On May 5, a fire significantly damaged Old Street bar Tayer & Elementary. It’s remained temporarily closed since, with fans of what’s currently the world’s fifth-best bar (according to World’s 50 Best) only able to get their fix via its online store. That’ll change next week: it’s opening Casual by Tayer, a six-week residency in new Covent Garden bar Cato. Casual by Tayer will take over Cato’s basement bar with a pop-up that fuses the ethos of Tayer & Elementary’s two parts: the classic neighbourhood bar-style approach of Tayer with the hyper-focused, technique-driven approach of Elementary.
“Casual by Tayer is our way of staying connected to the people who have supported us, even as we navigate an unexpected moment of change,” Tayer & Elementary co-founder Monica Berg said in a statement. “This residency gives us the freedom to be playful, responsive and a little spontaneous to create something that feels fresh while still rooted in the values that define Tayer & Elementary.”
Alongside the bar’s clever cocktail list – which includes the pioneering One Sip Martini (vodka, fino sherry, vermouth and an olive stuffed with blue cheese) – there will be a new menu of snacks, skewers, sandwiches and other dishes from head chef Steven Diaz. That includes green plantain crisps with rayu, a watermelon and shiso gilda, a tamago sando and a Cubano sandwich.
Cato is a fitting location for the Tayer & Elementary residency: it’s named in tribute of Cato Alexander, the world’s first celebrity mixologist, who helped popularise the Julep cocktail. It brings another dimension to London’s bar scene, where Tayer & Elementary has been a major player since Berg and co-founder Alex Kratena launched it in 2019. The two-parter offers a double whammy of experiences: a neighbourhood bar with classic cocktails on tap, highballs, beer and wine out front at Elementary; and a slick cocktail bar at Tayer out back, where produce informs the menu.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Monica, Alex and the Tayer & Elementary team to Cato this summer,” Cato co-founder Angelos Bafos said in a statement. “They are among the most respected names in the global cocktail community.”
Casual by Tayer runs from July 15 to August 26 at Cato, 17 Mercer Street, WC2H 9QJ.
