A weeklong celebration of the bartending profession is set for the first week of September in Nairobi at the Tribe Hotel.
The festival, set for September 2 to 8, aims to promote cocktail tourism and economic development in Kenya, while underscoring bartending as a noble career and highlighting locally crafted spirits.
“At Kenya Bartender Week, we are proud to celebrate bartenders as artists and storytellers, and to showcase Nairobi’s bar scene as a vibrant, exciting destination,” said Richie Barrow, Co-founder of Kenya Bartender Week. “This week is about community, creativity, and driving excellence in our craft.”
The event, conceptualised by Shamim Ehsani, Co-Founder of Tribe Hotel Group, and Richie Barrow, the Group’s General Manager of Food & Beverage, the duo behind the Hero Bar, will be an addition to the global festival that takes place in cities around the world, namely the New York Bartender Week.
According to the organisers, they hope the festival will also showcase Kenya as a world-class travel/tourism destination for drinks and dining enthusiasts.
Speaking about Kenya’s positioning as a world-class hospitality destination, Richie Barrow said that the professionals working in the industry had a vision for Kenya.
“I think Kenya has always been world-class. Kenyans have an innate hospitable nature; no matter where you go in the country, Kenyans want to look after you. […] there are enough professionals in Kenya now and people who have a vision for the country’s hospitality industry that we can shape it into a world-class experience.”
His comment comes three months after the Hero Bar was named a Top 10 nominee at the 2025 Spirited Awards and a year after the bar ranked 75 on The World’s 50 Best Bars’ extended list.
As part of Kenya’s Bartender Week, The Tribe Hotel will also host a Cocktail Festival on Saturday, September 6. Tickets for the Cocktail Festival are currently on sale – KSh. 3,500 (advance) and KSh. 4,500 at the gate.
What to expect throughout the week:
- Bartenders from Cape Town, Accra, Athens, and Dubai are expected to showcase their talent at the festival.
- Nairobi’s top bars will host both local and international talent on September 4 and 5
- Masterclasses & Workshops: Industry-led sessions to educate and inspire bartenders
- The cocktail festival will crown the event on Saturday, September 6
