From EMP to Viajante 87: Pietro Collina on Leading Bar Culture at the Highest Level

In the episode, Shawn Soole is joined by industry heavyweight Pietro Collina, whose résumé includes legendary institutions like Eleven Madison Park, NoMad, and his current role as Beverage Director for The Teslef Group (Viajante 87, Los Mochis, Sale e Pepe). In this candid and inspiring session, Pietro shares how he’s helped define some of the world’s most influential bar and restaurant programs-through mentorship, precision, and hospitality-driven creativity.What You’ll Learn• Pietro’s journey through Eleven Madison Park and the culture that shaped him• How NoMad helped bridge fine dining and cocktail excellence• His philosophy on building bar programs that reflect identity, purpose, and flow• The creative process behind Viajante 87’s bar experience and The Teslef Group’s beverage DNA• Audience Q\&A on training teams, scaling systems, and delivering consistency across multiple venues 📌 Timestamp Highlights00:03:00 – Entering the world of fine dining at Eleven Madison Park00:15:00 – Lessons from NoMad: bar meets kitchen meets guest experience00:30:00 – Designing the beverage program at Viajante 8700:45:00 – Live Q&A: leadership, team culture, and scalable excellence01:00:00+ – What’s next: expansion, new projects, and collaborative growth🎯 Who It’s ForBar and restaurant leaders, beverage directors, and operators looking to create world-class programs that blend creative excellence with operational precision. ✅ If You Enjoyed This EpisodeSmash the Like buttonSubscribe and hit the 🔔 for weekly industry insightsDrop your favorite takeaway from Pietro in the commentsShare this episode with your team or bar community