i. Biography
Alex Kratena’s work at Artesian is best read through the bar practice it produced: a high-volume luxury hotel setting used as a site for modern cocktail development, service discipline, and international visibility. “My job is first of all a creative outlet, an opportunity to express myself and very selfishly we have built a bar we would like to go to.” Alex has said.
The Making
Hotel-bar cocktail work in London has long asked for two things at once: technical consistency under service pressure and enough authorship for the room to have a point of view. From 2007 to 2015, Alex Kratena worked as Head Bartender at Artesian at the Langham, London, England, where that balance became central to his reputation. The period is associated with a polished, idea-led approach to drinks and with the kind of execution that can carry international attention without losing the requirements of nightly service. Contemporary bar building often separates the drink program into different registers rather than forcing one menu language across every seat. At Tayēr + Elementary, London, England, opened in 2019, Alex Kratena works as co-founder within that split format: Tayēr is described through ingredient-driven creations, while Elementary offers stripped-back classics. The structure gives the team room for both development and directness. Alongside the bar, P(OUR), which Kratena co-founded, functions as a platform for bartender knowledge and industry exchange.
Now
Ingredient-led cocktail work depends on restraint as much as novelty: the material has to remain legible, and the service format has to support the drink rather than explain it to death. The bar is presented as a bar built for that use, a place Alex Kratena and his team would want to visit themselves, with Tayēr carrying the more ingredient-driven work and Elementary holding the stripped-back classic register. Through P(OUR), the practice extends beyond the station into shared discussion among bartenders and beverage professionals.
Signature
Signature cocktails include Jasmine Mai Tai, Oye Mi Canto, and Vetiver.
Recognition
Alex Kratena has received Highest New Entry (2020). Peer recognition in bartending usually follows work that travels beyond its own room. In 2012, Alex Kratena was honored with the title of Best International Bartender, marking the wider industry response to the cocktail work associated with his Artesian period and the practice that followed.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Alex
What is Alex Kratena's current role?
Alex Kratena is bartender-co-owner of Tayēr + Elementary, ex-Artesian.
Where did Alex Kratena work before?
Earlier in their career, Alex Kratena worked at Artesian at the Langham.
What recognition has Alex Kratena received?
Best International Bartender (2012).
