Other
Alessandro Palazzi
Bartender
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Career Arc
Hospitality training in the early 1970s still treated service, kitchen discipline, and bar work as connected trades. Alessandro Palazzi entered that route at Catering College in 1972, before moving into hotel bar work at a level where repetition, mise en place, and guest handling carry as much weight as recipe knowledge. At Bar Vendome at The Ritz in Paris, where he worked from 1980 to 1997, the craft was formed inside a grand-hotel register: measured service, classical drinks, and the daily pressure of a room with exacting expectations. The Head Bartender role at Dukes Bar in London, held by Alessandro since 2007, sits in a martini house where technique is judged in small margins: temperature, dilution, glassware, garnish, and the confidence to keep the drink direct. The move from Bar Vendome at The Ritz in Paris to Dukes Bar is best read as a continuation of hotel bartending practice rather than a change of persona. “I’m a bartender. We started off as bartenders, and then the term “mixologist” is a bit more trendy.” Alessandro has said.
At Work Now
Martini service at Dukes Bar in London depends on restraint and repeatability. Since 2007, Alessandro has worked there as Head Bartender, with the bar known for an intimate atmosphere and exacting service. His martini work draws on specified materials rather than ornament: Sacred Gin, Berry Bros No. 3 Gin, Sacred Vermouth made from English wine, and the zest of Italian Amalfi lemons. The Italian reference is present in the lemon; the London bar discipline is present in the serve.
Signature
Signature cocktails include Vesper Martini, White Truffle Martini, and Negroni Torbato.
Accolades
Recognition in hotel bartending is earned through continuity as much as display. Alessandro’s work at Dukes Bar has helped maintain the venue’s standing as a destination for martini drinkers, with the bar’s reputation tied to precise service and a clear house identity. The craft claim is specific: a martini program built on disciplined execution, known ingredients, and consistency across service.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Alessandro
What does Alessandro Palazzi currently do?
Alessandro Palazzi is Head Bartender of Dukes Bar.
Where did Alessandro Palazzi train or study?
Alessandro Palazzi trained at Catering College.
What is Alessandro Palazzi known for?
Martinis.
