Ryan Chetiyawardana is at the forefront of innovation within the drinks industry and has been involved in several of the UK’s best bars for over a decade. He has been named in Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 Tastemakers, Imbibe’s 10 Years of Outstanding Achievement and TimeOut’s Person of the Decade in 2020, as well as IWSC’s Spirits Communicator of the Year in 2019, Bar World 100’s World’s Most Influential Bar Personality in 2019 and International Bartender of the Year at Tales of the Cocktail 2015.

Ryan launched his first bar, White Lyan, in 2013. The bar was voted World’s Best New International Bar the following year. Ryan’s second bar, Dandelyan, opened in 2014 and was crowned World’s Best Bar at The World’s 50 Best Bars awards. In 2019, Ryan and the team opened Lyaness, which won Best Bar in the World at the prestigious Spirited Awards by Tales of The Cocktail 2022. 

The brand now has two international bars: Super Lyan in Amsterdam, and Silver Lyan in Washington DC. In 2022, Ryan launched his latest bar, Seed Library, in London. The bar has since been featured on the 50 Best Discovery list. Ryan also has two cookbooks, showcasing his cocktails alongside recipes from some of the world’s leading chefs. 

Top Titles

• Good Together: Drink & Feast with Mr Lyan & Friends (2017)

• Mr Lyan’s Cocktails at Home: Good Things to Drink with Friends (2023)