San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2022
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Assistant Bar Manager, San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel

Employment History

• Corinthia Hotel London, UK; Hotel Brunelleschi, Florence, Italy; Ortea Palace Luxury Hotel, Syracuse, Italy; Metropole Hotel Taormina, Italy; Grand Hotel Villa Igiea, Palermo, Italy; Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay, Taormina, Italy

Education

• A.I.B.E.S.

Birthplace

• Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Languages Spoken

• Italian, English, some Spanish

Dario Sgroi was born in Taormina, Sicily, and grew up surrounded by the warmth and beauty of one of the Mediterranean's most celebrated destinations. What began almost by chance a first job behind a bar, more curiosity than calling, quickly revealed itself as a true vocation. The passion for hospitality, for the craft of mixology, and for the art of making guests feel at home became the defining thread of his life.

His early career took shape along the Taormina coastline, at properties including the Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay and Grand Hotel Villa Igiea in Palermo, before a move to Florence brought him to the iconic Hotel Brunelleschi, where he honed his craft to Forbes standards as head bartender. It was there that his understanding of luxury service deepened, setting the stage for the next leap: London.

From 2015 to 2018, Dario immersed himself in one of the world's most vibrant and competitive bar scenes, working as senior bartender and bar supervisor at the Corinthia Hotel London. Those three years sharpened his technical skills, broadened his creative vision, and introduced him to the international language of modern bartending, from seasonal cocktail lists to collaborations with some of the most celebrated spirits brands in the world.

Returning to Italy, he led bar operations at the Ortea Palace Luxury Hotel in Syracuse, joining during pre-opening as head bartender before being promoted to bar manager, and subsequently at Metropole Hotel Taormina, consolidating his expertise in luxury operations, team leadership, and beverage program development.

In 2022, Dario joined San Domenico Palace, A Four Seasons Hotel, as Assistant Bar Manager. Here, amid the ancient cloisters and sweeping views of the Sicilian coast, he has found his most meaningful stage, crafting cocktail experiences rooted in local ingredients and Sicilian storytelling, mentoring his team, and bringing the same curiosity that first sparked his journey to every glass he creates.

Throughout his career, Dario has remained deeply committed to continuous learning, attending masterclasses and industry events across Italy and participating in some of Europe's most respected bar shows. It is chapter that speaks to both his growth and his pride: representing San Domenico Palace on the international stage at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, joining the Four Seasons Italian Collection team for a guest shift that brought the spirit of Sicily and the excellence of Four Seasons to one of the world's most celebrated cocktail festivals.