Monica Berg

London

Serving up sustainability, ethics and education

Ask people in the bar scene who inspires them and you’ll frequently hear Monica Berg’s name mentioned. Evidence of the Norwegian’s quiet influence runs far and wide, even extending Down Under in the form of Melbourne bar Byrdi’s herbaceous ‘Monica Berg’ cocktail.

Born in Oslo, Berg developed an early passion for hospitality and kicked off her career in restaurants, before gravitating towards bartending, captivated by the artistry and craft involved in creating exceptional drinks. Her penchant for precision, coupled with her flavour-bending propensities, saw her take over H.Butlers Bartending School in her early twenties, before honing her skills at London’s Pollen Street Social and, later, Oslo’s star bar Himkok, a stalwart of The World’s 50 Best Bars list.

At Himkok, her innovative and sustainable approach to cocktails, often incorporating local and foraged ingredients, earned her a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking bartenders of her generation.

Berg left Oslo for London again to co-found her own drinking den, Tayēr + Elementary, in 2019 with her equally illustrious partner, Alex Kratena. The Shoreditch bar, with its unique two-concept structure – Tayēr, a high-end cocktail experience; and Elementary, a more casual, approachable space for drinks – made its debut in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2019 extended list at No.52 less than a year after opening. Since then it has frequented the upper echelons of the annual ranking, and occupies the No.4 spot in the new 2024 list.

Beyond the bar, Berg is also committed to the advancement and education of bartenders, co-founding P(our), a non-profit organisation dedicated to creating a platform for discussions around sustainability, ethics and innovation in the drinks industry. On a personal level, she is also known as a dedicated mentor and a passionate champion of diversity and inclusivity.

In 2019, Berg was crowned the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender, a peer-voted-for accolade that celebrated her contributions to the industry and cemented her already impressive influence on her fellow bartenders.

Monica Berg’s career has been defined by her relentless pursuit of innovation, her passion for mentorship and her commitment to a more sustainable and ethical bar industry. From influencer to inspiration, icon really does seem to be the only next logical step.

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