A love story between land, sea and the art of travel
When it comes to Genoa and bartending, there is only one word capable of capturing the depth of that bond: a journey.
The story of the city and its tradition in the art of mixology—first—and bartending—later—lives in the memory of its narrow caruggi, stretching from the first hillside neighborhoods straight down to the sea.
And it is right there, facing the sea, that the history of both local and international bartending came to life: from the decks of the Port of Genoa—one of the most important in Europe and the largest in the Mediterranean—the first master bartenders set sail.
The very idea of mixing drinks from a recipe was born from the arrival of American cocktails in Europe, carried across the Atlantic on the glamorous New York–Genoa routes.
Those crossings did not just transport people; they created a profession and a legend.
On board the Michelangelo and the Raffaello, bartenders found themselves serving demanding, high-profile passengers who wanted the trendiest cocktails from New York—somewhere between a wave and a waltz.
To meet the expectations of an increasingly sophisticated clientele, the bartenders on board had to elevate their craft, offering exclusive, fashionable beverages shaped by long voyages and a wonderfully diverse crowd: Hollywood stars and cabin boys, all crossing the vast Atlantic together.
In this unusual setting, the figure of the professional bartender was born.
After the war, many left Genoa in search of opportunity aboard these floating cities—and often, opportunity knocked right on their cabin doors.
Thanks to Italian skill and ingenuity, and to the familiarity with exotic ingredients arriving daily through the Genoese port, these seafaring bartenders created real careers and, in time, became legends themselves.
From the Mai Tai to the Margarita, from the Piña Colada to the evergreen Martini, the world’s most iconic cocktails all traveled by sea before reaching Europe or returning to the United States.
This thread connecting today’s mixology professionals has never been broken; instead, it has grown stronger, supported by institutions committed not only to promoting best practices but also to protecting local products.
In 2023, the Genova Gourmet Bartender label was created to certify, promote and safeguard this extraordinary cultural heritage while embracing innovation 4.0.
A defining trait of the professionals who carry this label is their ability to narrate the entire Genoese supply chain through the great cocktail classics: reimagined mixology, signature twists interpreted with local ingredients, and certified Prodotti Genova Gourmet, all served together with the story of the Genova Gourmet Bartender network—now a true cornerstone of the city’s aperitivo culture.
From 2023 to today, 48 bartenders and barladies across Genoa proudly wear the label on their uniforms.
They create exclusive recipes—often inspired by major events taking place in the city—using the 13 certified Genova Gourmet products dedicated to the beverage sector.
From bitters to vermouth, from gin to distilled spirits, Liguria has always stood out for the richness and variety of its production.
It is a land where steep hills—almost mountains—plunge directly into the sea, shaped by the Tramontana and Scirocco winds that nurture an extraordinary biodiversity and unique botanicals refined enough for the most discerning palates.
Every journey is an encounter, and the love story between Genoa, the ocean and New York is perhaps its finest example: nearly a century of crossings and stories, of lives transformed into professions, of products traveling across the sea in search of new destinations, and of people discovering, creating and reinventing—until they become a timeless classic… or a legend.
Hira Grossi
Photo credits: Clara Vannucci
