The cocktail menu “Manga menu”, created for Library Bar in Abu Dhabi, combines storytelling with the experience of enjoying cocktails through the visual language of Japanese manga. It consists of ten short stories inspired by head bartender Ryan’s journey through Japan. The initial story concepts and storyboard scripts were developed with the support of artificial intelligence, then further refined and illustrated.

Each story presents a signature cocktail through its character, ingredients and atmosphere, guiding guests through different references to Japanese culture. In this way, the menu functions not only as a drinks list, but as a narrative experience that brings together illustration, storytelling and the bar offering into a cohesive whole.

In keeping with the tradition of Japanese manga, the comic-style menu is read from right to left. It begins on the last page and continues towards the first, starting from the upper-right panel and moving leftwards.