Four Seasons Hotel 2017-2022. La Moderna, Miami and Rome; Bam Bou Speakeasy, London; The Ritz Hotel, London; Northall Bar, Corinthia Hotel,
London; Stravinskij Bar, Hotel de Russie, Rome

Longo has a long history of that. Born and raised in Rome, he grew up longing to follow his grandmother and sister, both chefs, into the restaurant business. “My dream from childhood was to open a coffee shop, but I didn’t like getting up early. So I thought about a cocktail bar.”

So he took a job as a bar back at Hotel de Russie, and quickly found a mentor in the manager of the hotel’s landmark Stravinskij Bar, who
educated him “slowly and seasonally.” While his talents behind the bar progressed, Longo knew he needed to advance his English, so headed to London and landed behind the bar of a five-star hotel.

“London was where I really began to realize the importance of being a bartender,” he recalls. “People drink all sorts of cocktails in London, and they drink more than one. Not like in Rome, where it’s one and that’s it.”

Longo’s creativity with spirits grew as he kept the cocktails coming.
Soon enough, his talents got noticed, drawing attention of visiting managers from The Ritz Hotel who invited him to interview and recruited him as a main bartender. “I’ve been very fortunate: Every time I’ve changed jobs it has been because someone has seen me behind the bar.”

Longo remained at The Ritz for just over a year, during which he returned to school to “learn all the standards,” and then moved onto Bam Bou Speakeasy, where he developed a taste for Japanese whiskeys and expanded his responsibilities to include preparation of house-made ingredients, staff training and more.

He also began competing in international cocktail competitions, often placing near the top. After competing in the European finals of one such competition Longo decided to cool his heels backpacking in Japan.
“I’ve always been passionate about the concept of hospitality in Japan and I wanted to experience it.” He wasn’t disappointed. “From the taxi driver to the chef, when you are their customer you are the most important person of the moment.”

Longo eventually found his way to La Moderna, the Italian Restaurant chain, where he wound up as executive bar manager with oversight of
two outlets in Rome and Miami. True to form, The Surf Club recruited him for the Champagne Bar from the latter.

On January 2020 Valentino was Crowned “The Most Imaginative Bartender” by winning the cocktail competition sponsored by Bombay Sapphire and Tales of The Cocktail, Valentino compete against more than 180 of the best bartenders in US. “ The 9 months of this competitions have been the most difficult and exiting times in my career, I had to go trough the quarter finals in Miami, Semi finals in Nashville and then, after an
inspiring trip to the distillery in London, winning the Finals in Chicago.

At Four Seasons Miami, Valentino Longo created a cocktail menu, Amore Eterno, inspired by the artists, farmers, winemakers and musicians, all bonded by generations of family tradition, whom Longo met during his trip to southern Italy in 2018.