Crafting a "Ratatouille Moment" for Every Guest
How can a bar visit become a lasting experience, pulling guests into a captivating story? In his much-anticipated talk at Bar Convent Berlin 2025, Ryan Chetiyawardana, the creative force behind concepts like White Lyan, Dandelyan, and Lyaness, revealed the secrets to successful storytelling in the bar environment.
The session, "Storytelling and how it maximises creativity and hospitality," explored how to consciously create profound connections with guests, akin to the pivotal scene in the film "Ratatouille" where a single bite transports a cynical critic back to a cherished childhood memory. "How do we ensure these moments don't just happen because the stars align?" Chetiyawardana asked the packed audience on the Main Stage.
Drawing on his extensive experience, including being named "International Bartender of the Year" and earning multiple "World's Best Bar" titles, Chetiyawardana broke down his philosophy for embedding narrative into every facet of the guest experience.
The Bar as a Platform for the "Macro-Theme"
Chetiyawardana's first insight is that effective bar storytelling is a multi-layered endeavour. Few guests want to listen to long-winded tales, and staff rarely have the time to tell them. Instead, the bar itself must lay the groundwork.
Every element—lighting, music, ambience, temperature, textures, and the drinks themselves—contributes to a "macro-theme." Upon this foundation, individual, drink-specific "micro-themes" can be built.
He cited his London venue, "Seed Library," as an example. Opened in early 2022, its living-room-like feel and analogue music, inspired by Japanese jazz cafés, offered precisely what people craved post-pandemic: connection, community, and warmth.
Universal Stories Open Doors
For a story to resonate, it needs to connect with the guest on a fundamental level. This is a challenge when guests come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and countries.
Chetiyawardana’s advice is to select universal themes. At "Silver Lyan," his team explored the theme of the "Butterfly Effect" in the summer of 2025, examining how this concept from chaos theory—small changes leading to significant consequences—is understood across different cultures. The bar crew spent a full year developing the menu, starting with a simple question: What about this topic interests you and is worth sharing with our guests?
Aromas as a Universal Language
Universal themes require a universal language, and aromas are a perfect fit. Despite cultural differences, they are understood everywhere.
Chetiyawardana noted the global appeal of vanilla, stressing the vital difference between "taste" (the pure sensation on the tongue) and "flavour" (the complex, multi-sensory aromatic experience). While formulas like 4:2:1 for a sour create balanced drinks, they are not enough for true storytelling. Aromas influence perception, satisfy needs, and awaken emotions, making them ideal tools for bringing stories to life.
Allegories Create Excitement and Meaning
Facts alone do not make a story. Chetiyawardana emphasised that production methods or spirit histories might fascinate connoisseurs but leave most guests cold. True excitement comes from allegories and imagery.
A powerful example is the "Tornado Sazerac" from Lyaness in 2022. The drink was inspired by the resilience of Moore, Oklahoma, a town rebuilt over 20 times after being hit by tornadoes. The team discovered that many residents reported the air smelling like a striking match just before a tornado hits. This became the allegorical hook.
The team then translated this into the drink itself, developing a "struck match grenadine" and combining cognac and scotch with fragrant agarwood. The Sazerac variation was completed with dramatic "Death Bitters." The result? Guests who would never normally order a robust Sazerac were captivated by the story and its aromatic execution, experiencing their own "Ratatouille moment."
Ryan Chetiyawardana's 5 Steps to Storytelling:
- Situation: What is our occasion? What theme do we want to explore?
- Collaboration: How can we, as a team with diverse interests and skills, complement, challenge, and support one another?
- Relevance: Is the story interesting beyond our immediate circle? If so, how do we convey it to our guests and which elements will we use?
- Allegory: Set facts aside. Use metaphors and symbols to build suspense, joy, and leave room for personal interpretation.
- Execution: Make the story tangible and, most importantly, make the drink delicious.
