Lyan-ess and Commitment to the Craft
Where a cocktail becomes something far more than a drink at the bar
by Shareef Mahdavi
Despite society’s growing interest in sobriety, there are still those moments, especially after nearly 30 hours of travel, when you say to yourself, “I need a drink.”
For my wife and me, that moment came as we landed in London and attempted to sync with a new time zone. We had heard about a bar called Lyan-ess, known for its creativity and inventiveness, and decided to check it out.
At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Located in a sleek hotel on the south bank of the Thames, it felt warm and nicely appointed, but not remarkable. That changed the moment we were handed the cocktail menu.
The Menu as a Storytelling Experience
Our bartender, Dylan, greeted us and immediately began walking us through a beautifully bound booklet, more like a short story collection than a drink list. Each cocktail had its own page and its own narrative. One example: the Moo Reed, which carried the quirky claim that “cows give better milk when they listen to Lou Reed.”
The ingredients themselves were unconventional. Ever tried camel’s milk in a cocktail? But what really stood out was the imagination. Every detail of the menu invited curiosity, exploration, and conversation.
Cocktails as Craft, Not Commodity
The drinks were exceptional. Balanced, flavorful, and unlike anything we’d ever had. But even more impressive was the approach.
Dylan explained that the team at Lyan-ess spends an entire year developing their cocktail menu. That means 12 months of testing, refining, and iterating before a drink is considered menu-worthy.
This is not just bartending, this is a commitment to creative excellence. As we watched our cocktails being prepared, we noticed multiple bartenders collaborating on each drink. At the end, the head bartender sampled each one with a straw before it reached the guest.
Poetry in motion.
A Signature Moment
As our evening wrapped up, I asked if I could take the menu with me. Dylan disappeared briefly and returned with a fresh copy. This one signed by the entire team.
That wasn’t just thoughtful, it was unforgettable.
🎞️ Here’s a short video I created that flips through the menu pages. It gives you a feel for the creativity they poured into every detail.
What a Medical Practice Can Learn from a Cocktail Bar
You might be wondering: What does any of this have to do with patient experience in healthcare?
Quite a bit.
This wasn’t just a bar serving cocktails. This was a team creating an experience, the kind of experience people remember, talk about, and want to return to.
Here are four key lessons any medical practice can apply:
1. Theming as a Tool for Creativity
The Lyan-ess team used the concept of “1 + 1 = 3” as a thematic guide for their menu, pushing their thinking about what a cocktail could be.
Application: A clearly defined theme or purpose can unlock creativity while maintaining cohesion. In your practice, this could be a single guiding principle about how you treat patients, one that makes it easier to say yes or no to new ideas based on whether they align with your brand.
2. Teamwork is the Experience
At Lyan-ess, each drink was a team effort. The choreography behind the bar revealed a culture of collaboration, where everyone knew their role in creating something extraordinary.
Application: In your practice, the patient experience is shaped not just by the doctor, but by everyone on the team. Hire for attitude, develop hospitality skills, and build a culture where the goal isn’t just efficiency, it’s excellence.
3. Price Becomes Irrelevant When Value Is Felt
The cost of the drinks was listed, but it never once crossed my mind. The experience far outweighed the price.
Application: When patients feel seen, heard, and cared for when they experience something memorable, price becomes secondary. This helps reduce fee objections and eliminates price-based comparisons.
4. Memorabilia Makes the Memory Stick
The signed menu transformed the evening from great to unforgettable. It created emotional residue, something to hold onto.
Application: What can you give your patients that turns a great clinical visit into a meaningful memory? A personalized follow-up note, a commemorative photo, or even a branded keepsake can serve as what we call a “signature moment”, something that makes your practice stand out long after the visit ends.
Craft Each Encounter
At Lyan-ess, a cocktail wasn’t a drink. It was an event.
In your medical practice, a consultation isn’t just a transaction. It’s an opportunity to design a moment to shift a routine visit into something emotionally resonant and deeply human.
Ask yourself:
How can we make each patient visit feel less like a task… and more like an experience worth talking about?
Because whether it’s a bar in London or a clinic in your community, the most powerful stories come from those willing to go beyond what’s expected and commit to the craft.