Winner spotlight: Lorenzo Antinori of Caprice Bar

As beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and beverage ambassador for the hotel brand’s Asia Pacific operation, Lorenzo Antinori attributes much of his success to a good eye for opportunity and an ethos to stay curious in life.

Humble beginnings instilled in him a hard working mentality that has seen him craft his skills in cities around the world.

“When I was working in a small cafe in Rome, my home town, I would work for eight hours a day serving espressos and cappuccino,” he tells Hong Kong Living.

But it was his parents that really allowed him to see what’s important.

“My parents are my mentors,” he says. “They have taught me important values and have given me the freewill to choose what is best for myself. I am very grateful to be their son.”

After making his mark on Asia’s rapidly evolving cocktail scene, Antinori found himself in Hong Kong where he caught the eye of industry veterans and leading mixologists alike. He left his role as head bartender at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, and shifted to Hong Kong and where he continues to make his mark.

But it was not an easy task getting himself out of Europe and over to Asia. Working hard is an essential component in becoming successful, but working hard every single day takes dedication and a strong mentality to see the big picture.

“Moving abroad and out of my comfort zone at the age of 20 was one of my biggest challenges,” he says.

“Being far away from family and childhood friends was the toughest part, but these experiences have shaped my character and helped me to be better as a person and a professional.”

For most, arriving in a foreign country and a new continent would be enough to get the nerves going. However, Antinori’s passion to rise up and take on any challenge to overcome tough times proved worthy. He meticulously reshaped the cocktail program in Seoul and as a result, the hotel’s signature bar Charles H. saw a meteoric rise in success, ranking on Asia’s 50 Best Bar list in its very first year.

He is now quickly taking Caprice Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong down the same route. Just two years after he arrived, Caprice Bar made its debut in Asia’s 50 Best Bars list this year. At the core of Antinori’s foundation, he attributes challenges and getting out of the comfort zones to grow.

It seems Antinori’s rise to the top of the global hospitality ladder is only just the beginning.

Caprice Bar, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, 3196 8882

See the full list of Hong Kong Living Bar Awards 2020 here.

Feature image: Graham Uden