Mixology, Majestic Views And Manga: Presenting Sora Skybar’s Intoxicating ‘Alchemy Of Anime’ Menu

There must be a connection, we ponder, at Sora Skybar, the imperious Rosewood Phnom Penh’s majestic rooftop rendezvous. Something that links mixology and manga, artisanal cocktails and anime. But we can’t quite put a finger on it. Still, the Squad 10 cocktail tastes good.

Inside is an intoxicating mix of Pierre Ferrand 1840 cognac, sake, apricot, cold brew and curacao, miso, lemon and orange. Maybe it’s the kick of caffeine. Or maybe the umami from the miso. Or maybe the enlivening touch of citrus. Or maybe we’re just caught up in the moment, propping up the counter at Rosewood Phnom Penh’s Sora Skybar. The wind is whipping around and The Sister Srey Band, a duo of Esther and Hervé, is breezing through Macy Gray’s ‘I Try’ as the city twinkles in the background, 37-floors below.

“Sora means sky,” KT Lam says about the bar’s Japanese name, swiftly putting an end to any mystery. “Here is my confession,” Esther, doing her best Macy Gray impression, croons in the background. “And manga is this universal thing – created in Japan but loved here as much as anywhere else in the world. I mean, I grew up on it too,” he smiles. “So, why not bring some Japanese culture to our new menu?”

Manga-Inspired Cocktails In A Breathtaking Setting

Sora unfolds in layers of sophistication as you traverse the 37th floor. First, the Whisky Library welcomes you – a sultry, Nikka-transformed space where aged oak, leather and notes of caramel create an immediate sense of nostalgia.

As you’d expect, The Whisky Library has shelves full of single malts and rare blends, and the kind of immersive soft furnishings that are almost impossible to escape. The bartenders err towards the classics like their signature Sora Martini – the Sora Skybar space was, fittingly, designed by Japan’s Bond Studio – with a base of Nikka Coffey Gin, Paper Planes and Old Cubans.

They’ll also happily dispense their housemade Vermouth made in partnership with local distillers Seekers (whose airy, open-house distillery makes a fun excursion) and contains ingredients leftover in the Rosewood’s kitchens: Battambang orange peels, and Kampot pepper. Or there’s their limited edition 7-year-old XO rum, a collaboration with another local institution, Samai, created to celebrate Rosewood Phnom Penh’s anniversary.

Beyond are private booths and a chic indoor space with those laid-back lenses on the city – the windows that lean inwards, like an exhale, the higher the building gets. Beyond, again, the roof is off, at Sora’s 360-degree bar, above which, up a spiral staircase, is an exclusive private space for groups.

Blending The Rich Heritage Of Japan With Cambodia’s Vibrant Cultural Landscape

In January this year, Sora Skybar, Phnom Penh’s iconic rooftop destination, unveiled its new menu, ‘Alchemy of Anime.’ The concept invites guests to embark on a culinary and cocktail journey inspired by the enchanting universe of Japanese manga, blending the rich heritage of Japan with Cambodia’s vibrant cultural landscape.

“Oh man, we had to go back to school, reading and rereading manga, making a shortlist, whittling it down, then digging into the lead characters’ stories,” KT Lam adds. “So, for the ingredients, we took inspiration from what each character eats and drinks,” Sora’s bartender Phirun Lek joins in. “And the drinks came about through a blend of Japanese and Cambodian elements – just like we have in the DNA of Sora.”

Alchemy Of Anime: A Journey Through Manga And Mixology

Phirun begins flicking contentedly through the menu which is presented as a hardback book called ‘Alchemy Of Anime: A Journey Through Manga And Mixology.’

The first cocktail, called ‘Gumiho,’ was inspired by Shin Gumiho, the 9-tailed demon fox, and captures the essence of an umami-rich bowl of ramen, tinged with spicy shichimi that the Nikka Coffey Gin is infused with. Then there’s ‘Z Ball,’ inspired by Dragon Ball Z. And Fairy Tale’s Cana Alberona (a character who drinks a lot, but never gets drunk) was the basis for ‘The Holder.’ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s Tanjiro Kamado, known for his esoteric breathing techniques, inspired his own drink in the menu, ‘Breathing.’

Attack On Titan’s Mikasa Akerman, who loves pizza, lends herself to a kind of Bloody Mary, called ‘Nails And Hammer.’ One Piece’s ‘Pirate Hunter’ Roronoa Zoro, inspired ‘The Holder,’ Gintoki Sakata, from Gintama, inspired the ‘Ichigo Punch,’ and the ‘Squad 10’ which we’re still nursing, was inspired by Rangiku Matsumoto from Bleach, who’s the lieutenant of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13. And there’s the iconic sports car in Initial D, nicknamed ‘hachiroku’ or 86 in Japanese, which inspired the drink ’86.’

The Alchemists Behind the Menu

The creative vision for this fusion came from KT Lam, Sora Skybar’s Bar Manager, who joined the team after transferring from Rosewood Hong Kong. An influential industry figure with over 10 years’ experience, KT spent four years as Beverage Manager at Rosewood Hong Kong’s DarkSide, the sultry jazz lounge – not dissimilar to Sora’s jazz-infused indoor bar – that received numerous awards and reached ninth place on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list in 2023.

Building on Sora’s reputation, KT has looked to amplify Rosewood’s ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy with creative cocktails and collaborations celebrating Cambodian culture, while enhancing the guest experience through bespoke service and storytelling.

The setting has its constraints. Cocktail culture is still nascent in the Cambodian capital. Lots of people come to Sora for the views. “They tend towards lighter signature cocktails,” KT muses, “or they’ll stick to the classics. People don’t want long explanations – they want to take in the view with a good cocktail in hand – unless they’re really interested and want to learn more about the drink and how we came up with it.”

With that in mind, the development process was extensive and meticulous. They needed accessible drinks with a visual menu. “We did some research about what different manga characters are like, and what they eat and drink. We needed to relate it all together. It took so long,” he explains. “Some of the manga I knew already, lots we had to re-read to get the references. I did grow up on Dragon Ball Z.”

A Cocktail Menu Built On Collaborative Spirit

What makes the Alchemy of Anime menu special isn’t just its creative concept, but the collaborative spirit behind it. The curation was a team effort, with every member of the Sora Bar team contributing their individual expertise and creativity.

“It was important that all the team pitched in,” KT Lam emphasizes. “It helped them to really own the drinks and naturally want to explain them. If they like the cocktails they’ll promote them to guests like crazy, through a sense of pride having made them.”

From exploring flavor profiles to perfecting the art of presentation, the team worked tirelessly to ensure that each menu item embodied the narrative and spirit of the characters it represents.

“This menu is a testament to the teamwork and artistry that defines Sora Bar,” KT notes. “From conceptualizing the character-inspired cocktails to refining the balance of flavors, our team truly embraced the challenge of transforming imagination into reality.”

“Every drink on this menu is more than simply a cocktail—it’s a character brought to life in a glass,” KT explains. “We wanted to create something extraordinary that speaks to the soul of Japanese manga while celebrating Cambodia’s evolving identity.”

Sora’s Signature Sips

Naturally, KT has his favorites, as do all the team. “I’d order the Squad 10 – personally I like to drink coffee. At coffeeshops I like espresso with orange, which not a lot of people know about. Initially it could seem weird – but coffee and citrus go so well. So, we did a milk punch, and added some miso for saltiness at the end.”

He explains that the menu deliberately avoids too many spirit-forward drinks. “People coming to the rooftop for classics stick to the classics. Telling them a drink is like an Old Fashioned might just be confusing – they just want an Old Fashioned.”

Limitless Horizons

As the night deepens and the city lights below grow more pronounced against the darkening sky, it becomes clear that Sora, the skybar named after the Japanese word for sky, really is aptly named. Like the boundless sky, the bar’s creative horizons are, right now, stretching across cultures and art forms.

The Alchemy of Anime menu at Sora Bar is more than just a selection of drinks; it’s a cultural bridge, a creative statement, and an immersive experience that invites guests to explore the fascinating intersection of Japanese imagination and Cambodian hospitality.

As we drain the last drops of our Squad 10, we reflect on a journey through mixology and manga that will linger long after the last sip. “I try to say goodbye and I choke, try to walk away and I stumble,” Esther sings. We know the feeling.