Step Inside Connaught Bar: Pouring 25,000 Martinis a Year with Giorgio Bargiani
When you think of London’s cocktail royalty, Connaught Bar in Mayfair sits firmly on the throne. In the first instalment of my new Icons of London series, I caught up with Assistant Director of Mixology, Giorgio Bargiani, to uncover what it really takes to keep one of the world’s most celebrated bars at the top of its game.
The Martini Machine
You’ve heard the stat: 25,000 martinis a year. It sounds bonkers, but for Giorgio and his team, it’s proof that a classic—when done with showmanship, precision, and a dash of theatrical flair—will always win the crowd. As he tells it:
You need to be recognizable, entertaining, and exciting for your guests. We get challenged a lot about the way we do martinis, but if we pour 25,000 a year, that means people choose us—and they’re happy to choose us.
That commitment to consistency and spectacle is the heart of the Connaught’s magic. Each martini isn’t just a drink; it’s a performance, right down to the perfectly chilled, hand-polished glass.
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From Barback to Bartending Icon
Giorgio’s journey started 11 years ago as a humble barback. Fast forward, he’s rubbing shoulders with fashion labels, perfume houses, and glassware designers worldwide—all while keeping the Connaught Bar legend alive. I asked him what he’d say to his younger self:
To dream something, you need to know about it. I didn’t even know bartending could be a career. Now, young bartenders see it and think, ‘Wow, this is actually a very cool career I can do.
It’s a reminder that the biggest barrier to ambition is often awareness—and that dedication over a decade can turn a dream into a milestone (like seeing your name on a book cover, another tick for Giorgio).
Minimalism Meets Showmanship
In an era where cocktail geeks chase molecular foams and smoke guns, Connaught Bar keeps it sleek and purposeful. Giorgio credits the bar’s enduring appeal to its ability to balance minimalist technique with maximum impact:
- Recognizable rituals: the lightning-fast stir, the dramatic pour, the perfectly sprung olive.
- Entertaining flair: every gesture is part of the show, even if you’re seated in a corner.
- Exciting creativity: refining one drink to perfection beats reinventing the wheel.
It’s a philosophy that proves timeless classics—done right—can outshine any fleeting trend.
What’s Next for London’s Icons?
We wrapped up chatting about the power of persistence and the future of the craft. Giorgio’s parting shot:
Remember that a dream doesn’t happen overnight. Eleven years later, I’m still here, still learning, still lucky.
And that’s exactly why Connaught Bar will stay at the summit: relentless commitment, creative integrity, and a dash of cheeky showmanship.
— Jack Sotti (@jack_sotti)
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