From Parisian Minimalism to London Luxury: Raise the Bar Transformed Lauba into the Center of the Bar Scene

After three intense days filled with competitions, knowledge exchange and top‑tier mixology, the tenth Raise the Bar conference, organized by Coca‑Cola HBC Adria, concluded on March 27 at Lauba in Zagreb. The anniversary edition reaffirmed Zagreb’s status as the regional hub of the bar and culinary scene and introduced a shift in format — instead of classic lectures, visitors followed dynamic talk‑show panels and enjoyed the atmosphere of the world’s most renowned bars through innovative pop‑up concepts.

The day began with a focus on local talent and education. Taking the stage were prominent Croatian chefs Igor Gudac, Bruno Vokal and Jela Šaban. In a panel about the evolution of Croatian gastronomy, they reflected on its development over the past decade and explored Croatia’s potential as a destination whose quality can stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the world’s strongest culinary players.

An emotional moment came with the first-ever Raise the Bar Ambassador Awards. With this recognition, Coca‑Cola HBC Adria expressed gratitude to experts who have, from the very beginning, selflessly contributed to promoting the project and educating young talents. The recipients for promoting excellence in Croatia’s hospitality industry were Bruno Vokal, Igor Gudac, Marko Gajski, Vedran Gulin, Karlo Purić and Danil Nevsky.

The afternoon program was dedicated to global icons of the bar industry. At the panel on global trends, some of the biggest names in the bar world — Remy Savage, Danil Nevsky, Nikos Bakoulis and Ago Perrone — shared insights into the trends that shaped the industry over the past decade, as well as those that are on the horizon. In addition to theory, visitors experienced practice firsthand — conceptual pop‑up bars brought the spirit of famous global bars into Lauba. Remy Savage showcased the artistic minimalism of Paris’s Abstract Bistrot, while Ago Perrone from London’s The Connaught Bar demonstrated why it has remained a top global destination for years. Alongside them, Nikos Bakoulis recreated the atmosphere of Athens’ Line bar, giving visitors the opportunity to taste their cocktails right in the heart of Zagreb.

As every year, the Raise the Bar Competition brought the biggest surge of adrenaline. At the barista competition held on Wednesday, March 25, ten candidates demonstrated their skills in preparing coffee‑based beverages, competing for a €5,000 prize and a spot at the Caffè Vergnano World Cup. The winner was Bruno Jelić from Zagreb.
The bartending competition, whose first round took place on Thursday, March 26, culminated in an exciting super‑final on the conference’s closing day, where the two best competitors — Kristian Marijančević from Makarska and Vice Damjanović from Split — went head‑to‑head for the title of the region’s best bartender. After this dynamic duel, Vice Damjanović earned the grand prize of €10,000 and a trip to the prestigious Roma Bar Show 2026.
In addition to announcing the best bartender and barista of the region, Coca‑Cola HBC Adria also recognized young professionals who completed the Raise the Bar Academy over the past year — a free educational program for bartenders, baristas and waiters.

The Raise the Bar conference is part of the strategic Raise the Bar Adria platform, through which Coca‑Cola HBC Adria has, since 2019, systematically contributed to aligning the skills of hospitality professionals with the real needs of employers. Through education, scholarships and networking, the project continues to encourage sustainable growth and professionalization of the sector, promoting excellence and competitiveness.