Casual by Tayēr Comes to Cato

There are collaborations you weigh up carefully, and there are the ones you say yes to before the sentence is finished. Working with Tayēr + Elementary was firmly the second kind.

What brings us together is simple: an obsession with the craft of a good drink, the warmth of a well-run room, and the conviction to do both our own way. We couldn't be more up for it.

How it came together

Tayēr + Elementary opened in 2019, the work of Monica Berg and Alex Kratena — two of the most respected names in the global cocktail world, and a fixture near the top of every serious list (most recently No.5 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, and No.12 in Europe's 50 Best 2026).

When a fire temporarily closed their home earlier this year, Monica and Alex decided to keep moving, launching a new concept series they've called 'What If?'. Cato — one of Covent Garden's most talked-about openings, and no strangers to a bold idea — was the natural place to bring its first edition.

Casual by Tayēr is our way of staying connected to the people who have supported us, even as we navigate an unexpected moment of change.

— Monica Berg, Co-Founder, Tayēr + Elementary

What to expect downstairs

Casual by Tayēr takes the easy warmth of a neighbourhood bar and runs it through the invention Tayēr is known for. Expect a curated list that pairs Tayēr's style with Elementary's precision — a few cult classics among them, including the One Sip Martini: vodka, fino sherry, vermouth and a blue-cheese-stuffed olive, in a single, faultless measure.

Downstairs is kept deliberately simple: walk-in only, Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm until 1am. No list, no bookings. Just come down.

A kitchen to match

For the occasion, head chef Steven Diaz has built a menu of cross-cultural snacks, skewers, sandwiches and hot plates — his signature blend of Latin and Asian influences with nostalgic, drinking-friendly comfort food. Think Total Fire Fries and patacones with house rayu, a trio of gildas, a Yellow Tail Tiradito, and a Cubano worth the trip. It runs throughout the venue, upstairs and down.

Upstairs, as ever

While the basement belongs to Tayēr, street level carries on exactly as you know it. House of Julep stays open with the full cocktail list, including our colour-led menu, Colour Has Flavour — all British produce, from spirit to soil. Our advice: start upstairs as the light fades, then head down into the deeper hours below. Two bars, one address, one very good night.

From our side

For a bar with our ambitions, a collaboration like this is exactly where we want to be.

We're incredibly excited to welcome Monica, Alex and the Tayēr + Elementary team to Cato this summer. They are among the most respected names in the global cocktail community, and it's a privilege to host the first edition of their new 'What If?' series.

— Angelos Bafas, Co-Founder, Cato

The details

Casual by Tayēr runs from Wednesday 15 July to Wednesday 26 August — Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm–1am — in the Cato basement, walk-in only. For a table upstairs at House of Julep, reserve ahead or simply turn up.

Cato, 17 Mercer Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9QJ. catobar.co.uk