Some of the world’s best bars from cities in Europe, the US and Asia will take up residence in the Indian Ocean this year, thanks to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands’ Behind the Bar series – expect something more innovative than a classic piña colada!
The Eau Bar, at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, is one of the most dramatic settings for a cocktail in the world. The striking architecture of the semi-circular building, designed by Kerry Hill Architects, fuses Modernism with a sensitivity for nature and local craft traditions. It wraps around an O-shaped infinity pool, which, in turn, looks out to the magnificence of the Indian Ocean. It’s a fitting venue for equally beautifully constructed cocktails – particularly during the Behind the Bar residencies the luxurious eco-resort regularly hosts.
The Eau Bar at sunset
Over the series, the guests include the liquid craftspeople behind some of the world’s most highly regarded bars. Previously, Himkok of Oslo, London’s Three Sheets and two of the bars making Paris cool again – Danico and Little Red Door – have been represented. The series continues throughout the rest of 2024.
The Behind the Bar series hosted by the Eau Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands sees residents from some of the world’s greatest bars craft cocktails as beautiful as this setting (photo: Claude Okamoto)
First up is Republic from Singapore (July), whose cocktails are inspired by 1960s pop culture – art, cinema, fashion and music. The following month (9-10 August), Matteo Cadeddu’s “liquid surrealism” concept from Opium in Bangkok makes an appearance.
That’s followed (18-19 September) by Harrison Ginsberg of Overstory, the bar 64 floors above Wall Street, whose altitude is matched by its trajectory – it was a high climber in North America’s 50 Best Bars this year. Towards the end of the year, Damien Guichard of Berlin’s craft cocktail bolthole Wax On (22-23 November) will be behind the bar. And, to round off the year, Hyacinthe Lescoët of Paris’s exciting The Cambridge Public House (5-6 December) will apply his concept of exploring new flavours using locally sourced ingredients to this tropical location.
The Eau Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
As well as tasting signature tipples, guests will be able to attend masterclasses to learn how to make them. It’s all part of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands’ Masters of Craft programme, in which the resort’s ethos of “transformative travel” is reflected in considered, curated guest experiences. Visitors can develop skills under the guidance of experts as diverse as chefs, yoga practitioners, surfers and conservationists.
