We first met Sam Casuga on a trip to Victoria in 2014. At the time she was the smallest bartender behind a bar with Simon Ogden (who I had worked with during the 2010 Olympics…that’s another story). Her agility and friendliness were immediately impactful as she ducked and weaved through her co-workers, glassware, bar spoons and service tickets. Her smile never left her face. When Samantha moved from Victoria back to her hometown of Calgary, I made sure to visit her then-new digs at Native Tongues. Since then Sam has been a fixture on New York City with spots like The Dead Rabbit and Temple Bar. She is the ultimate example of someone that has always worked hard, kept an open mind and never gotten too big of a head about who she is and what she does. We most recently caught up with her while she was in Toronto for the World Class Global finals.
Bartender Atlas: Where were you born?
Samantha Casuga: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
BA: What city do you work in?
SC: New York, NY
BA: Where do you go out to eat and drink on your days off?
SC: If I can, I tend to not leave Brooklyn… at all. Bar Americano in Greenpoint and Bar Madonna in Williamsburg to the point where I’m an unofficial staff member. My house. My friends’ houses.
BA: What do you do outside of work on your days off?
SC: I am a yoga teacher so I tend to teach on days I am not doing the bar stuff. However, that is also work so on a real day off I tend to either keep it chill at home or hang out with friends! I am a big sports fan so if a baseball or football game is on that tends to take priority. I also recently started focusing on my golf game, so practicing my swing is a big one. I also love crosswords, puzzles, cooking and reading. And when I have the extended time off and money I’ll go to Georgia to see my boyfriend.
BA: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
SC: I have received a plethora of incredible advice, but recently a slogan my friends and I use frequently has really been my mantra lately: Send it. Two simple words with so much weight. Throwing a hail Mary because WHY NOT?! What is there to lose? Especially when it’s with your whole heart. It might sound silly but it’s this kind of energy that can bring some of the most surprising outcomes.
BA: What’s something you’re excited about?
SC: The ongoing romance I have with the possibility of the future. I have a naivety about it. Just like any relationship that doesn’t work out, I am always willing to try again. One day my wildest dreams will be reality, and I’ll just be l a u g h i n g !!!! MUAHAHA!
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted November 18th, 2025
