Agostino Perrone
Alessandro Scire CalabrisottoShare
Few bartenders have shaped the modern London drinking scene quite like Agostino Perrone. As the man behind the bar at the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, he helped turn a hotel bar into one of the most decorated and admired drinking destinations in the world, blending Italian warmth with British polish.
Early Life & Path to the Bar
Agostino Perrone was born in Italy, in the Lake Como region in the country's north. His early ambitions were not, in fact, in hospitality at all — he studied and worked in other creative fields before the pull of bartending took hold. That background in art and image-making would later inform his eye for detail and his sense of theatre behind the bar.
Drawn to the craft of the cocktail, Perrone moved into hospitality and eventually relocated to London, the city that would become the stage for his most celebrated work. He honed his skills in the capital's bar scene before taking on the role that would define his career.
The Rise of Agostino Perrone
Perrone became Director of Mixology at the Connaught Hotel, overseeing the Connaught Bar from its opening. Under his leadership, the bar earned a reputation for impeccable service, refined classics and a now-famous tableside Martini trolley. The Connaught Bar went on to receive some of the industry's highest honours, including repeated recognition on the World's 50 Best Bars list, where it has held the top position.
His approach paired classical technique with genuine hospitality — the sense that a guest should feel looked after, not merely served. That philosophy, as much as any single recipe, became his signature.
Signature Drinks & Contributions
Perrone is closely associated with the Connaught Bar's celebrated Martini service, prepared at the table from a bespoke trolley with a choice of house bitters. He has also created a range of original house cocktails that balance elegance with approachability.
Beyond the recipes themselves, his lasting contribution has been to elevate the standard of the hotel bar experience — demonstrating that meticulous craft and warm, personal service can coexist at the very highest level.
Legacy
Through the success of the Connaught Bar, Perrone has influenced a generation of bartenders who view hospitality as an art form. His emphasis on detail, consistency and guest care has become a model widely studied across the industry, and he is regularly cited among the most respected figures in contemporary bartending.
Curiosity: A Fun Fact About Agostino Perrone
Before committing fully to the world of cocktails, Perrone trained in the visual arts and photography — a creative grounding that many credit for the striking, considered aesthetic of his drinks and the theatre of his service.