McRae Bar has just launched Arcana & Alchemy, a tarot-led cocktail experience that turns Sydney’s architectural history into a choose-your-own ritual, served nightly inside Capella Sydney.
Guests can draw a tarot card instead of ordering, with each card tied to a Major Arcana archetype and one of twelve buildings designed by original architect George McRae – including the former Department of Education building that now houses Capella Sydney. From The Empress linked to the Queen Victoria Building to The Fool at St James Station, each pairing is translated into a cocktail that mirrors the character and story of its structure.
Director of Food and Beverage at Capella Sydney, Samson Li, says the menu is designed as a narrative-driven ritual.
“Arcana & Alchemy is more than a cocktail menu, it is a storytelling journey. Every flavour, colour and garnish has been carefully considered to reflect the personality of the building and its archetype.”
The experience extends beyond the bar via a dedicated microsite, where patrons can track the cards they’ve drawn and unlock a hidden 13th card. The concept was created by McRae Bar’s Assistant Bar Manager Eleonora Biella and developed with Miroma Project Factory. Arcana & Alchemy is now live at McRae Bar, Capella Sydney.