Cocktails, Community & the Top End: Anneliese Grazioli

In this episode of Local Territory Flavour, I sit down with Anneliese to talk about her journey through hospitality, her love of cocktails, the leap from bartender to business owner, and what it takes to build nationally recognised venues right here in the Top End.

Darwin’s hospitality scene may be small, but it certainly isn’t short on talent, creativity or ambition. Few people embody that better than local award-winning bartender and bar owner Anneliese Grazioli.

From behind the bar to owning the bar

Anneliese has built an impressive career in hospitality, becoming one of the Territory’s most recognised bartenders and a passionate advocate for Darwin’s bar scene.

She is the woman behind Hanky Panky Lounge, a cocktail bar that helped bring a new style of drinking experience to Darwin, and Bar Kokomo, her tropical, rum-focused second venue.

But successful venues don’t magically appear when the doors open.

We talk about the years of hospitality experience that came before them, the decision to step into business ownership, and some of the realities that sit behind the polished bars, beautiful drinks and busy Saturday nights.

Putting Darwin cocktails on the national map

One of the things I particularly wanted to explore with Anneliese was what it means to build a hospitality career in Darwin.

The Australian bar industry can often feel heavily centred around Sydney and Melbourne, but Anneliese has demonstrated that you don't need a postcode down south to be taken seriously.

Her work has earned national recognition, while Hanky Panky has helped show drinkers and the wider hospitality industry what is happening in the Top End.

We chat about how Darwin's bar scene has evolved, what makes hospitality here different, and why our size can sometimes be one of our greatest strengths.

What actually makes a great bar?

Naturally, we also talk drinks.

What makes a great bartender? How do you create a cocktail menu? What happens when someone sits at the bar and has absolutely no idea what they want to drink? But a great bar is about much more than what ends up in the glass.

Anneliese talks about hospitality, mentoring staff and creating an experience that makes people want to come back. We also discuss the transition from being good at hospitality to being responsible for the people, finances and decisions behind an entire business.

It's a side of owning a bar that customers rarely get to see.

Cocktails, community and the future of Darwin hospitality

Perhaps most importantly, our conversation is about the Territory.

Darwin has a hospitality community unlike anywhere else in Australia. It's creative, resilient and full of people willing to try things that probably shouldn't work on paper, but somehow feel completely at home here.

Anneliese is one of the people who has helped shape that scene.

We talk about where Darwin hospitality is heading, the opportunities for the next generation of bartenders and venue owners, and what she would tell someone starting their hospitality career in the Territory today.

And, of course, I couldn't let an award-winning bartender escape without asking a few very important questions about what she actually likes to drink.

Thank you to the NTG and Arts NT Mentoring Grants for supporting us to make this podcast a reality. And, a massive shout out to Brent Watkinson: Entertainment and events consultant, Comedian, MC, Radio & Podcast host, Owner operator of Sounds Familiar NT and Fruit Bat Entertainment Integrated Account Manager at kwpx - for mentoring me.