Janis Muzikants, Bar Manager, Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay “Working in hospitality involves hard work, spirit and soul”

Janis Muzikants, Bar Manager at Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay, knows a lot about bringing spirit, soul, and a positive attitude to crafting and delivering creative, luxury cocktails.

When The Staff Canteen sat down to speak with Janis, it soon became clear that when it comes to bartending, being the very best at what you do is far more than making a cocktail.

Capturing that special something and bottling it

It goes beyond the ingredients, skill, and delivery - which, of course, goes without saying for a five-star bartender. It transcends into creating that special quality that words often struggle to capture. It’s that uniqueness and attention to the experience of fine-tasting beverages that sees guests returning to Restaurant 1890 and Janis’ bar repeatedly.

A seemingly effortless pursuit of perfection, Janis succeeds in blending artistry with the science of beverage development to combine the finest ingredients, quantities and that little bit extra. It’s this that saw Janis achieve the proudest moment in his hospitality career so far: The creation of ‘The Donn’ inspired cocktail.

While working at the Michelin-starred Restaurant 1890 , situated in the iconic Savoy Hotel, Janis got the opportunity to create a cocktail with The Craft Irish whiskey company’s latest release “The Donn” for World Cocktail Day.

A global celebration of cocktails, World Cocktail Day takes place every year on 13th May and marks the first date that the definition of cocktail was published. Janis marked the notable occasion on every bartender’s calendar himself with the release of ‘The Donn’-esque beverage.

Describing its release as “my proudest achievement”, ‘The Donn’ inspired cocktail wasn’t restricted to standing out as a career-defining highlight for his own personal sentiment around its release, but also how it fared with Restaurant 1890’s guests. “[It] was highly successful,” Janis adds.

Home and work come together to inspire

Both behind the bar and away from delicious cocktail creations, it’s Janis’ wife and baby that give him his inspiration and motivation to be the very best he can be. “My biggest inspiration is my family,” Janis says.

It’s this foundation that Janis takes with him into service every day and forms the basis of what a good service looks like. “I believe that good service comes from understanding the guest and making them feel welcome as you would do it at your home and also creating memories,” Janis says.

And much like Janis’ approach to all things in his role, striving for excellence and reaching that 1% of elite beverage delivery is all in the heart and spirit of what he does. “Guests will not always remember what they had for drink or food, but they will always remember how you made them feel,” Janis shares.

A commitment to excellence is reflected in the entire team at Restaurant 1890, making it stand out from other fine dining and drinking establishments in London and the wider UK. “From the first steps until the guest leaves, they feel welcome and relaxed, and the journey that we offer regarding the food and wines, which tells stories,” Janis emphasises.

Guests are offered an extensive collection of wines at Restaurant 1890. “We have one of the best wine selections, which includes the oldest Madeira collection dating back to 1700s available by the glass and the first ever 19L wine bottle served by the glass by Coravin,” adds Janis.

Serving with soul

Pursuing your passion and delivering with a dedication to excellence is at the heart of Janis’ approach to creating the most enjoyable, relaxed and celebrated experience for his guests. “Working in hospitality involves hard work, spirit and soul,” Janis notes.

It’s perhaps unsurprising then that his advice for others seeking a role in hospitality is to provide the added extras, that touch of exceptional to everything you do for your guests. “You must be willing to understand guests’ needs and deliver every day with a smile,” says Janis.

It doesn’t just apply to your guests, though; it’s also for your teams. And all of this comes from the approach you cultivate yourself. “You must be a team player, patient, and curious,” Janis shares.

Developing these skills becomes even more valuable when facing everyday challenges in hospitality. “Every day brings new challenges. However, hospitality is an extremely fast-moving sector, with many restaurants changing their teams every year,” says Janis. Like any role or industry, encountering challenges of some kind might be unavoidable but navigating them brings the opportunity to learn and grow.

There’s one challenge that stands out above the rest as most notable in hospitality for Janis.“The biggest challenge is finding the right people who are passionate about the job.” As for his role in addressing these, he takes that very seriously. Yet, it’s one that he, again, tackles head-on with a smile and positive can-do attitude. “[It’s] keeping [the] team motivated and educated, providing all the tools they need to do their job successfully and creating a positive environment,” Janis relays.

Achieving the finest dines and drinks

Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay opened in February 2022 and gained its Michelin star in the Michelin Guide UK 2024. This motivates the team to maintain its industry-leading standards and reputation. “Every day, the team does their best to maintain Michelin recognition,” Janis says.

Inspiration comes from French chef Auguste Escoffier's signature dishes, who worked at the Savoy Hotel in 1890. “Our restaurant serves a tasting menu which is classic French with a modern twist,” says Janis.

Restaurant 1890 can serve 24 covers in the restaurant and seat 18 people in its bar. A total of nine chefs in the kitchen team deliver its weekly service, with eleven on its front of house team who ensure all its guests are catered to.

Picking the most popular cocktail was no easy feat for Janis. “All our cocktails are good sellers,” he confirms. However, if he had to select a couple, Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay’s current best-selling drinks are Star of 1890 and The Queen of Divas Negroni.”

Written by: Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe