Who Are Bar Designed For? A Conversation with Behind Bars
Who are bars designed for and why does it matter? This and more were discussed when Behind Bars founder Alex Ruas and Designer Samantha MacRae joined Campari Academy for a conversation in their Oslo office. As the needs of the modern bartender evolves, so does the need for flexible solutions when it comes to bar design.
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Drink Like a Local: Chiang Mai with Pim TaveesinsuvanExplore Chiang Mai with Pim, to discover a city where mountain air softens the pace of life, ancient Lanna traditions sit comfortably alongside modern creativity, and food and drink are woven naturally into daily social rituals. Chiang Mai moves to a rhythm that feels distinctly its own. Set against a backdrop of mountains, the city […]
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Drink Like a Local: Tokyo with Atsushi SuzukiExplore Tokyo with Atsushi Suzuki, to experience a city where centuries-old traditions and restless creativity meet over late-night ramen, meticulously balanced cocktails, and the constant hum of movement that never truly fades. Tokyo is a city defined by contrast, but never contradiction. Ancient shrines sit calmly beside glass towers, neighborhood streets open into overwhelming intersections, […]
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The future is yours to create: So-yeon Kim (Alice)So-yeon Kim, also known as Alice, is a bartender based in South Korea whose approach to hospitality is rooted in emotional awareness and quiet observation. Drawn to bartending through curiosity rather than convention, she sees cocktails as moments shaped by memory, mood, and human connection. As a Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 finalist for South […]
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The future is yours to create: Phirun LekPhirun Lek is a lead bartender at SORA Phnom Penh, a venue that marked both the beginning and the foundation of his bartending career. Starting in hospitality through service roles before finding his place behind the bar, his journey reflects steady growth shaped by curiosity, practice, and people. With a mindset rooted in learning and […]
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Drink Like a Local: Macau with Frankie LeongExplore Macau with Frankie Leong, to discover a compact city where Chinese and Portuguese cultures meet through layered histories, late-night rituals, comfort-driven food, and a quietly evolving cocktail scene. Macau is often described through contrast: a city shaped by centuries of exchange between East and West, where Chinese traditions and Portuguese heritage coexist in daily […]
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The future is yours to create: Liu Yuan (Kim)Liu Yuan, also known as Kim, is a bartender at Wing Lei Bar in Macau whose journey into hospitality began with curiosity rather than convention. Drawn into the world of cocktails through a single, formative experience, she approaches bartending with a balance of discipline, creativity, and openness to discovery. As the first bartender from Macau […]
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Jim Meehan: When it comes to bar design, we all have the power to work with itThe author of ‘The PDT Cocktail Book’ and ‘Meehan’s Bartender Manual’ knows we can’t always choose our dream bar design. But we can work with it. He explains how for owner, management and bartenders After 12 years working behind other operators’ bars – including Audrey Saunders’ Pegu Club and a little-known landmark in Madison, Wisconsin, […]
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The (new) Ice AgeThe most important (and underrated) ingredient of them all: ice had a fascinating history before entering the world of mixology. Today it’s the subject of deep and ever-evolving experimentation – we explore its possibilities Sometimes considered a hindrance by un-educated guests (who publicly bash bars for using too much of the stuff for either watering […]
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Numbers Game: How Good Bar Design Can Impact Your Bar’s ProfitabilityDesign choices can deeply impact the profitability of a bar. Check out how to implement the best ideas, here
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Simon Ford - How to Create a BrandDiscover every detail you'll need to cover, for you to achieve the perfect brand creation. Here's our chat with Simon Ford
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Sam Ross: Why classic cocktails and formulas matterFrom beginning his bartending career as a teenager in Melbourne, to a pivotal opportunity at NYC’s Milk & Honey, Attaboy’s Sam Ross exalts the virtues of a strong foundation when it comes to drinks making When I first started bartending in Melbourne as a brash teenager, I felt like I had a natural style and […]
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Are Purpose-driven Spirits the Future, the Past or Something else Entirely?When was the last time you saw a new traditional gin get launched and got excited about it? I thought as much. As much as we love the juniper-based spirit, these days, something as perfunctory as a traditional spirit with no discernible difference will, sadly, arrive lacklustre. That’s because the world of spirits making has […]