EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS · BELMOND
WILD MALAYSIA - EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS.
Belmond · Southeast Asia · Luxury Train · Concept Development · Beverage Program Development · Conceptual Menu Design
‘Wild Malaysia’ conceptual menu for Eastern & Oriental Express, developed by Cocktail Professor and Studio Numen
CLIENT
Belmond · Eastern Oriental Express
location
Malaysia + Singapore
PROJECT
Luxury Train
scope
Concept Development · Bar Consultancy · Beverage Program Development · Strategic R&D · Craftsmanship Training · Conceptual Menu Design
THE CONCEPT
wild malaysia
Eastern & Oriental Express travels through some of Malaysia’s most extraordinary landscapes. For the relaunch of Belmond’s iconic luxury train, Cocktail Professor was invited back to develop a new beverage experience inspired by the journey itself.
Wild Malaysia translates the landscapes, botanicals, flavours and culture encountered along the route into a contemporary drinking experience. Local botanicals bring a strong sense of place and storytelling to the program, while Malaysian ingredients, craft producers and modern bar techniques give the concept its own distinctive flavour identity.
Designed to move with the rhythm of the journey, the experience evolves from fresh, vibrant daytime drinking to deeper flavours after dark. Bringing the wild nature outside the window into the Piano Bar and Observation Car.
THE DRINKING EXPERIENCE
From wild botanicals to vintage spirits.
The Wild Malaysia concept extended across the entire drinking experience. Signature cocktails explored the expressive flavours, stories and natural beauty of Malaysian botanicals, combining local ingredients with modern techniques to create drinks with a strong sense of place.
The wider beverage program was designed with the same level of detail. From rare vintage cocktails and premium spirits to natural wines, Malaysian craft beers, non-alcoholic drinks and artisan coffee. Behind the scenes, we developed the systems to make that ambition work within the unique constraints of a moving luxury train, including advanced preparation techniques, batching, ice, mise-en-place and bar logistics.
The result was a contemporary fine-drinking experience designed for different moments of the journey. From fresh botanical drinks during the day to deeper, more complex serves after dark.
WILD MALAYSIA
Malaysian botanicals · Sense of place · Modern techniques · Fine drinking
VINTAGE COCKTAILS
Classic drinking culture reimagined with rare historic spirits.
CONCEPTUAL MENU DESIGN
A VIEW THROUGH THE JUNGLE.
Together with our sister agency Studio Numen, we translated the Wild Malaysia beverage concept into a physical menu that became part of the journey itself.
Each signature cocktail was represented by a different Malaysian tree, with individually cut pages layering together to form a view through the jungle. As guests moved through the menu, the landscape shifted from lighter greens inspired by sunrise and daytime to deeper tones for sunset and night — mirroring the progression from lighter, fresher drinks to richer flavour profiles.
Each page became its own Wild Story, bringing together the cocktail’s story, ingredients, flavour profile, preparation and ideal moment of drinking. The result was not simply a drinks list, but a tactile piece of storytelling designed to be explored.
BEVERAGE CONCEPT · COCKTAIL PROFESSOR
CONCEPTUAL MENU DESIGN · COCKTAIL PROFESSOR × STUDIO NUMEN
A NEW CULINARY CHAPTER
World-class creativity on board.
For the relaunch of the Eastern & Oriental Express, Belmond brought together leading international creative talent to reimagine the experience on board. Two-Michelin-starred chef and former World’s 50 Best Restaurants chef André Chiang was appointed Culinary Curator, while Cocktail Professor was invited back to develop the train’s new beverage program.
Together, the new food and drink experiences translated the landscapes, biodiversity and culture of Southeast Asia into contemporary hospitality — from Chiang’s locally inspired cuisine to Cocktail Professor’s botanical mixology and Wild Malaysia drinking experience.
PRESS & RECOGNITION
A celebrated journey.
BEST TRAIN JOURNEY IN THE WORLD
Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards · 2025
READER SCORE · 96.04
Condé Nast Traveller named the Eastern & Oriental Express the world’s best train journey in its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, with food and drink among the elements highlighted as part of the experience.
“Enjoy the new concoctions from the Cocktail Professor menu.”
— Tatler Asia
“Each inventive cocktail is ‘inspired by the surrounding vibrant cities and landscapes’ seen along the train’s routes through Malaysia.”
— Condé Nast Traveler
FEATURED BY CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
7 Luxury Trains With Ultra-Glamorous Bar Cars
OUR SCOPE
From research to opening.
Bar Consultancy · Strategic R&D · Beverage Program Development · Flavour Architecture · Conceptual Menu Development · Serving Rituals · Craftsmanship Training · Opening Support
