Five years ago, Central Europe was barely on the international cocktail map. Today, the region has a growing presence in the global bar industry, thanks in part to Mirror Hospitality Expo. For 2027, the event is entering a new chapter, complete with a new name: Central Europe Hospitality Expo.
While the rebrand brings several changes, the host city remains Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital. The main expo will take place on May 3 and 4, 2027, while Cocktail City, formerly known as Mirror Cocktail Week, will run from May 2 through 5. The accompanying program will bring pop-ups and guest shifts to some of Bratislava’s leading bars, with an international lineup already taking shape.
A New Identity for the Fifth Edition
In 2026, Mirror Hospitality Expo celebrated its fourth edition. The event was founded by three hospitality professionals: Stanislav Harciník and Peter Marcina of Mirror Bar at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, and Adrián Chrzan, founder of the educational platform The Cocktail Balance.
The project has grown rapidly, paving the way for its next phase as Central Europe Hospitality Expo.Harciník, Marcina and Chrzan remain closely involved, but their roles have evolved. They are now full co-owners of the event alongside Carlton Property, the company that operates the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel and Mirror Bar.
The new ownership structure keeps the event under the direction of the people who conceived it and helped establish its reputation.
A Broader Team to Strengthen Central Europe’s Bar Scene
One of the expo’s central objectives remains the development of Central Europe’s hospitality and cocktail industry. To support that ambition, the organizers have assembled a regional team of established professionals tasked with strengthening connections across neighboring markets.
Slovakia continues to be represented by the event’s founders. Pavel Sochor of Alma Prague represents the Czech Republic, while Maciej Mazur and Alicja Baczyk-Mazur of TAG Krakow represent Poland. Kostas Karvounis of Dunlin Bar joins from Austria, and Máté Szabó of Elysian represents Hungary.
The event is also expanding its international reach, bringing three additional figures into the organization: Danil Nevsky, who takes on the role of global lead, along with Alia Akkam and Arina Nikolskaya.
A First Look at the International Lineup of the Central Europe Hospitality Expo 2027
The full roster for Central Europe Hospitality Expo 2027 is still being finalized, but the first confirmed names already span several continents.
Among the participating bars are Ba Nomu from Hamburg, Germany; Danico from Paris, France; Himkok from Oslo, Norway; Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou, China; and Laowai from Vancouver, Canada. The lineup also includes Moebius from Milan, Italy; Scarfes Bar from London, United Kingdom; Smoke & Bitters from Dikwella, Sri Lanka; Otro Bar from San José, Costa Rica; and Tokyo Confidential from Tokyo, Japan.
Together, they offer an early indication of the event’s growing international ambitions, bringing bartenders and hospitality professionals from established cocktail capitals and emerging markets to Bratislava.
Central Europe Hospitality Expo 2027: Dates and Location
Location: Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, Bratislava, Slovakia
Expo dates: May 3–4, 2027
Cocktail City: May 2–5, 2027
Photos courtesy of Central Europe Hospitality Expo 2027
