A Belgrade bar that created overnight hype is celebrating its first anniversary

In one year, 6,368 Hentai Martinis have been served. Over 500 vinyl records have been played, and that one song that completely changes the mood of the evening has been discovered. In one year, more than 10,000 guests have gathered, with fashion editors, athletes, and lawyers connecting at the same table. Ten festivals and takeovers with renowned names from around the world have been organized. From an afterwork spot to the most sought-after party destination, izakaya and cocktail bar KISSA10 has transformed into a cult Belgrade venue, where lines form at the entrance on weekends. On the occasion of the bar’s first anniversary, we spoke with Simon Faturski, the founder, Danja Čistjakov, the art director, and Daria Gorshkov, the PR manager, about the beginnings and lessons learned, unforgettable parties, and the big birthday celebration with bars from Paris and Almaty, which will take place from February 2 to 7.

I can’t say we didn’t anticipate your success, considering we were among the first guests, but we couldn’t have imagined that a year later people would be lining up to get in, like in global metropolises. What are your impressions now looking back, and how has the “overnight” success affected your logistics?

Simon: Thank you for believing in us from day one! Honestly, the first few months were very stressful. I don’t remember ever having a worse month in my life than the one before KISSA10 opened. Opening night was a disaster – we hadn’t prepared enough drinks, and then we literally had a hole in the ceiling. Thanks to the team, we managed that evening to convey the essence of the bar: despite the visual shortcomings, our service made guests feel warm and at home. The first vinyl played at KISSA10 was Radiohead – In Rainbows, and at that moment I truly felt like I was in that song, everything fell perfectly into place. Later, in June, I was standing on the balcony discussing future plans with a friend. He asked if we wanted to go global after all these years, and I said, “Man, we haven’t even been in business six months yet (laughs).” So it feels like we’ve been on the market for years, but in reality, we’re just turning one. Madness!

What do you think was key to standing out and becoming the place to be in an oversaturated bar market?

Simon: We silenced our egos and listened to the guest from day one. Success is a byproduct of questioning every decision along the way. Daily attention to the small details, which guests may never even notice, delivers great results in the long run. If there was any “crazy luck,” it’s entirely thanks to the team we gathered and maintained throughout the year, a real crew of heroes.

Danja: I think our core principle is integrity of taste and intention. We treat music, drinks, design, and communication as one language, not a collection of separate elements. We don’t chase trends; we create an atmosphere you can trust. Attention to texture and detail – from sound to the smallest nuances – is key. People feel that care and return precisely because of it.

How much has the original idea of KISSA10 changed since its opening?

Simon: We made a real turnaround this year, but we managed to maintain our core value – music is the unifier. We wanted KISSA10 to attract many different and interesting people. Our guests’ financial status isn’t that important; what matters most is the kind of people they are. Now, on Wednesday nights, you can meet musicians, lawyers, celebrities, and athletes drinking Negronis and sharing the same table, as if a dream has come true.

What have you learned along the way that you hadn’t even considered at first?

Simon: Crowd management! We even had to completely reconstruct one part of the bar to ensure that on the busiest nights, everyone receives the same quality of service.

Is there a night that stands out in your memory from the past year?

Simon: Walking through the bar on a Monday in May, with KISSA10 filled exclusively with our regulars. I felt better than on the Empire State.

Danja: There have been many unforgettable nights, but what sticks most are the moments when everything spontaneously falls into place: the right people and the right music at the right time, someone talking at the bar, someone dancing freely alone – and suddenly everyone feels a sense of unity. Pure shared energy. One of those nights was with The Captain Who Went to Lunch, truly incredible. Nights like that are why we do this.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in the first week?

Simon: I’ll quote what’s written on Bukowski’s grave: “Don’t try.” A gentle, daily pressure is far more productive than nervously running back and forth, trying to reach the stars. I’ve loved stoicism since college, but it wasn’t until I was 29 that I somehow reached that state of mind.

We’re obsessed with the cocktails you make in your own “laboratory” (I’m keeping the Negroni you gave me for New Year’s like a collector’s item). Do you have any new projects planned for 2026 that will bring your signature flavors beyond the bar?

Simon: Absolutely! The first year was about finding our voice; the second will be about raising standards and positioning KISSA10 as a lifestyle brand. You’re not just going out for cocktails – you’re going out to KISSA10. That means many “off-site” events, collaborations, and experiences. Our first event will be at the end of February in a place where I truly feel at home – the snowy mountains. I can’t reveal too much yet, but follow our Instagram.

Which cocktail on the menu was ordered the most over the past year?

Simon: To be precise, 6,368 Hentai Martinis were sold this year, which is 17.6 per day, every day.

This week you’re hosting a festival to celebrate your first anniversary. What kind of program can we expect?

Daria: From Monday to Wednesday, we’re running a full marathon of events with international bars – welcoming both industry stars and talented newcomers. We designed a route from west to east, connecting projects from Almaty, Istanbul, and Paris. The lineup includes Parisian Danico, who ranked 30th last year on The World’s 50 Best Bars; Istanbul’s Tavern, named the best mixology spot of 2025 by the Gault & Millau guide; and the young, promising project Atelier from Almaty, creating drinks inspired by textiles – from lace to leather. Each guest bar will present several of their signature cocktails during the takeover.

Danja: Next are DJ sets from our close friends and DJs known in Belgrade and beyond. On Thursday, Stas, a longtime friend of KISSA10, will play a special Japanese set. He also performed at KISSA10’s official opening. On Friday, Doo and Sergey Kristić go back-to-back, the strongest DJ duo in Belgrade and artists with exceptional experience in the music industry. The headliner of the week is the legendary artist and music lover Marko Nastić, known both in Serbia and internationally, performing at KISSA10 for the first time.

Daria Gorshkova: In short, it’s literally worth spending every day this week at KISSA10 – all the way through Sunday.

What will you wish for when you blow out the candles on the cake?

Simon: That our team and guests stay together for many more years.