Hi, I’m Gio.
With over 20 years’ experience working in food and beverage, Italian born Giovanni Spezziga’s passion for the hospitality industry has allowed him to work in some of the finest establishments across Europe.
Having discovered his natural talent and love of hospitality at just sixteen years old bartending at the luxurious Bar IL Portico at Hotel Cervo in Sardinia, followed by a stint at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Italy. Giovanni moved to London in 2004 where he became a bartender at the Rockwell Bar in The Trafalgar Hotel. During two years’ experience offering guests the highest standards of service and drinks in this unique boutique style hotel bar, Rockwell Bar was awarded Time Out’s ‘Best Bar Award’ and London Evening Standard’s ‘Bar of the Year’.
Giovanni’s track record of success didn’t stop there though, as whilst working as the Lobby Bar Head Bartender in the award-winning One Aldwych Hotel in Covent Garden in 2006, his bespoke cocktail creations earnt the title of Class Magazine’s ‘Best Cocktail Offering’. Giovanni then went on to successfully launch W Lounge in the renowned 5-star W Hotel in 2010 before taking up the role of Bar Manager at the highly acclaimed Michelin-star restaurant & bar, Benares in Mayfair.
Prior to joining The Doyle Collection, in 2013 Giovanni went on to play a vital role in the opening of the critically acclaimed, Scarfes Bar, at the iconic Rosewood Hotel London. He was the Bar Manager from 2013 – 2016 during which time his unique and creative cocktail menu and bar design contributed to making Scarfes Bar one of the top destinations in London. The bar is present on Top 50 Cocktail Bars and Best International Hotel Bar at Tales of the Cocktail.
Since its launch - overseen by Giovanni - The Coral Room has gone on to win Wine List Confidential’s ‘Best English Wine List’ and be nominated for both GQ’s Food and Drink Awards ‘Best Interior’ and Tales of The Cocktail’s ‘Best Hotel Bar in Europe’ and International Hotel Bar. Giovanni was shortlisted at Imbibe’s Personality of the Year 2018, the nominees were voted for by Imbibe magazine’s readers in record-breaking numbers and the shortlist included the highest calibre of UK on-trade professionals.
Under his leadership, Dalloway Terrace - noted by Vogue as one of the most instagrammable restaurants in the world - continues to be a firm favourite with seasonally changing floral installations and characteristically creative cocktail programs and The Coral Room proclaimed by the Evening Standard as ‘a hotel bar done perfectly’- is known as a top drinking destination in London.
Giovanni now offers independent consulting and strategy services to established corporations, emerging enterprises and entrepreneurial ventures. He also project manage and run new BAR in association with hoteliers and entrepreneurs. There’s a synergy between us and our partners and a shared commitment to creating something UNIQUE.
Having worked within Italy, Switzerland and England as Bars Director, General Manager, and Beverage Director within organisations such as Hilton, Marriott, W Hotels, Rosewood Hotel Group, Doyle Collection, Giovanni brings a breadth of knowledge, innovation, beverage knowledge, cocktail expertise and managerial acumen to the table.