Fabrizio Cino has been living and working in London for the past seven years. He currently works in The London Edition, London. He prefers quality over any specific brand. According to Fabrizio, your guests can become your personal ambassadors if you admire them. 

Learn more about his ways of managing a bar and making the guests feel comfortable in the space below.

Your current place of work / Last place of work.

The London EDITION

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Italy, in Pordenone. The city is right between the prosecco area of Veneto and the grappa area of Udine. I have been living and working in London for the past seven years, six of which are at The London EDITION. Before that, I was in Sweden and Australia.

Why did you want to become a Bartender?

The team at the bar I used to go to back home was great. They had a great time working behind the bar, and the genuine passion was contagious; that’s how it started. I tend to get bored very quickly if there isn’t something new to discover, and bartending gave me a vast universe to explore.

What are some of the most essential skills for a Bartender?

Three things; a sense of taste, empathy, and being aware of your surroundings. Sense of taste - both to create great drinks (obviously) but also to make the right choices that create a pleasant atmosphere at the bar. This brings me to empathy. As we work long hours, we need to be able to cooperate with our colleagues and be supportive of each other, but we also need to be perceptive of the mood of the guests we have in front of us to create a bespoke experience for them. Finally, being aware of what surrounds us will not only prevent us from overworking the new barback that is trying his best to help but also to spot those two new guests that just walked through the door or replenish someone’s water glass before they notice. It allows you to stay ahead of the game, creating an anticipatory rather than reactive service. It’s all about making sure that our guests have a top-notch experience.

Image: Fabrizio Cino; Source: Instagram

What do you look for when buying new products for your business? 

Naturally, it needs to be something I like. I tend to go for quality over a specific brand; however, when managing a bar, cooperation and partnerships with brands are very important, so I look for ambassadors who are willing to create the right partnership and with whom there are reciprocated trust and respect.

If you had to pick one spirit brand you love, which one would it be?

Jack Daniel’s. I love, love, love their Single Barrel, but it’s also the first brand that stuck with me when I was younger; I’m a rock and roll fan (despite having to give up the long hair some time ago), and always loved that cool rock look that JD had.

What's the best part of your job?

I would say it’s the chance to meet new people every day. The more I meet and hear their stories, I feel I become a more complete human being; but also, the look of surprise on someone’s face when the drink you just made hits the spot perfectly.

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Please share some tips to increase beverage sales in a Bar.

I prefer to create and plan different events linked to some particular product or activation rather than applying discounts or happy hours. Awe your guests, and will become your personal ambassadors, and make sure those drinks look inviting because you want them to be photographed finally, plan your social media activity (even if you dislike it) because socials are not going away any time soon.

What do you love hearing as a bartender?

I prefer “I had a great time” as opposed to “that drink was amazing” - they will forget your drinks, but they will never forget the way you made them feel.

How can a customer get your attention in a crowded bar?

It might sound cheesy, but they shouldn’t need to. A good bartender is always aware of what’s happening around them. However, if you have to get someone's attention, a look or a raised hand is enough. Tapping on the bar or waving too much are not the most charming ways…. And please, don’t snap your fingers.

What is your go-to "surprise me" order?

I don’t have one… when someone doesn’t know what to order, I ask questions and try to find out what they like and what they feel like, and then I try to create something for that particular moment for them. My taste in drinks is heavily affected by my mood, so I apply the same principle to the guests I serve.

Image: Fabrizio Cino; Source: Instagram

Please name 3 bars that you admire and why?

Scarfes - for the atmosphere and the creativity with their menus. 

Disrepute - because despite being a small underground bar, the atmosphere is always great, and those guys sling drinks like crazy. 

And finally, Bar Termini - for how slick their glassware looks.

Any good customer story that you recall that comes to mind?

I’ll always remember when a friend who worked at a hotel bar in Italy told me about two guests I had, apparently, served years before in Australia. By talking with them, he'd discovered that they knew me, and they still remembered me because I served them for their anniversary, creating a fond memory for them. If I'm honest, to this day, I don't recall the guests he spoke about, but it does make me happy to know that I managed to create for them a special memory that they treasure. After all, that's all that matters.

Header Image: Fabrizio Cino