Sydney bartenders will have the chance to learn from two of Asia’s most acclaimed cocktail bars over the coming weeks, with Tailor Room hosting a pair of guest shifts and masterclasses featuring leading industry figures from Tokyo and Seoul.
First up, on Wednesday 29 July, Atsushi Suzuki, owner-bartender of Tokyo’s The Bellwood, will take over the bar for one night only. The appearance comes shortly after The Bellwood made its debut on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list, landing at No. 48.
Suzuki, who won the Chivas Masters Global Final in 2017, opened The Bellwood in Tokyo’s Shibuya district in 2020. Drawing inspiration from Japan’s late Meiji and Taisho eras, the venue blends Japanese and Western influences, with a cocktail programme built around seasonal Japanese ingredients and the structure of traditional kaiseki dining.
Ahead of the evening guest shift, Suzuki will host a 3pm masterclass exploring Japanese hospitality, concept-driven cocktail menus and the role storytelling plays in shaping The Bellwood’s experience.
The second event takes place on Tuesday 11 August, when Mason Park of Seoul’s Alice Bar steps behind the Tailor Room bar.
Currently ranked No. 12 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, Alice Bar has built an international reputation for its inventive cocktails, theatrical presentation and playful approach to hospitality. Tucked behind an unassuming flower shop, the venue has become one of Seoul’s must-visit cocktail destinations, with Park helping shape its drinks programme over the past decade.
Park’s afternoon masterclass, beginning at 3pm, will delve into Alice Bar’s approach to menu development, concept creation and the thinking behind one of Asia’s most celebrated cocktail programmes, before he takes over the bar for a guest shift from 7pm.
These events offer a rare opportunity to experience two of Asia’s leading bar programmes firsthand while gaining insight into the creative processes and philosophies behind them.