Gento Torigata, formerly of Erik Lorincz’s Kwãnt, has opened a Japanese cocktail bar in Shoreditch.
Waltz, located on 28 Scrutton Street, is the first solo project from Torigata, who moved from Jigger & Pony in Singapore to London in 2021.
The bar, which is “inspired by nature and jazz”, offers two menus – a cocktail list for the 12 guests at the bar, while those on the floor will be offered highballs and aperitifs.
The cocktail menu is split into ‘In Season’ and ‘Evergreen’ sections, with the former inspired by Japan’s historic calendar which separates a year into 72 micro seasons.
The ‘Evergreen’ drinks will be less seasonal in nature and draw on modern mixology methods such as re-distilling, centrifugal clarification, fermentation and carbonation.
Though not listed, Torigata also wishes the bar to be seen as a destination for classics cocktails, while alongside a small selection of wine and beer, Waltz will serve 12 sakes by the glass.
Food, glassware, ceramics and other elements of the décor – which includes an 8m-long Elm bar counter cut from a fallen tree in Gibson Square in Angel – all have local provenance.
Of the name, Torigata told CLASS: “Waltz is from Bill Evans’ master piece, Waltz for Debby, which introduced me to the world of Jazz.
“We play Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Nina Simone as well as Japanese jazz and city pop later into the night.”
He added that the bar team is still under construction: "It’s me, Takuya Oda recently moved from Osaka Japan for this project and a part-time front of house, Illyana Kumar. We are also awaiting another bartender arriving from Japan.”