Kenya gets its first Bartender Week
The team behind New York Bartender Week have launched an event in Kenya, marking the group’s first expansion to Africa.
Hanna Lee Communications founded New York Bartender Week in 2024. A second event in India took place earlier this year.
The inaugural Kenyan event began yesterday (2 September) and will continue until 8 September.
The event aims to bring together Kenya’s bartending community through events and a cocktail promotion for consumers showcasing local spirits. For its inaugural edition, 41 bars across the country will serve bespoke cocktails made using at least one Kenyan ingredient.
The event has been stewarded by the team behind Hero Bar, Nairobi’s first speakeasy, which is located within the Trademark hotel.
Shamim Ehsani is the co-founder of Tribe Hotel Group, which owns the Trademark hotel and Hero Bar, while Richie Barrow is the group’s general manager of food and beverage.
Ehsani said: “Kenya Bartender Week is a significant milestone for the country’s bar community.
“Being a part of a global movement focused on appreciating talent and cocktail culture around the world highlights the achievements and efforts of our bar community in Kenya.
“Kenya Bartender Week is a celebration of bar talent, presenting an opportunity for the exchange of skills and knowledge, while inspiring the next generation of the country’s bartenders.”
Other participating bars in Nairobi include KO Cocktail Bar, Dawn Culinary and Re\Volver.
Further afield venues include the Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, Tamambo at Tatu City in Kiambu, and the Safari Beach Hotel in Diani Beach.
“Kenya’s food and beverage landscape continues to grow and strengthen,” added Barrow. “Kenya Bartender Week will be instrumental in providing a space and platform for Kenya’s bar community to showcase and provide an avenue for bartenders to create and celebrate their craft.
“We have so many untapped flavours, and I am super excited for the community to really deep dive into the indigenous ingredients available to them.”
The event will also feature educational programming, with seminars and panels to be held at the Tribe hotel.
Highlights include ‘PR 101 for bartenders and bar owners’, ‘Building China’s cocktail culture – lessons from the East’ and ‘Bartender to brand ambassador – highlights and pitfalls”.
Hanna Lee, founder of Hanna Lee Communications and co-founder of Worldwide Bartender Week said: “We salute Kenya Bartender Week as the first expansion of Bartender Week to the African continent.
“Nairobi is emerging as a compelling F&B [food and beverage] destination, with Hero Bar leading the charge and electrifying the bar community. Its acclaimed pop-up series brings top bar talent from around the world to this dynamic city to cross-pollinate drinks culture with Kenya’s best and brightest.”
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