Paradise City announced on June 8 that it will host the finals of the international bartending competition, "World Class Korea 2026," in collaboration with beverage company Diageo. The event will take place on June 13 at the live music lounge bar "Rubik."
Now in its 17th year, World Class is the largest bartending competition globally, featuring around 10,000 bartenders from over 60 countries who advance through national qualifiers to compete for the title of the world's best.
Rubik is a cultural space where guests can enjoy live performances by domestic and international artists alongside cocktails crafted by professional mixologists. Last November, the venue hosted a guest bartending event featuring Park Hee-man, the winner of "World Class Korea 2025," which drew significant attention. The event combined unique cocktails with jazz performances from 7 PM to 11 PM, receiving enthusiastic responses from attendees.
Notably, the finals will feature legendary mixologist Ago Perrone, who elevated the bar at London's five-star hotel "The Connaught" to international acclaim. He will serve as a judge and perform a bartending demonstration for the first time in South Korea. Contestants in the top 10 will present cocktails using martinis and tequila "Don Julio" as a tribute to Perrone. The top five will then face a pairing challenge, creating cocktails that complement dishes prepared by Chef Kim Ho-yoon, known for his appearance on the entertainment show "Black and White Chef Season 2," to determine the ultimate winner.
Following the competition, a special guest bartending event will take place featuring Ago Perrone, Kim Do-hyung from "Zest," and Park Hee-man from "Ace for Club." Chef Kim Ho-yoon's signature dish, "Herb Shrimp Porridge," will also be served.
Paradise City continues to enhance the global competitiveness of South Korea's bar culture. On June 12, the day before the finals, a "Six Hands Gala Dinner at Sarase" will be held at the on-site fine dining restaurant, featuring Chef Kang Min-goo from the only Michelin 3-star restaurant in Korea, "Mingles," Chef Shin Chang-ho from New York's Michelin 2-star "Joo Ok," and bartender Lim Byeong-jin, who represents Korean bar culture.
Paradise City recognizes cocktails as a vital component of fine dining and aims to promote bar culture through immersive dining experiences that integrate plating and bar pairing. A representative from Paradise City stated, "We will strive to contribute to the growth and recognition of South Korea's bar culture centered around the live music bar Rubik, and we will continue to enhance our culinary content to provide customers with new cultural inspiration and experiences within the hotel."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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