Robotic bartender unveiled in Amsterdam

MAKR SHAKR, AN ITALIAN BRAND of robotic bartenders, has opened the the first robotic bar ever in the Netherlands. The venue in Amsterdam stars Toni, whose mechanical arms can precisely prepare and serve any drink in seconds.

Crafting cocktails in a quick, contact-free fashion, the robotic bar fully complies with all the rules of sanitization and social distancing. At a time in which restaurants and clubs still struggle to offer a safe solution for mixing drinks, robotic bartending acts as a game changer, allowing visitors to get a glimpse into the future of the hospitality industry.

Toni has been under-development for quite a few years now. BizAge recalls a demo in Milan two years ago.

The new venue, called Robo Bar, is open to the public in the popular neighborhood of Leidseplein in Amsterdam, just around the corner from the Rijksmuseum. Toni can shake, stir, and blend a list of cocktails and mocktails from more than 150 different bottles hanging from the ceiling of the bar structure.

Makr Shakr was founded in Turin, Italy in 2014. After debuting at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco as a concept, the firm today presents a product portfolio that includes Toni – the fixed unit, available in multiple configurations – and Bruno, the mobile unit rentable for events.

Makr Shakr is gaining a name as a leader in day-today robotics, and boasts numerous international design awards, including D&AD and Core 77. To date, the company has a presence in Las Vegas, Milan and Prague. Its robotic bars are also installed on board nine Royal Caribbean cruise ships.