Vandena Yanarta, The Balinese Bartender Bringing Island Soul to the Cocktail Glass
Name: Vandena Yanarta
Base: Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Venue: Bar Manager at Club Soda Canggu
Known For: Warm hospitality, creativity, blending local culture with modern cocktail sensibilities
Signature Style: Friendly, approachable cocktails with flavour-driven creativity, often inspired by Bali’s laid-back island spirit and natural surroundings
How It Started
Vandena first fell in love with bartending as a young adult — inspired by the allure of the film “Cocktail.” It looked vibrant and alive, and she felt drawn to its energy. She began working in bars with an open heart and a willingness to learn. Over time, that curiosity blossomed into craft.
What she discovered behind the bar was more than mixing drinks. It was about connection, about storytelling. She realised that a good bartender does more than pour — they listen, guide, and turn a drink into a memory. That perspective shaped her career from the start.
Finding Her Space in Bali’s Bar Scene
Bali’s nightlife is many things — colourful, transient, international, relaxed. Yet it is also demanding. As Bar Manager at Club Soda Canggu, Vandena balances the island’s holiday energy with attentive hospitality. She welcomes tourists, locals, expats — everyone walking in becomes part of the same community for a night.
Her role requires flexibility and heart. She thrives on the diversity of guests and the pace of the island’s hospitality rhythm. The bar’s vibe — warm, casual, friendly — reflects her own personality: open, energetic, and grounded.
Her Approach to Cocktails
Vandena describes her cocktail philosophy simply: make it honest, make it welcoming, make it taste like Bali. She often draws inspiration from local ingredients, seasonal produce, tropical fruits, herbs, and the island’s relaxed mood.
Her cocktails tend to be:
Balanced, not overly heavy
Bright, with fresh fruit or herb notes
Friendly to newcomers — cocktails that invite, not intimidate
Rooted in hospitality — drinks that feel like a warm hello
For her, a good cocktail is not just about technique or novelty. It is about atmosphere, welcome, and a shared moment. She sees herself not just as a bartender, but as a host.
What She Believes Bartending Should Be
Vandena believes bartending is not a stage — it is a space of conversation. She once said that the bar counter is where people open up. Strangers become friends, stories are shared, memories begin.
She cherishes that intimacy. Her goal is not to impress. Her goal is to listen, to serve with kindness, to create a drink that feels like a small island escape for anyone sitting at her bar.
She embodies a humble but powerful idea: that good hospitality does not need extravagance. It needs sincerity.
Why Her Story Matters for Bali
Vandena’s journey reminds us that cocktail culture is not just about big cities or awards. It can happen in islands like Bali — warm, relaxed, multicultural, and open-hearted.
She shows that bartending can be inclusive, approachable, and rooted in local identity. She represents a generation of bartenders who value humanity over flash, connection over spectacle, and hospitality over hype.
Her presence in Bali’s bar world helps shape a softer, more authentic kind of nightlife — where visitors and locals alike can feel welcome, seen, and at ease.
