i. Biography
Glasswashing is often the first station in a bar education: pace, breakage, reset, mise en place, and the sound of service before the drink is ever built. Simone Caporale entered hospitality at 15 as a glass washer in a lakeside bar in Italy, an early position that put the mechanics of bar work ahead of any public-facing technique. “We want to revive these recipes with the best quality products and warm, open-hearted hospitality.” Simone has said.
Formation
Bar training in Lake Como gave early access to service rhythm, guest contact, and the practical handwork of cocktail making. At Disco in Lake Como, Italy, Simone Caporale first stepped behind the bar, moving from support work into bartending and beginning to test flavor and technique in a working venue rather than a classroom setting. Experimental cocktail work in London took shape inside a high-volume hotel bar context. At Artesian at The Langham, Simone Caporale worked within a program known for pushing cocktail presentation and recipe development, building a reputation through experimental cocktail offerings that joined traditional recipes with new formats. Contemporary ownership in the bar trade now sits across Barcelona and Hong Kong. In 2021, Simone Caporale co-founded and co-owned Sips in Barcelona, while also holding ownership stakes in Boadas Cocktails in Barcelona and Montana in Hong Kong.
Where They Are Now
Modern cocktail design at Sips is built around traditional recipes, quality ingredients, and controlled presentation rather than novelty for its own sake. In Barcelona, Simone Caporale works within that framework at Sips, a bar that reached #1 on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2023. Recognition at that level creates pressure to keep developing the work instead of repeating the winning formula. Simone Caporale has described success as a springboard for further innovation, and that position is visible in the ongoing cocktail development at Sips, where each drink functions as a test of flavor, technique, and service format.
Signature
Signature cocktails include Nixtamil, Like You None Else, and Piña Colada.
Standing
Bar recognition has followed both individual work and venue programs connected to Simone Caporale. Sips earned the #1 spot on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2023 and #3 in 2025, while Artesian was crowned World's Best Bar for four consecutive years, from 2012 to 2015.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Simone
What is Simone Caporale's current role?
Simone Caporale is co-owner of Sips.
Where did Simone Caporale work before?
Earlier in their career, Simone Caporale worked at Disco in Lake Como and Artesian at The Langham.
What recognition has Simone Caporale received?
World's 50 Best Bars list: #3 (2025).
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