Prague Bar Show ‘24 Review
Under the auspices of the Czech professional magazine BARLIFE, the largest gastronomic trade fair in the country, Prague Bar Show 2024, took place on March 25, 2024.
Since its inception in 2011, the Prague Bar Show has been elevating the level of Czech and Slovak gastronomy. The aim of this event is to create an ideal environment for the hospitality community and businesses. Hundreds of managers, bartenders, baristas, owners, and distributors attend this bar show every year.
This year, the organizers opted for a larger space than the previous year to increase capacity. Despite that, a day before the event began, the official Prague Bar Show website announced that all tickets were sold out with around 3500 attendees.
Source: Prague Bar Show
Variety of exhibitions
Covering an area of almost 4000m2, there were 86 impressive exhibitors and approximately 434 brands, divided into two exhibition pavilions at the Prague Holešovice exhibition grounds.
In addition to brands showcasing their portfolios of alcoholic beverages, visitors could taste various coffees, wines, or purchase professional gastronomic tools.
Noteworthy was the booth of STOCK PLZEŇ-BOŽKOV, which, in addition to excellent drinks, also offered interaction with visitors in the form of a wheel of fortune. Attendees could win various promotional materials or a tasting sample of whisky from the Diageo Special Release 2023. At the bar, they could also taste drinks directly from the ambassadors of Diageo brands in the Czech Republic, Michal Marešovský and Pavel Mandrla. The exhibition also featured the Diageo Bar Academy under the direction of Ján Šebek, demonstrating the correct use of modern technologies in bars.
Slovak representation was also present at the Prague Bar Show by the Toison brand exhibitors. Brand ambassador Martin Nemček presented Toison Gin, Toison Ruby Red, and the latest non-alcoholic addition, Toison 0.0%. His portfolio also included the Dr. Kramer liqueur.
At the ACAN booth behind the Piquero rum bar, the dynamic duo from the Mirror Bar in Bratislava, Peter Marcina and Katka Nékiová, took care of the guests. In addition to great cocktails, they offered guests rum-based ice cream combined with coconut milk and syrup.
Stan Harcinik giving a presentation at Prague Bar Show 2024 Source: Prague Bar Show
When learning is fascinating
The organizers also considered the educational aspect of the event. The Barlife Main Stage offered several excellent lectures from professionals in the gastronomic business on various topics.
The first lecture was “Design in Gastronomy / Inspirational Concepts from Abroad,” led by design experts Pavel Mráz and Daniel Piecuch. The first half discussed the most common mistakes in designing gastronomic concepts, while the second showcased various design ventures from around the world.
Later, Stanislav Harciník took the stage with his lecture “How Does Happiness Smell? Multisensory in Modern Gastronomy." He addressed the relatively new scientific discipline of neurogastronomy, which focuses on the connection between the brain and the nervous system in our eating habits.
There were also product presentations from global ambassadors and owners. One of them was bar legend Alex Kratena, co-founder of premium liqueurs Muyu.
Towards the end of the day, an inspirational lecture titled “Water and Coffee - Fundamental Influences of Water Composition on Beverage Sensory" took place. It mainly discussed the quality of water in the Czech Republic and its impact on coffee quality.
After-party in style
The event concluded with a grand after-party called “Luxury Disco" at the Casablanca Sky Bar, sponsored by STOCK PLZEŇ-BOŽKOV and Diageo, where the two brands took turns behind the bar. One of them was the Sky Bar & Restaurant from Bratislava, represented by Dominik Tapušík, Michal Dojčák, and Matúš Ferko. They were later replaced by Becher’s Bar from Karlovy Vary, which hosted the entire party. Behind the bar, you could see stars like Víťa Cirok and Ján Šebek.
The Prague Bar Show raises its level of quality every year. In the future, as soon as you see tickets for sale, don't hesitate! Due to its high value, they easily sell out.
