Straits Bar at Pan Pacific

80 HOUNDSDITCH, LONDON EC3A 7AB

The rise in high-quality Hotel Bars this decade has been astronomical, and we’re delighted to share the success of Straits Bar at Pan Pacific London, situated a stone’s throw away from London hotspots Spitalfields and Liverpool Street. We had the privilege of sitting down with Alex Nieto, Senior Bartender at Straits Bar, to give us their story and detail their path to success.

Located within stylish five-star hotel Pan Pacific London, Straits Bar is an inviting yet elegant city drinking spot that offers glittering views of the city beyond. Perfect for post-work drinks or weekend catchups with friends, the menu at Straits Bar showcases over 150 carefully curated champagnes, as well as a range of Asianinspired signature cocktails alongside classic serves. Straits Bar also boasts one of London’s most extensive non-alcoholic cocktails lists, with a true spectrum of flavour profiles available to choose from With ‘low and no’ options gaining popularity as consumers become more health-conscious, Alex shared some creations, “Guests can expect spectacular serves that are 0% alcohol, but every bit as delicious. The Berry Sensation is a

Exotic Sour

The inspiration behind this mocktail is my background. I am from Ecuador and the lulo fruit is native to the low mountains of western South America. Today, they are grown year-round in numerous South and Central American countries.

My grandma used to make refreshing juices and ice cream out lulo, and I knew I could use this fruit to give my serve a unique flavour.

In my culture, people get together and enjoy food and refreshing drinks under the sun. My purpose in creating this drink was to drive this feeling and highlight my roots.

Ingredients

Lulo Puree – 50ml

Homemade Sugar Syrup – 20ml

Lime juice – 25ml

Fresh Mint Leaves – 8 leaves

Method

Shaken. Add all the ingredients into your shaker, and shake it over lots of ice and pour it into your rock/whiskey glass.

unique, fruity yet smoky, aromatic mix of alcohol-free Seedlip Spice with lemon juice, blackberry syrup, cranberry juice and soda water; whilst the Straits Kitchen Sangria is a reinvention of the much-loved classic, made with Didier Goubet Organic Wine Grape Juice, cranberry juice and topped with fresh fruits and French Bloom.

“Other non-alcoholic delights include the Exotic Sour, comprising lulo juice – inspired by my Grandma’s homemade creations in Ecuador where lulo fruit originates – as well as homemade sugar syrup and lime juice, finished with fresh mint leaves.”

Paying homage to the Southeastern culture that inspires Pan Pacific London’s food offering at Straits Kitchen, Alex revealed how he incorporates this into his cocktail selection, “We noticed after a few months of opening that mocktails were becoming more and more popular with our guests, and can be as visually attractive, impressive, and creative as alcoholic choices. Hence, through thorough research and the support of my team, I have created one of the largest mocktail lists in London. This was a very exciting project, giving me the opportunity to familiarise myself with more of the Southeast Asian culture for fruits, ingredients, and history, to bring some authenticity behind each drink.”

Hospitality operators will know that guest satisfaction and repeat business is dependent on the passion of your staff. Alex told us about his love for the craft of mixology, “I have always loved creating cocktails and offering them as if they were the best dishes in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

“Throughout my time at Straits Bar, I have had the opportunity to create and express myself freely, leading and teaching my team to do the same. I take my role very seriously, always striving to deliver not only a drink, but, most importantly, a memorable experience – no matter how complex or simple the ingredients of the serves are. My passion for mixology is also a love for constant research and experimentation, to create the most flavourful cocktails while using the most sustainable, surprising, and innovative techniques.”

Straits Bar’s success is certainly inspirational, and we gave Alex the tough task of summing up the driving factors for this in a few words; “I am very grateful, not only to have the freedom to create, but also to lead my team with the values I cherish. I truly believe in integrity and humbleness, always helping each other as a team to lead the business to success by setting high standards for yourself and others. Indeed, I do think that when a business is thriving, the team will be proud and stay motivated. Furthermore, I’m a firm believer of leading by example, and I try every day to make work fun for us all, sincerely believing this transpires through to the guests and positively impacts their experience with us.”