Nairobi is raising a glass to celebrate cocktail culture with the launch of the first-ever Kenya Bartender Week, running from September 2 to September 8. The week-long festival spotlights bartenders, bar owners, and barbacks, transforming the city into a hub for mixology enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Organizers describe the event as a celebration of creativity, technical skill, and storytelling, highlighting how bartending has evolved into a vibrant craft that fuses flair, personality, and innovation.
The festival features a mix of educational workshops, masterclasses, and bar takeovers across Nairobi’s trendiest venues. International mixologists from cities like Cape Town, Accra, Athens, and Dubai are flying in to collaborate with local talent, sharing expertise in everything from cocktail design to personal branding for bartenders. Nairobi’s top bars, including Hero Bar, Revolver Bar, Gastro Bar, and Alchemist, will host special events alongside visiting bars such as Salmon Guru from Dubai and Fable from Cape Town. Highlights include hands-on sessions, seminars like Bartender to Brand Ambassador, and a culminating Cocktail Festival at the Tribe Hotel, promising a day-long showcase of flavors, creativity, and mixology prowess.
Reactions from the bar community and local enthusiasts have been overwhelmingly positive. Richie Barrow, general manager of Tribe Hotel Group, emphasized that the festival aims not only to entertain but also to nurture a professional bartending community, amplify Kenya’s cocktail culture, and promote local tourism. Hanna Lee, co-founder of Worldwide Bartender Week, praised Nairobi’s growing reputation as an emerging F&B destination, noting the city’s potential to position itself as a hub for global mixology exchange. Looking ahead, Kenya Bartender Week is expected to become an annual event, fostering collaboration between local and international talent, boosting tourism, and inspiring a new generation of bartenders to explore Kenya’s indigenous flavors and mixology potential.