Choose a cocktail by tarot card at McRae Bar
The Capella Sydney hotel’s McRae Bar has launched a cocktail menu titled Arcana & Alchemy, with guests encouraged to draw a tarot card rather than choose a drink.
The menu is described as a ‘curated cocktail journey that blends mixology, mythology, and modern design’, and pays homage to George McRae, the original architect of the hotel building.
Each cocktail on the menu is inspired by an archetype of the Major Arcana – the named cards in a tarot deck – and one of 12 of McRae’s most iconic buildings. These include the Capella Sydney building, which he designed in the early 1900s.
By drawing a tarot card instead of choosing a drink, the cocktail selection is transformed into a ‘personal ritual guided by intuition and chance’.
“Arcana & Alchemy is more than a cocktail menu – it is a storytelling journey,” said Samson Li, director of food and beverage at Capella Sydney. “Every flavour, colour, and garnish has been carefully considered to reflect the personality of the building and its archetype.
“Our team has created a ritual that surprises and delights, where each drink becomes a memorable moment connecting guests with the history, craft, and soul of our city. This embodies the Capella philosophy of crafting world-class experiences that honour history, place, and community.”
The menu is accompanied by a bespoke microsite, where each card is animated. Guests can continue their journey after their visit, marking each card drawn and unlocking a secret 13th card.
Eleonora Biella, McRae Bar’s assistant bar manager, created the concept in collaboration with her team and the design and technology studio Miroma Project Factory.
“Every great idea begins with a question: how can guests feel Sydney’s history, not just see it?” said Kat Robinson, CEO of Miroma Project Factory. “Through this collaboration, we have translated architecture, story, and emotion into a ritual that engages all senses, from the tactile feel of the tarot cards to the layered flavours of the cocktails themselves.”
Drinks include the V75, inspired by The Empress card and the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney. The cocktail is a twist on a French 75, served in a pony glass to reflect the drink’s refinement.
The McRae Negroni is represented by the Magician card and the Department of Education building, which is now home to Capella Sydney. The cocktail features Sherry, fruit and bitters for a creation ‘both familiar and new’.
The Lovers card, meanwhile, is twinned with the Model Factor and Dwelling building and features gin, Campari, hibiscus, pineapple and lemon.
Last year, the Alchemist bar chain in the UK paired cocktails with star signs.
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