Mikael Mirdad is making sure we remember why we enjoyed going out in the first place. He co-founded the BIKO group, a hospitality company whose alternative spaces take casual lifestyle dining to an elevated level.

Mirdad’s novel restaurants allow people to enjoy each other’s company while eating good food, having a well-made tipple and immersing in an inspiring ambience. Their eateries, bars and entertainment venues are usually over-booked due to high demand. The BIKO Group offers experiences we like to re-tell to our friends the next day, or immortalise on social media.

Their first venture, the Beer Garden in Kemang, South Jakarta in 2013 was a brick-clad outpost for casual drinking with an imaginative menu and good service. The nearby Duck Down Bar is an American-themed dive bar fashioned after someone’s basement, and featuring live music.

Mirdad graduated with a degree in communication from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He was inspired to put up the BIKO Group because he loved going out.