Mix it, Toni!

Fully automatic bar system with rooftop bartender robot

Ice cubes. A shot of rum. Stir in the cola. Preferably add a slice of lime. And voilà: the Cuba Libre is ready. But on the rooftop terrace of the TownHouse Duomo Hotel in Milan, the drink is not mixed by a bartender, but rather by a robot. With “Toni”, a KUKA robot from the KR AGILUS series, visitors can order their drink via app – and then enjoy it freshly prepared a few minutes later. “Toni” merely has a few problems with the small talk.

Robotik

From the rooftop terrace of the TownHouse Duomo Hotel, you have an impressive view of the cathedral and the roofs of Milan. It’s not for nothing that the bar here is called “The View”. But it is not just the view that is spectacular – the service is noteworthy as well. Because “Toni” the bartender is a robot. The fully automatic bar system was developed by Makr Shakr.

The Turin-based company was founded in 2014 and already has more than 70 employees. It all began with the idea of bringing bar patrons closer to the possibilities of digitalization and automation. “We wanted to combine our passion for cocktails and design with modern technology,” explains Alessandro Incisa, Chief Technology Officer at Makr Shakr.