Lyaness

London

Pioneers of zany techniques and purveyors of far-out flavours

For the last four years, The World’s 50 Best Bars has invited venues to submit their drinks lists for a chance to have theirs named the finest in the world. From hundreds of entries, this year’s ultimate winner – as voted on by the 28 global Academy Chairs – is Lyaness in London.

Lyaness opened in 2019 as the spiritual successor to Dandelyan, The World’s Best Bar 2018. The mastermind behind the bar is prolific bartender and industry darling Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known as ‘Mr Lyan,’ whose inquisitive mind and penchant for exploring obscure flavours has driven the bar to create a drinks programme that pursues mad-scientist levels of technique and innovation.

The bar launched the 3.0 Cookbook in March 2024, offering a tightly curated selection of drinks that go big on flavours from unexpected sources. Where its second iteration, Ancestral Cookbook, created each of its drinks from five core ingredients, from braai wood caramel to ‘thunder mushrooms’ zapped by car batteries, version 3.0 expands its foundation to 18 palate-twisting components.

Each of the cocktails in this year’s cookbook is built from the core ingredient outwards. Take the Goose & Gander #4, which supercharges the simple vodka soda with the addition of the bar’s own numbingly spicy Szechuan sauce. The Kentakki Fried Cocktail, made with whisky, citrus and Japanese herbs and spices, plays on the east Asian country’s tradition of eating KFC on Christmas Day to create a savoury and sour concoction.

The Unfiltered Martini – whose listed ingredients are simply vodka and ‘really great potato’ – uses a fermented vegetable elixir to give the classic drink an almost creamy finish. For those wanting a flavour-packed alcohol-free option, a healthy proportion of drinks on the menu are available totally booze-less.

Storytelling also sits as a key focus for the bar. Each drink is accompanied by text that provides context to the sip or a short tale around its conception to help give guests a place to start.

Each inventive cocktail within the 3.0 Cookbook is the result of months of R&D and, while it would be easy for the drinks to veer into superfluity, the menu’s success comes from its accessibility, offering both familiarity and intrigue in equal measures.

With depth and deliciousness in spades, the 3.0 Cookbook is a truly innovative menu and a deserving winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award 2024.

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