There are countless sources of inspiration for naming a cocktail bar, but when the result is Form + Matter (FO+MA), the intention is clear: to place unbridled experimentation at the centre of its identity. Po Tsai, José Olivas and David Rocha, the three creative forces behind the project, envision “a global crossroads of matter that celebrates cultures, flavours and trends. Its vision merges constant experimentation with clarity of purpose, creating memorable experiences.” And judging by the recent award of two Pins from The Pinnacle Guide, they are succeeding.
Where to Find Form + Matter (FO+MA)
Tsai, Olivas and Rocha chose Colonia Roma—specifically the Roma Norte district—to open Form + Matter. The location makes perfect sense: it’s one of the beating hearts of Mexico City’s artistic and culinary scene.
It All Began at Handshake Speakeasy
Mexico City holds special meaning for José Olivas and David Rocha, both born here before refining their skills across the globe and eventually working behind the bar at Handshake Speakeasy—a jewel of the international cocktail world and the 2024 No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Bars.
Po Tsai, originally from the United States, has a Mexican wife and was, for a time, a loyal and discerning guest at Handshake (discerning because he too comes from the food and beverage world, with two cocktail bars in California). The three met across that bar and decided to found Form + Matter together.
Exploring, Experimenting, Celebrating
The partners have set their sights high, aiming to make FO+MA “a global crossroads of matter that celebrates cultures, flavours and trends.” While rooted in Mexico City’s cultural and gastronomic heritage, their inspiration reaches far beyond, drawing on influences from around the world.
Even the layout reflects its experimental calling. Guests enter a spacious room anchored by a long, linear side bar that eventually meets a glass partition. Beyond it lies the lab—a visible, steel-equipped workspace stocked with the latest tools—where preparations for the menu take shape.
It’s here that the team begins its most ambitious work: exploring entirely new ways to interpret a drink’s components. This is not about replicating tradition, but venturing into the unknown. One intriguing idea is to “transform a single ingredient into three distinct forms”—a nod to the name itself: Form and Matter. The goal is unequivocal: to establish FO+MA as “a true living laboratory of innovation, capable of inspiring global trends from a deeply local perspective.”
Images courtesy of Form + Matter
