Mr Lyan on Creativity, Concept Bars, and Staying Ahead of the Curve

In this captivating episode—the celebrated Mr Lyan (Ryan Chetiyawardana) joins Shawn Soole for a deep dive into concept bars, creative reinvention, and the future of cocktail culture. From expansion to storytelling, this episode is a masterclass in pushing boundaries while remaining true to your creative core.

What You’ll Learn

• How Ryan built his identity and brand as Mr Lyan, blending hospitality with innovation.

• The art of creating concept bars that are experiences, not just drinks.

• Balancing design, storytelling, and guest emotion to stay ahead of cultural shifts.

• Insights into expansion—moving ideas across geographies and platforms.

• Shawn and Mr Lyan navigate an engaging live Q\&A on concept ideation, creative leadership, and more.

Timestamp Highlights (Approximate)

• 00:02:30 – Ryan’s journey to becoming Mr Lyan: inspiration and vision

• 00:14:00 – Designing concept bars that provoke emotion and memory

• 00:28:00 – Expanding a brand—challenges, lessons, and opportunities

• 00:42:00 – Live Q&A: ideation, cultural trends, and staying creative

• 00:58:00+ – What’s next in the curated world of experience-driven bars

Who It’s For

Bar operators, mixologists, creative directors, and hospitality innovators looking to explore how concept, emotion, and brand intersect in forward-thinking cocktail environments.

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