World renowned bartenders to team up with TÁ TÁ Eatery for multi-faceted venue
Kratena is best known for his stint as head bartender at London’s Artesian, which under his stewardship was ranked number one on The World’s 50 Best Bars list for four years running, while Berg’s CV includes Oslo’s Himkok, another regular on global bar lists.
The couple have enlisted the Portuguese-Chinese duo behind long-running and well-received pop-up TÁ TÁ Eatery to run the food side of the Old Street-based business, which comprises two bar concepts and a creative workspace.
Gonçalves and Meng’s menu will be modern Asian in style but incorporate European ingredients and techniques. Dishes can be ordered individually, or as tapas-style sharing plates.
Kratena and Berg have spent over three years developing the concept and have apparently re-evaluated each aspect of the ‘traditional’ bar from service and serves to design and work stations.
The pair say they have “implemented forward-thinking and pioneering methods to streamline the bar experience for staff as well as guests.” Given their backgrounds, guests can expect world-class, cutting edge cocktails.
Designed by Edit! Architects in collaboration with Maxim Velclovsky, TAYĒR + ELEMENTARY will reference Scandi-Functionality and Japanese Minimalism juxtaposed with "a playful slice of punk".
The new venture will be carved into three distinct spaces and offerings.
At the front of the venue will be Elementary. The “fuss-free bar” will be open from 11.30am serving bottomless coffee, snacks and a concise collection of cocktails until late.
With a focus on seasonality, menu serves and ingredients will be dictated by available produce - highlighted by a seasonal calendar displayed as a piece of art on the back wall.
Guests will sit around a large communal bar alongside bartenders who will pour drinks using a bespoke system created in collaboration with draught cocktails for speed of service. Food and drink will be served using a choice of only three plates and glasses which will be presented simply on the menus in keeping with the bar’s simple style.
Moving through Elementary, guests will enter Tayēr, "a hub for creativity where produce dictates everything". Derived from the Spanish word ‘Taller’ meaning workshop, Tayēr is described as a progressive bar combining modern techniques and long-established practices to create cocktails and food that "express purity, freshness and simplicity of ingredients".