
Mattia Capezzuoli is the Bar Manager Stravinskij Bar. He makes us two cocktails, one with gin and bitter and the second with tequila and Pine.
Mattia introduce yourself
I began my bartending journey while I was still in university. What started as a part-time job quickly turned into a passionate career. After completing my studies, I began working regularly at Baylon Café, a cocktail bar in the heart of Rome’s Trastevere district. Over five years, I gained skills in various roles: bartender, head bartender, and eventually bar manager. Seeking to broaden my horizons, I moved to Milan, where I worked at renowned establishments such as 1930, Botanical Club, and spent four transformative years at Camparino in Galleria. While at Camparino, I was awarded the title of Italy’s Best Bartender. Then I returned to Rome to open Nite Kong, a cocktail bar opened by my friend and mentor, Patrick Pistolesi. After six months, he was recruited by the W Hotel, to take on the role of Bar Manager. My career continued to flourish when Salvatore Calabrese, Il Maestro, invited me to manage the Stravinskij Bar at the Hotel de Russie in Rome, where I currently hold the position of Bar Manager.
The classic you want to show us
Negroni
35ml of Campari
20ml of London Dry Gin
30ml of Del professore Red Vermouth
The bar you dream of
The bar of my dreams is a conceptual cocktail bar with a modern and technological design. It would feature a small kitchen offering an Italian-inspired tapas concept—small, flavorful dishes. I’d love to open it in the heart of Rome and have a beautiful outdoor garden where I could set up elegant and stylish tables.
What do you do in your time off
In my free time, I enjoy playing sports and listening to music: I like to listen to all types of music. I also love walking around Rome, admiring the city’s beauty, dining at places that spark my curiosity and passion, and spending time with friends. I’m a big football fan and passionately follow Roma. Occasionally, I go to the stadium with my dad, who passed his love for the team to me. I consider myself an elegant person who loves dressing well and always looks for a unique accessory to complete my outfit. I’m very passionate about fashion.
The spirit you like the most
The spirit I love the most is vodka for its clear, transparent, and crystalline appearance. It’s clean with elegant flavour and smooth. The fact that it’s the most hated spirit by bartenders is what makes me love it even more, as I believe it is a versatile spirit that can be used in many ways and a variety of drinks.
What makes a good cocktail
For me, a good cocktail is defined by the balance between its ingredients; each ingredient should play a leading role, and each one must be noticeable in the drink. Often, we focus solely on homemade ingredients and how important it is to craft something artisanal, but then the final result doesn’t meet expectations. A good cocktail should be easy to understand and easy to drink, with not too many ingredients and the right aromatic balance.
What ingredient do you enjoy using in cocktail
I like using cordial syrups; they are preparations that have a nice balance between acidity, sweetness, and aromaticity. With this preparation, if done well, you can make many classic and signature cocktails. For example, I enjoy using them in sour cocktails, highballs, and, why not, even in more complex cocktails like a Negroni or Manhattan.
The signature cocktail you want to show us
Pine Margarita
45ml of Espolon White Tequila
25ml of Lime Juice
15ml of Pine Liqueur
5ml of Agave Nectar
Where do you think we need to go to interview another bartender
I think you need to go to Barcelona and do an interview with Gabriele Armani, from Paradiso, one of the best bartenders that I know and a very good friend. Gabriele has been recently nominated as the best Italian bartender abroad and I think he deserves it because of his passion, his youngness and his style.