Dining Out: Lyaness, Sea Containers
Where Innovation Meets Impeccable Cocktails
Perched on the Southbank within the stylish Sea Containers hotel, Lyaness is the flagship bar from world-renowned bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan. Known for pushing the boundaries of cocktail craft, Lyaness has cemented its status as the only bar globally awarded three PINs by The Pinnacle Guide, the drinks world’s equivalent of three Michelin stars. A visit here is more than a drink—it’s an exploration of creativity, science, and storytelling, where every serve embodies Lyan’s philosophy of collaboration and innovation.
The Collaboration Menu
During our visit, we experienced the recently launched Collaboration Menu, a collection of twelve inventive cocktails and four boozeless serves designed around the concept of coming together. The bar team drew inspiration from global collaborations, from nature to technological partnerships, translating these stories into liquid form.
Standout serves included:
Cosmo Salad – Belvedere, pink sherry, bitterless aperitif, orange-sec, lemon. A playful, zippy sour that showcases how disparate flavours can harmoniously unite.
Unfiltered Martini – Boatyard vodka, ‘Really Good Potato.’ A deceptively simple off-dry martini with an offbeat ingredient that exemplifies Lyaness’ innovative spirit.
Digital Fruit – Johnnie Walker Black, sour raspberry, paperback kombucha, leather soda. Ethereal and layered, celebrating the unexpected sweetness unlocked by fermentation.
Moo Reed – Teeling Single Malt, smoked camel milk, hummingbird nectar, grass, lemon (boozeless option available). A funky, green, fruity punch reflecting nature’s surprising harmonies.
Rapaport Cocktail – Fords gin, tree caramel, a tonne of micro-organisms, nuked vermouth, VORS sherry. Complex, deep, and rich in forest aromas—a Martinez-style marvel.
Each serve tells a story, blending science, flavour, and craftsmanship in ways few bars can achieve.
Complementing the drinks is an approachable menu of bar bites designed to enhance the experience without overshadowing the cocktails. We enjoyed:
Cambrook Nuts – Lightly seasoned and addictive.
Blistered Peppers – Sweet with a subtle char.
Fries with Old Bay Mayonnaise – Crispy, perfectly seasoned.
Tater Tots with Buttermilk Ranch – Comfort food elevated.
Four Cheese Croquettes with Jalapeño Mayo – Gooey and indulgent.
Popcorn Buffalo Chicken – Bold, satisfying, and shareable.
The food is ideal for nibbling between inventive serves, keeping the focus firmly on the cocktails.
Sundae Lyan: Marcelo’s x Lyaness Pop-Up
On Sunday, 31st August, Lyaness team up with cult ice cream brand Marcelo’s for a limited-run pop-up, ‘Sundae Lyan,’ bringing an entirely new dimension to cocktail enjoyment. We previewed the menu, which featured playful ice cream and cocktail pairings:
Miso Peanut Butter Hardshake – Johnnie Walker Red, Marcelo’s miso peanut butter and dark chocolate chip ice cream, Thunder Mushroom, lemon, chocolate bitters. Creamy, indulgent, and utterly unique.
Really Good Potato Ice Cream – A vanilla-potato marvel that forms the backbone of Lyaness’ Unfiltered Martini, with starchy sweetness and subtle floral notes.
The collaboration included inventive scoops paired with cocktails, DJ sets, and exclusive merchandise, perfectly blending culinary curiosity with the energetic Lyaness vibe.
Lyaness maintains an intimate yet dynamic atmosphere, where guests can watch the bartenders at work at the six-seater bar or settle into the larger, softly lit dining area. The interior balances industrial elegance with warmth, creating the perfect backdrop for both quiet evenings and lively gatherings. Every detail, from the lighting to the glassware, has been meticulously curated, reflecting Mr Lyan’s obsession with precision and creativity.
Our evening at Lyaness showcased why Ryan Chetiyawardana continues to redefine the cocktail scene. The Collaboration Menu and Marcelo’s pop-up illustrates a fearless approach to flavours, pairing avant-garde techniques with playful storytelling. The bar’s food complements the drinks without distraction, making it ideal for both adventurous evenings or lighter, cocktail-focused visits. For anyone seeking an inventive, boundary-pushing drinking experience on the Southbank, Lyaness remains unrivalled.
The Lyaness x Marcelo’s pop-up is on 31 August 2025.
Explore further at Lyaness.