If you pay attention to bars, Giacomo Gianotti should be a familiar face. Especially when donning his Paradiso jacket. He is a founder of Paradiso in Barcelona – a bar that sits at #4 for the World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, which is no small feat. Paradiso is a bar that pushes the boundaries of what a cocktail can be. It’s fun and whimsical and thoughtful. But the best part about that bar are the people who work there. No matter who you are, you are welcomed when you walk in the door – and we have to believe that a lot of this energy in the staff comes from the top down. We’ve had the opportunity to meet Giacomo on a number of occasions and he’s always a professional and friendly face. You can read a whole interview with Giacomo and his role with the Barcelona Cocktail Fest here. But for our purposes in this post, he is a true Hospitality Gem.
Bartender Atlas: Giacomo, where were you born?
Giacomo Gianotti: In Italy, in Carrara.
BA: And where do you work?
GG: I work… well I do different things but my baby is Paradiso.
BA: What’s your job title or how would you describe your role in the service industry.
GG: For my title I like to say Paradiso founder, instead of owner.
BA: Where do you go out to eat and drink when you’re not working at Paradiso?
GG: While in Barcelona, I’m staying in my neighbourhood. We have incredible restaurants from easy tapas, like El Xampanyet, La Puntual and Calpep. It’s easy to walk around the bar.
BA: And then what do you do with your days off that isn’t eating and drinking, that isn’t, you know, doing research?
GG: Maybe to switch off…sports or having some quality time with my wife Margarita. So I do a lot of exercise in the gym, but I love football. Italiano, yeah. And I used to play, so… but right now I have to be careful, you know, the years are passing.
BA: What’s your favourite fictional bartender? It could be from a book or a movie or a TV show.
GG: The one I am inspired by? Like an idol?
BA: It doesn’t need to be someone you’re inspired by or it could be your idol. The guys from FOCO said Moe from The Simpsons.
GG: Oh yeah, I don’t know, the first thing to come to my mind is Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail. That’s was my first exposure to bartending like that.
BA: What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
GG: To study, to go deeper in things and not to be superficial.
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted April 27th, 2026
