On 2 April, Linla Sydney hosts its first-ever bartender collaboration, teaming up with Penicillin Hong Kong – a bar that’s spent the past few years quietly rewriting the rules on what a “sustainable cocktail” looks like.
This isn’t just a fly-in and create a cocktail event. Penicillin has built its reputation on a tight philosophy – fermentation, foraging, and upcycling. It’s the kind of bar that doesn’t just talk sustainability; it builds entire drinks programs around it.
For one night, Linla hands over the reins, transforming the space into a working snapshot of that world. Expect a mix of Penicillin signatures alongside one-off creations, with ingredients that have likely lived a previous life before landing in your glass – citrus husks turned into acids, kitchen scraps reworked into ferments, and flavours that push well past the usual formula.
It’s a natural pairing. Both venues sit comfortably in that space where technique meets hospitality without losing the human side of things – drinks that are thoughtful, but still designed to be enjoyed, not dissected.
Founded by Agung Prabowo and Laura Prabowo – the duo also behind The Old Man Hong Kong – Penicillin has become one of Asia’s most influential bar concepts, consistently ranking in Asia’s 50 Best Bars since 2021 and picking up the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award along the way.
Its “scrap-less” model goes beyond clever prep. From repurposing by-products into cocktail ingredients to reducing emissions through initiatives like ecoSPIRITS, every element of the bar is designed to close the loop – right down to drinks like One Penicillin, and One Tree, which ties each serve to global reforestation efforts.
All of which makes this guest shift feel less like a cameo and more like a glimpse into where bar culture is heading next.
And if you miss it, Linla’s own cocktail offering holds its ground. The house list leans into easy drinking, balancing technical precision with layered flavour. Drinks like the MI-Bubble – a playful, slightly nostalgic rework of bubble tea through a cocktail lens, show the bar’s knack for keeping things clever without getting preachy.
Penicillin × Linla lands April 2, from 6:30pm till late.