We had the pleasure of visiting Aldea Cocktail Bar in Barcelona back in April when we were in town for Barcelona Cocktail Fest. We were bar hopping with a group of fellow media folks and it wasn’t a long visit at Aldea but it was an impactful one: we knew we would need to come back. Fast-forward to July when Silvia and Francesco were in our hometown of Toronto as part of the celebration of Bar Pompette’s anniversary. They presented a seminar about Aldea and we got to have some of their killer drinks later that evening. We love when couples work together on great things! We can relate to the fun – and challenges – of working with your partner of all things. These two care about what they do, they believe in doing things right and they are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Bartender Atlas: Where were you born?
Sylvia: I was born in Austria
Francesco: …and I was born in the north of Italy, Torino.
BA: And what city do you work in now?
SD: Barcelona!
BA: How many stops along the way?
FF: Oh, I don’t think I can count them
SD: Um…
FF: A minimum five, six, seven?
BA: What’s your job title now or how would you describe your role in the industry?
SD: Bar owner
FF: What’s the job… the word for someone that needs to do literally everything…
SD: Versatile bartender?
FF: Versatile bartender!
BA: Where do you go out to eat and drink on your days off in Barcelona?
FF: There is one… we’re actually the same street. At the end of the street there is a little bar called PetNat. Natural wine and the food is absolutely unbelievable
SD: Yeah and I love Bodega Solera.
BA: What do you do outside of work on your days off?
SD: I got into spinning classes. I love it.
FF: We recently got very much into Muay Thai.
BA: So like real active stuff but also with someone at the front of a room telling you what to do the whole time
SD: Exactly! I want you to tell me what to do. Yeah, tell me to breathe!
FF: It’s really insulting plus it’s motivating to me.
BA: Who’s your favourite fictional bartender?
SD: Can George Clooney count in the Nespresso advertisement?
BA: What’s one album that everybody should listen to?
FF: The Dark Side of the Moon?
BA: What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
SD: However difficult it is in a moment, it’s gonna get better. Keep going. Actually, I would say to not give up.
FF: I would say make it count. So in anything that you do put 100% of the passion in it.
BA: What’s something that you’re excited about?
SD: The future.
FF: Yes, 100 percent.
SD: Especially now with the bar and everything that has happened in the last few weeks.
FF: Getting to know so many people.
SD: Yeah, also the travel.
FF: Being able to be in Canada, you know, be a part of this interview because of our small tiny bar in Barcelona.
SD: We built it ourselves, it’s insane.
FF: It makes us humble in a way.
SD: …but also very excited and grateful.
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted July 27th, 2026
