Bartender / bar director
Jarah Retana
- Discipline
- Bartender / bar director
Portrait of Jarah Retana
i. Biography
Jarah Retana works the bar at El Primo Sanchez in Sydney, where cocktails are the brief and the discipline. Retana has described the work in plain terms: “I think I’m super curious.” That reads less like a slogan than a bar-side method—listen, adjust, and keep moving.
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Coming Up
Behind the bar, the work at El Primo Sanchez has given Jarah Retana a steady frame and room to build pace. The role at La Prima in Sydney, from 2024, sits early in the record and marks the same trade in a different room: service, rhythm, and presence.
Where They Are Now
At El Primo Sanchez, Jarah Retana bartends with cocktails at the center of the job. The role is about control of pace and the ability to keep the bar moving without losing shape.
Signature
Jarah Retana’s signature dishes include Spur Reviver, Ikigai Paloma, and Kentucky's Cousin.
FAQ
Asked of Jarah
What is Jarah Retana's current role?
As of 2026, Jarah Retana is Bartender of El Primo Sanchez.
Where did Jarah Retana work before?
Jarah Retana's earlier career included La Prima.
What is Jarah Retana known for?
Cocktails.
Explore
The Sunday email
Get new Made By stories every Sunday.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
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