Raise the Bar Conference

The ninth edition of the Raise the Bar Conference will take place at Lauba in Zagreb from March 26 to 28, 2025. During the three-day conference, we will host world-renowned experts and organize the second edition of the Raise the Bar bartender competition, as well as the first regional Raise the Bar barista competition.

Raise the Bar Conference is an annual gathering of hospitality professionals from the region—including restaurant, bar, and café owners and managers, bartenders, baristas, and chefs. The event provides an opportunity to learn about the latest trends in the hospitality industry from leading global and local experts, hear inspiring stories, and discover new techniques.

This year’s conference will span three days. The first day is dedicated to the Raise the Bar barista Competition—the first barista competition organized under the Raise the Bar platform. The second day will feature the largest regional bartender competition, the Raise the Bar bartender Competition, while the third day will be reserved for industry speakers and the bartender competition finals

Entry for the first two days, during the barista and bartender competitions, is free, while admission for the third day will be ticketed.

More details on the exact agenda and ticket sales will be announced soon.

MEET THE SPEAKERS OF THE NINTH CONFERENCE

IAIN MCPHERSON

Iain has several successful bars, including the Panda & Sons bar in Edinburgh, included in The World’s 50 Best Bars list. He earned a degree in “ice cream science” in the United Kingdom and Italy and is a pioneer of sub-zero techniques in mixology. He is a two-time CLASS Bar Awards Innovator of the Year and the holder of the prestigious Altos Bartender’s Bartender Award according to The 50 Best Bars.

DANIL NEVSKY

Danil has more than 15 years of experience gained in 14 countries and is the second most influential person in the industry according to the Bar World 100. He is the founder of the Indie Bartender platform that supports independent bartenders around the world. He was named the best international mentor at Tales of the Cocktail 2024

DAvid ŽEfran

David is the head chef and co-owner of the Slovenian restaurant Milka, awarded with two Michelin stars. He is a self-taught chef and during his studies he started working in various restaurants where he discovered his love for cooking. He worked in Sweden in one of the most influential restaurants – Frantzen. In his cooking, he is committed to seasonality, innovation and reducing food waste.

RAISE THE BAR BARISTA COMPETITION

The Raise the Bar Barista Competition is the first barista competition organized under the Raise the Bar platform. To apply for the competition, you need to complete the registration form and submit one to three pictures of your latte art.

The expert jury of Raise the Bar will then select 10 contestants based on the submitted photos, who will join the live competition on Wednesday, March 26.

The winner of the Raise the Bar Barista Competition will receive a grand prize of €2,500 and the opportunity to participate in the Caffe Vergnano World Cup.

More information about the Raise the Bar competition and the application requirements can be found here.

RAISE THE BAR BARTENDER COMPETITION

The Raise the Bar Bartender Competition is the largest regional competition for bartenders and takes place as part of the Raise the Bar Conference. To apply, contestants must create their own cocktail and submit it via the application form.

The expert jury of Raise the Bar will then evaluate the submitted applications and recreate the cocktails based on the provided recipes. From this process, the top twenty contestants will be selected to showcase their skills live on Thursday, March 27, at Lauba in Zagreb. There, they will face five challenges, leading up to the grand finale, which will take place during the conference on Friday, March 28.

The winner of the Raise the Bar Bartender Competition will receive a grand prize of €10,000 and a trip to the Roma Bar Show.

More information about the Raise the Bar competition and the application requirements can be found here.