Rohan Matmary
Head Bartender and Bar Manager
Four Seasons Tenure
- Since 2022
- First Four Seasons Assignment: Current
Employment History
- Sidecar, Delhi and Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy, Gurugram, India; Byg Brewski Brewing Company, Bengaluru, India
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in International Hospitality Management, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland; Beverage Masters by Pernod Ricard, École hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland
Birthplace
- Mumbai, India
Languages Spoken
- English, Hindi
“What makes a cocktail great, technically speaking, is a precise balance of ingredients and flavours. But I strongly believe every exceptional cocktail also needs a compelling story and a passionate bartender,” says Head Bartender Rohan Matmary.
Bringing award-winning credentials and a fresh perspective, Rohan is scripting an exciting new chapter for Bar Trigona. Building on the bar’s legacy of innovation and sustainability, his ambitious beverage program seeks to strengthen the connection between guests and local farmers who partner with Four Seasons. Thoughtfully curated stories and immersive experiences promise to take patrons behind the scenes of the cocktail menu, from star ingredient trigona honey to locally produced figs and chocolate.
Prior to his current role, Rohan served as head of beverages for Sidecar in Delhi, the first Indian bar to break into the World’s 50 Best Bars list, as well as Cocktails & Dreams, an acclaimed speakeasy known for its imaginative mixology. From 2017 to 2020, he was assistant general manager – beverages at Byg Brewski Brewing Company, where he oversaw a collective of microbreweries, cocktail bars and dive bars in southern India.
“As a budding bartender, it was my dream to bring an Indian bar onto the global stage. Being part of that journey was an incredible experience! It elevated my game and prepared me to lead a place like Bar Trigona, which has been ranked multiple times as the Best Bar in Malaysia,” explains Rohan, who holds several individual accolades such as the Diageo World Class Tanqueray Challenge Winner – Global 2021 and Glenfiddich World’s Most Experimental Bartender Winner – India 2018.
Over the course of these coveted international events, he has also forged valuable connections with his fellow bartenders and industry leaders – “a network that is vital to my work.” Indeed, Bar Trigona’s annual calendar features guest shifts and popups from top mixologists across Asia, a great way for patrons to plug into the regional cocktail scene.
Originally from Mumbai, Rohan forayed into the world of mixology through part-time bartending stints during his university days in Bengaluru. “I fell in love with all of it – the mythology, the creativity, the conversations,” he says, fondly recalling the city’s lively drinking culture. His growing skills soon landed him a scholarship to study bartending from Switzerland, where he honed his craft with cutting-edge ideas and techniques.
With a firm belief that cocktails should spark curiosity and reveal a strong sense of place, Rohan designs menus that capture “the vibrant pulse of Kuala Lumpur.” Along with under-the-radar Malaysian ingredients, guests at Bar Trigona can expect a plethora of unusual woody influences, from sandalwood to cedar – a great personal favourite for Rohan.
When it comes to managing his team, his credo is simple: take care of each other, learn from each other, and have fun together. “With passion and integrity – and a couple of Negronis – everything falls into place!” he quips.
During their time off, Rohan and his wife love to explore the city’s drinking-and-dining landscape, all the way from long-time mainstays to experimental new spots. While his go-to is a Negroni or Sidecar, he also enjoys sampling cocktails recommended by the bartender – “it’s a great way to get the lay of the land.”
