Akademi takes a leaf out of She’s All That by finding beauty in ditching glasses.
No glasses allowed. That’s something you would expect to read at a poolside bar. But now it’s also the rule at Akademi, the “centre of mixology” at Katamama, a new hotel from PTT Family, the regional powerhouse behind Bali’s Potato Head Beach Club and spinoffs in Singapore and more recently Hong Kong. The directive, group bar director Dre Masso tells us, was put in place to be different, but delivered the added bonus of being able to collaborate with talented craftsmen at local ceramics producer Gaya. Masso and his team designed the range of “ceramicware” themselves, taking inspiration from Javanese culture, resulting in two different shot glasses, a rocks glass, a highball and a martini glass. The statement has not been without its challenges, Masso revealed: “The aesthetic of a drink in a glass is how people order and we’ve taken that away.” On the other hand, they have also given guests a tactile treat. Other non-glasses in use include a carved wooden mug for Zombies, copper cups, bamboo vessels and hollowed-out coconuts, while the only glasses are fashioned from re-cut sparkling water bottles. Sounds like the perfect excuse to get away from it all and go see them for yourself. And if you do, you can also check out the locally made teak bar kits after you check-in – there’s a fully stocked bar, cocktail equipment and Masso’s home cocktail book in every room.
Katamama / Jl Petitenget 51B, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia / +62 361 302 9999
This article first appeared in issue 44 of Drink Magazine.
