Grain Bar & Four Seasons Hotel Sydney appoints international award-winning beverage professional

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and Grain Bar has appointed award-winning Food & Beverage professional, Sarath Nair as Beverage Manager commencing next month.

Nair will relocate to Sydney, Australia, from his native India, and his posting will oversee beverage management at the hotel, including The Cabana pool-side kiosk, premium dining outlet Mode Kitchen & Bar, and primarily, lobby-based cocktail outlet Grain Bar.

Known for his experimental pairings of local flavours with classic cocktail profiles and mixology techniques, Nair’s appointment comes at a pivotal time in both his career and the history of Grain Bar.

Grain Bar is renowned for the fine craft of drinking, with an extensive menu of carefully crafted cocktails, one of Australia’s largest whisky selections and the recently launched branded Gin in partnership with local distillery Bondi Liquor Co. The finished product champions native Australian ingredients such as Finger Lime & Grains of Paradise.

Nair’s career with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts commenced in 2019 with his nomination as Bar Manager, pre-opening at Copitas— Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru’s elevated cocktail lounge.  

His talent and passion for mixology, combined with a strong business mindset quickly garnered attention from leading industry bodies and guests alike.

Since the opening of Copitas, Nair has secured a bevy (pardon the pun) of coveted accolades, including No. 38 Asia’s 50 Best Bars, 2023, No. 2 India’s 30 Best Bars, 2022, Hotel Bar of the Year, South India, Icons of Gin 2022 and Best Cocktail Bar, Times Food & Nightlife Awards, 2022.

In addition to his tenure in Bengaluru, Nair has worked with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok at Chao Phraya River and Mauritius at Anahita, where he oversaw menu curation, training and resource management, and improvement of guest satisfaction.

When discussing this new chapter in his career and the opportunities within the Sydney market, Nair said, “It has been a dream of mine to explore Australia for around ten years, and I am very excited to join the team at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, and Grain Bar, to take a deep dive into the culture.

“Sydney has always been a vibrant city that attracts an array of international visitors and has become known for its world-class food & beverage scene, and I look forward to sharing my own experiences through Four Seasons hospitality and our magical touch points. I cannot wait to host guests at Grain Bar.”

Visit https://www.grainbar.com.au/ or on Instagram @GrainBarSyd.