Food - Drink
The Serbian Cocktail Bar Inspired By NYC's Employees Only
By MICHELLE WELSCH
Serbian bartender Dushan Zaric is a pioneer in craft bartending, and he’s also the brains behind New York’s world-renowned cocktail bar called Employees Only. Employees Only has graced the list of the World's Best 50 Bars since the very first list was released, and now it has inspired a cocktail bar in Zaric’s hometown of Belgrade.
Belgrade’s Hanky Panky is lit by lamps in the shape of a woman's corset, and its bartenders are dressed in crisp matching uniforms of white button-downs, vests, and ties. Owner Miroslav Popov — who goes by Kimi — admits that it isn't only the swanky aesthetics that have been influenced by Zarić's Manhattan establishment.
The bar's countertop is similar to the countertop at Employees Only, with a curved design made of oak and metal that's the perfect backdrop for its best-selling cocktails, such as the gin-based Rose Marry Me. Popov is a big fan of Employees Only and dreams of visiting one day, but for now, he’s encouraged by the support his bar receives.