San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2021
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Assistant Bar Manager

Employment History

• Northall Bar at the Corinthia Hotel, London, UK; Baglioni Hotel, London, UK; Villa Igiea, Palermo, Italy; Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea, Taormina, Italy;  Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay, Taormina, Italy

Education

• A.I.B.E.S Italy

Birthplace

• Messina, Sicily, Italy

Languages Spoken

• Italian, English, some Spanish

Juri Romano was born in Sicily, in a little town near Taomina.  His professional path began close to home.  His first jobs were at some local bars but then, attracted by the high-end tourism he observed in Taormina, he decided to enter the luxury hospitality industry. He began collecting experience, first at the Grand Hotel Atlantis Bay, then the Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea, and finally at Villa Igiea in Palermo.

By now Juri realized that the world of mixology is fast-paced and exciting, and that to fully understand it he had to seek out the places where trends are born. Thus Juri decided to make his move to London. During his seven years in London, he soaked up the vibrant energy of the city and learned everything he could from a market with such a vast and varied restaurant an bar offering.  He worked at the Baglioni Hotel followed by the Northall Bar at the Corinthia Hotel. Here he gave birth to his first cocktail list, and then continued his climb as bar manager of the newly opened Bankside Marriott Autograph Collection. Everything was going well but after two years the pandemic hit and Juri decided to retreat to home base in Sicily.

Shortly after arriving in Sicily, Juri learned of the reopening of San Domenico Palace as a Four Seasons Hotel and - his return felt like fate. Armed with his professional experience and passion for his work, Juri became part of the Four Seasons team. He now oversees the drinks concepts and cocktail lists for two bars: Bar & Chiostro and Anciovi. There are two different outlets linked by the Sicilian spirit. Bar & Chiostro, situated in the Hotel hall and around the Grand Cloister features cocktails that tell the history of the Hotel in an elegant and original way.  Juri’s innovative approach quickly led the bar to be elected by Forbes Italy as one of the 10 best hotel cocktail bars in the country. Anciovi, on the other hand, is a poolside bar that offers fresh and trendy low-alcohol cocktails.  In both bars Juri tells his story – a beautiful journey based on his Sicilian heritage and worldly experience - which he combines with his knowledge of raw materials, doses and blends.