Kirill Runkov

The Path

Kirill Runkov’s route into bartending moved through a string of rooms rather than a single origin point. He started behind the bar in United States, working as bartender at United States venues in United States, then took the same role as bartender at cruise through America, where movement and service became part of the work itself. Later, he worked as bartender at team of Bek Narzi in Moscow, Russia, before reaching Hong Kong in 2017 and stepping into the role of mixologist at VEA Restaurant & Lounge. Today, Kirill is bartender of 22.13. What connects those stops is not an early fixation on cocktail formality, but repeated exposure to rooms where hospitality carried real weight. The work changed settings and geographies, but the standard remained human and immediate: show up, learn the room, serve well. In that sense, the bar functioned less as an endpoint than as a route through different working cultures, each one sharpening the practical side of the craft.

The Work Today

That line is the clearest summary of Kirill’s approach to bartending. The early positions were not framed by the language of fine cocktail culture; they were shaped by people who treated the work well and made the rooms worth staying in. Hospitality came first. From there, the craft could develop in direct contact with guests, with less concern for image than for the conditions that let the work hold together. Bartending, in Kirill’s case, became a practical profession built on movement, adaptability, and steady attention to the people in front of the bar.

Career - Bartender — 22.13, Moscow, Russia - Bartender — United States venues, United States - Bartender — cruise through America - Bartender — team of Bek Narzi, Moscow, Russia - Mixologist — VEA Restaurant & Lounge, Hong Kong (from 2017)

Signature

Kirill's signature dishes include Red Remedy, I Am Your Father, and Rhubarb Parfait. Each one suggests a different register, from playful to restrained, while staying in the vocabulary of the bar. Taken together, they show a bartender working through named drinks as part of a broader practice, where the glass carries both style and discipline.

FAQ What is Kirill Runkov's current role? As of 2026, Kirill Runkov is Bartender of 22.13. Where did Kirill Runkov work before? Kirill Runkov's earlier career included United States venues, cruise through America, and team of Bek Narzi.