Broken Shaker, a renowned cocktail bar concept that originated as a pop-up in Miami, has been acquired by a well-regarded hospitality group, including a location in Los Angeles at 416 W. 8th Street.
Broken Shaker brings a laid-back, tropical-inspired atmosphere to its rooftop location at Freehand Los Angeles, situated atop the historic Commercial Exchange Building in downtown Los Angeles. Starting May 8, the concept will be operated by Authentic Hospitality, with Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske Valtierra assisting the group by introducing a new Pan-Latin and Caribbean menu, according to Eater Los Angeles.
The Authentic Hospitality and Wildair teams took over the New York locations of Broken Shaker last year, but this will be their first West Coast project. After this, the teams will revamp the Broken Shaker in Chicago later in 2025. Parent company Generator, owned by Queensgate Investments, acquired Freehand Hotels and Broken Shaker in 2019. The combined portfolio represents one of the largest asset-rich lifestyle hospitality platforms.
“We have always considered ourselves disruptors in the space with a mindset of continuous evolution to best serve our loyal clientele,” Alastair Thomann, Chief Executive Officer, Generator and Freehand Hotels, said in a press release. “Over the last six years, the Authentic team has continuously outperformed our expectations, and we look forward to expanding the partnership and having them do the same for Broken Shaker, taking the concept to the next level.”
Broken Shaker was initially opened as a pop-up at the Miami location in 2012. Concepted by Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi, the owners of Bar Lab Hospitality, the bar immediately became a cocktail sensation, offering a refreshingly inclusive “come as you are” mentality and creative cocktails that incorporated elixirs and infusions made from garden-grown herbs, fresh fruit, and other natural ingredients. Since its inception, Broken Shaker has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including two James Beard Award nominations and a listing as No. 14 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list.
“Authentic Hospitality has created some of the most inviting spaces in New York City,” Zvi said in a press release. “They have cultivated a community and vibe that still feels very inclusive, which is what we set out to do with Broken Shaker. We are confident they are the best partners to take the brand forward.”
Helmed by Matt Kliegman, Carlos Quirarte, and Matthew Charles, Authentic Hospitality owns and operates some of New York City’s most dynamic food and beverage concepts, including Jac’s on Bond, Ray’s Bar, and Pebble Bar. The group began working as consultants with Freehand Hotels in 2018, when they opened Smile to Go. In 2021, they continued managing Freehand New York’s cocktail bar, Bar Calico, as well as its events space and nightlife destination, the Georgia Room.
“It is important for us to retain the distinct identity of Broken Shaker but refresh the concept so it can live on for decades to come,” Kliegman said in a press release. “There is such a thing as honoring the timelessness of change itself, and that’s what we intend to do here.”
