When chefs and bartenders work together, the result is more than just good food and drinks—it’s a fully curated experience. These collaborations bring harmony to the table, where every cocktail complements the dish it’s paired with, and every bite brings out new notes in the glass. Across the country, restaurants are embracing the synergy between the kitchen and the bar to create menus that are greater than the sum of their parts.

What Makes These Collaborations Special?
Traditional restaurant service often separates the bar and kitchen as distinct creative zones. But when chefs and bartenders collaborate directly, menus become cohesive narratives. The balance of acidity, texture, fat, and flavor across both cocktails and cuisine is fine-tuned for harmony. This kind of thoughtful cross-discipline pairing enhances everything from appetizers to dessert.

Examples of Collaborative Excellence

Death & Co x Gem Wine – New York, NY
At special events and pop-ups, Death & Co—known for its boundary-pushing cocktails—has teamed up with local restaurants like Gem Wine for multi-course pairing menus. These events showcase how rare spirits, vermouths, and house bitters can enhance everything from raw scallops to roast duck.
Death & Co

Herbs & Rye – Las Vegas, NV
Not only does Herbs & Rye serve one of the best cocktail menus in Vegas, but the bar also works closely with the kitchen to time pairings for steakhouse-style dinners. Expect bone marrow matched with a smoky mezcal old fashioned, or filet mignon accompanied by a bitter amaro digestif.
Herbs & Rye

Violet – Los Angeles, CA
A French-Californian bistro in Westwood, Violet offers “Cocktail Pairing Nights,” where bartenders co-create beverages to match the chef’s seasonal tasting menu. It’s a masterclass in collaboration, often featuring custom infusions and house-made syrups inspired by kitchen ingredients.
Violet LA

Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
Known for their innovative, ever-changing cocktail menus, Trick Dog collaborates with chefs for one-off dining events and limited-run menus. From curry leaf highballs to cocktails garnished with savory foams, the drinks blur the line between bar and kitchen.
Trick Dog

Chicago’s Bar Sotano x Frontera Grill
Rick Bayless’s Bar Sotano and Frontera Grill teams often collaborate to bridge Oaxacan cuisine and agave spirits. Their mezcal-forward cocktails are intentionally built to amplify earthy mole sauces and rich meats like pork shoulder and short rib.
Bar Sotano

Bringing It Home: Tips for Pairing Cocktails and Cuisine
Want to replicate this experience at home? Here’s how:

• Use complementary elements: citrus with fatty meats, herbal with seafood

• Think texture: bubbly cocktails with crispy dishes, spirit-forward with rich textures

• Match intensity: a strong whiskey cocktail can overpower a delicate salad but elevate a grilled steak

• Experiment: turn culinary ingredients into cocktail elements (e.g., basil simple syrup, beet shrub, jalapeño tincture)

Pair It With Smart Spending
Dining at upscale restaurants or attending chef-bartender pairing events can be pricey, but you can earn cashback with a BJ’s Restaurant gift card when enjoying curated food and drink menus at one of their many locations nationwide.

Prefer to explore pairings in a more casual setting? Get cashback with a Chili’s gift card for whiskey-glazed burgers and margaritas.

Capping the evening with cocktails and cinema? Save money at Regal with a gift card from Fluz and enjoy the full experience in a dine-in theater.

A successful chef-bartender collaboration is all about cohesion, craft, and intention. Whether you’re dining out or building your own pairing menu at home, platforms like Fluz help you enjoy the experience and keep more of your money in your pocket.