content
Testing your product across techniques, styles and use cases to ensure it performs beautifully behind the bar.
Collaborative Campaigns and Menu Placements
Strategic partnerships, limited-time serves and bar collaborations that build credibility and consistent visibility.
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Concept and Worldbuilding
Signature Bar Concepts for InvestorsI design complete, ready-to-launch bar identities with strong narratives, modern aesthetics and a forward-thinking approach that stands out on the global stage.
Vision and Creative Direction
International, culturally aware and detail-driven direction that gives your project a clear personality and long-term relevance.
Experience Architecture
Guest flow, emotional beats, rituals and atmospheres crafted so your bar feels alive from the first night to the hundredth.
Beverage Identity and Execution
High-Impact Cocktail Programs
Menus that are modern, local, sustainable and globally competitive, designed to make your bar recognizable and memorable.
Flavor Innovation and Technique Integration
From fermentations to low-waste builds, I bring techniques that elevate your concept without making it complicated to run.
Operational Implementation of Creative Ideas
I translate bold visions into executable routines, ensuring the beverage identity works smoothly in real service.
Launch, Momentum and Ongoing Direction
Opening Strategy and Creative Operations
I support launches with strong storytelling, training and on-site creative leadership to ensure the bar delivers its full potential.
Industry Visibility and Collaborations
Curated guest shifts, brand partnerships and international exchanges that help your bar enter the global conversation.
Menu and Beverage
Menu and Cocktail Program Development
Seasonal, concept-driven menus rooted in local ingredients, sustainability and balanced flavor design.
Zero-Waste and Sustainable Beverage Systems
Smart prep, circular ingredients, fermentation and batching solutions that improve quality and reduce costs.
Product and Supplier Strategy
Building efficient backbar structures, cost control systems, signature serves and supplier partnerships that support your identity.
People
Team Training and Education
I build confident, skilled teams through modern bartending training, guest experience coaching, and hands-on learning.
Operational Structure and Culture
Clear roles, smoother workflows and a healthier team culture that supports creativity, accountability and long-term stability.
Leadership and Communication Support
Helping owners and managers create transparent communication, motivation systems and a workplace people actually want to stay in.
Special Projects
Guest Shifts and Pop-Up Concepts
Designing, hosting or supporting high-impact industry events that build visibility and community.
Brand and Beverage Collaborations
Signature serves, limited menus, activations and content that connect your bar to national or international brands.
Creative Campaigns and Events
Competition programs, PR-forward experiences and one-off concepts that bring new energy and attention to your venue.
