Named
About
Behind the bar.
Bear & Stone is the private events and consulting side of Vay Su, a Los Angeles bartender and bar director with more than 15 years behind the bar.
At a glance
Partner, Vandell
Former lead bartender, République
Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year
The bartender
Hi, I'm Vay Su aka Rye Su.
I'm a Los Angeles bartender and bar director, and a partner at Vandell. I've spent more than 15 years building cocktail programs rooted in balance, seasonality and restraint.
Before Vandell, I was lead bartender at République, where I helped build one of the city's most respected beverage programs.
My drinks start from the classics and use modern technique, often with a quiet nod to Asian flavors and the kitchen. I pay close attention to acidity, texture and structure. The goal is never spectacle. It's clarity: drinks that feel intentional and precise, and that you want to order again.
Bear & Stone brings that same approach outside of Vandell: to your wedding or party, and to bar owners building programs of their own.
Recognition
Competitions & awards
Competing taught me as much about hospitality and consistency as about creativity.
Winner
Maker's Mark Bartender Cup
Winner
WhistlePig Whiskey Competition
Winner
World Bijou Competition
Vandell is a neighborhood bar built around California's micro-seasonal produce. It's the kind of place that first made me fall for hospitality: warm, familiar, and built on trust and consistency rather than trends.
Philosophy
Our approach
Balance over spectacle
Acidity, texture and structure come first. A drink should feel clear and intentional, not loud.
Seasonal, from California
Menus follow what's at the market, the way Los Angeles cooks. Juice is squeezed and syrups are made for your event.
Hospitality & consistency
The hundredth drink should taste like the first, and the bar should feel welcoming from first pour to last call.
The bear
The Bear & Stone mark
Our mark is a grizzly settled in with a martini: unhurried, a little mischievous, and clearly enjoying the night. That's the feeling we want your guests to have.
Inquire
Get in touch
Planning an event or thinking about your bar program? Start with a short note.