Prague’s Forbína continues its series of guest appearances by prominent figures from the global bar scene. On Friday 9 October, French bartender, traveller and entrepreneur Nico de Soto – founder of Danico in Paris and Mace in New York – will arrive in Prague. Over the course of a single day, he will offer a masterclass for professionals and cocktail enthusiasts alike, followed by an evening guest shift during which he will take over the bar at Forbína.
Nico de Soto is one of the most prominent figures on the contemporary international cocktail scene. He began his career behind the bar in Paris in 2005, subsequently working in Australia, London and New York, and gradually built a reputation as a bartender significantly influenced by travel, gastronomy and working with unusual ingredients. Today, his name is most closely associated with the Danico bar in Paris and Mace in New York. Danico, which de Soto opened in 2016 in Paris’s Galerie Vivienne, has established itself among the world’s best in recent years. In 2025, it ranked 30th in The World’s 50 Best Bars list, and this year it has moved up to 19th place in the European rankings. The bar’s concept is built on de Soto’s passion for travel – its Xplorer menu has gradually introduced cocktails inspired by different parts of the world and their culinary traditions.
Mace, which de Soto opened in New York’s East Village in 2015, has in turn become renowned for its distinctive use of spices and botanical ingredients. It is precisely this ability to seek inspiration beyond the traditional world of cocktails that is one of the hallmarks of his style. De Soto approaches cocktails in much the same way as a chef approaches gastronomy. He employs techniques such as sous-vide, centrifugation and the Rotavap, and when creating drinks, he seeks new ways to work with flavour, texture and aroma. His cocktail philosophy is rooted in travel and the discovery of local ingredients and culinary traditions.
He has also left a significant mark on contemporary mixology. He is credited with popularising clarified milk punch and bringing pandan to the attention of a wider cocktail-drinking public. In 2024, he also launched his own pandan liqueur, KOTA, which is distributed on the Czech market by Vikeza Gastro.
Afternoon for professionals, evening for everyone
Before the evening guest shift, a masterclass will take place from 2.00 pm, during which Nico de Soto will present his approach to cocktail creation, his work with ingredients and his experiences from more than two decades behind the bar. For the Czech bar community, this will be an opportunity to meet a figure who has long influenced the landscape of contemporary global mixology.
From 8.00 pm, Nico de Soto will take over the bar at Forbína and offer guests the chance to sample his signature style right here in Prague. The evening will centre on signature cocktails that showcase his characteristic blend of global inspiration, unexpected flavours and modern techniques. De Soto is also one of the most active ambassadors of contemporary bar culture. According to his own records, he has visited 112 countries and organised pop-ups in 58 of them. In 2025, he was also ranked 23rd in Drinks International’s ‘Industry Most Influential Figures’ list and was named one of the top ten International Bar Mentors by Tales of the Cocktail.
The guest shift at Forbína will therefore offer not only an evening with one of today’s most famous French bartenders, but above all the chance to experience in Prague the signature style of a man whose work has long bridged the worlds of global gastronomy, travel and modern mixology.
