BA: Benji, where were you born?
BS: I was born in Toronto.
BA: What city do you work in now and how many stops along the way?
BS: Oh, I work now in Barcelona. I’ve been here for 11 years before that I was working in Montréal and before that I was a child, so in Ottawa.
BA: What’s your job title or how would you describe your role in the hospitality industry?
BS: I am a bar owner of a queer bar here in Barcelona that serves specialty cocktails and natural wine called Fluid. I am a business consultant. I do a lot of consulting for other hospitality businesses, especially from the wine world. And I do a lot of… I’m a sommelier, which would be the third thing I’m going to put up there.
BA: Fluid is such a good name for a queer bar.
BS: Isn’t it? Oh my gosh. Thank you.
BA: We live down the street from a bar called Three Dollar Bill.
BS: Oh, I love, yeah. It’s super on my list to go visit this summer when I go to Toronto.
BA: Please, yeah, they’re great.
BA: Where do you eat and drink on your days off in Barcelona?
BS: (taps partner on the shoulder) Hey, where do I eat and drink on my days off in Barcelona? Very good question.
Well, the biggest other queer bar that I would say I have to throw out a shout out to is Candy Darling here in Barcelona. They’re much less interested in quality drink but much more interested in community and I think it’s a great place to go and drink. My favourite two restaurants for eating at the moment for a high end would be Franca. They have an amazing, amazing wine list. Great, almost classic vision of hospitality coming back. And then the other one I have to throw out is Bandini’s, much more like bistro style, modern European food, really good.
BA: What do you do outside of eating and drinking on your days off? What other interests do you have?
BS: What other interests do I have? Honestly, just enjoying as much as I can. The beauty of living in Barcelona. Going outside. There’s beach, there’s mountains, there’s any number of things. It’s just like breathing the air. Outside of the stuffy bar world, I think is probably where I spend most of my time off.
BA: What’s one album you think everybody should listen to whether it’s in a bar or not?
BS: I think everybody should listen to, probably has listened to, but probably should take a re-listen to Beyonce’s Renaissance as an absolute modern character.
BA: What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever gotten?
BS: My mom once told me and continues to tell me every time I have an issue in front of me: she says, listen, life is about taking the best opportunities in front of you at all times. And that’s the way I live my life, you know, to be open to everything and to make sure you follow the path that feels right in any given moment. You might get it wrong, but then another opportunity will come your way.
BA: What’s something that you’re excited about?
BS: I’m really excited about a series of events we’re doing at Fluid before Primavera Sounds. We’re gonna mirror Primavera Sounds, the big music festival here. We’re gonna do listening parties for all of the queer artists from Primavera Sounds. That’s fun. And I’m excited about my summer vacation.
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RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted May 5th, 2026
