Across Latin American hospitality, a new generation of professionals is redefining the future of cocktail culture, bar leadership, and modern service. From globally recognized bars in Buenos Aires to experimental cocktail programs in Medellín and Lima, women are increasingly shaping the direction of the region’s hospitality industry through creativity, leadership, and a deep connection to local ingredients and culture. Their work spans bartending, operations, creative direction, and hospitality management, reflecting a broader transformation taking place across the region’s dining and drinking scene. Here are six women helping drive that change across Latin American hospitality today.
While the region has long been known for its vibrant food traditions and dynamic nightlife, today’s hospitality landscape is increasingly driven by professionals who bring together local ingredients, technical precision, and cultural storytelling. These women are not only leaders behind the bar and in the dining room—they are also mentors, innovators, and ambassadors for the future of the industry.
Catalina Valenzuela – Bartender, Test (Medellín)
At Test, the Medellín restaurant and bar known for its cocktail-driven tasting menu pairings, bartender Catalina Valenzuela represents a new wave of creative talent emerging from Colombia. Originally trained in culinary arts, Valenzuela spent several years working in restaurant kitchens before transitioning to bartending, where she discovered the creative potential of mixology as a form of storytelling.
Today her work focuses on integrating techniques from both the kitchen and the bar. At Test, cocktails are built around ingredients from Colombia’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts, incorporating methods such as fermentation, clarification, and ingredient research to create drinks that highlight regional flavors. For Valenzuela, cocktails are not simply beverages but expressions of identity, culture, and place.
Leila Castro – Bar Manager, Tres Monos (Buenos Aires)
In Buenos Aires, Leila Castro plays a key role at Tres Monos, one of the most celebrated cocktail bars in the world. As bar manager, Castro oversees both the development of the cocktail program and the training of the bar team, ensuring that the venue maintains the energy and creativity that have helped it earn global recognition.
Tres Monos has consistently ranked among the world’s best bars, known for its vibrant atmosphere and boundary-pushing drinks. Castro’s leadership emphasizes innovation, team development, and guest experience, helping to sustain the bar’s reputation as a training ground for the next generation of bartenders. Her approach combines technical expertise with a deep commitment to hospitality and collaboration.
Araceli Ortiz – Head Bartender, Tres Monos (Buenos Aires)
Another key figure within the Tres Monos ecosystem is Araceli Ortiz, the bar’s head bartender and one of the rising talents in Argentina’s cocktail scene. Ortiz is responsible for leading service behind the bar while contributing to the creative development of the venue’s cocktails.
Beyond her role during nightly service, Ortiz is also involved in La Escuelita, a social outreach initiative connected to Tres Monos that provides cocktail-making and hospitality training to young people in Buenos Aires. Through education and mentorship, she is helping expand opportunities within the industry while strengthening the bar’s connection to its local community. Her work demonstrates how hospitality leadership can extend beyond the bar counter and into broader social impact.
Laura “Lala” Arrieta – Bar Manager, Mamba Lab (Medellín)
At Mamba Lab in Medellín, Laura “Lala” Arrieta brings a unique perspective to cocktail culture. Originally trained as a petroleum engineer, she eventually followed her passion for bartending and has spent more than a decade working in some of Colombia’s most respected bars.
Arrieta is particularly known for her deep knowledge of Colombian ingredients, including fruits, herbs, and traditional spirits such as viche and ñeque. Her work explores how local products can be incorporated into modern cocktail programs while preserving their cultural roots. Combining scientific curiosity with hospitality expertise, she approaches bartending as both craft and research, often exploring the chemistry behind flavors and fermentation.
Frescia Casanova – Marketing Director, Grupo Maria Mezcal (Lima)
Hospitality leadership extends beyond the bar itself, and Frescia Casanova plays a central role in shaping the identity of Grupo Maria Mezcal in Lima. As marketing director, she is responsible for the strategic storytelling behind the group’s venues, which include Maria Mezcal, El Infusionista, La Cachina, and La Calor.
Casanova’s career began in retail and brand strategy before she moved into the hospitality sector, where she discovered the unique complexity of the cocktail world. In her role today, she focuses on brand experience, guest engagement, and the narrative that connects cocktails, design, and hospitality. Her work highlights how modern bars increasingly rely on creative direction and storytelling to shape memorable guest experiences.
Zaffra Hung – Operations Manager, Grupo Maria Mezcal (Lima)
With more than 25 years of international hospitality experience, Zaffra Hung brings operational expertise to the rapidly growing Maria Mezcal group. Throughout her career she has opened dozens of restaurants across multiple countries, building a reputation for excellence in team development, training, and hospitality operations.
Since joining the group, Hung has overseen major expansion projects, including new venues and collaborative initiatives that connect the brand with international bartenders and industry partners. Her leadership demonstrates the importance of strong operational foundations in building bars that can grow while maintaining consistent service quality and team culture.
A New Era of Leadership in Latin American Hospitality
Together, these women represent the diversity and creativity shaping Latin America’s modern hospitality scene. From cocktail innovation in Medellín to globally recognized bars in Buenos Aires and expanding bar groups in Lima, their work reflects a broader movement that is redefining the region’s presence on the international stage.
What connects them is not only their professional success but also their commitment to collaboration, education, and cultural identity. By combining technical skill with a deep respect for local ingredients and community, they are helping push Latin America’s hospitality industry into a new era—one where leadership behind the bar is as dynamic and diverse as the cocktails themselves.
