This week’s Muse is Alessandro Palazzi acclaimed head bartender and enduring face of Dukes Bar, one of London’s most iconic institutions and the birthplace of James Bond’s legendary Vesper Martini.

For nearly five decades, Alessandro has embodied old-world hospitality - from the George V in Paris to The Savoy in London and since 2007, at the helm of Dukes. A place that feels like a private club without needing to be one, Dukes is a world built on legacy, ritual, and trust.

We talk about what defines true service today, the story behind the Vesper Martini, how Ian Fleming’s imprint still shapes the bar, and the quiet details that make Dukes unlike anywhere else.

Alessandro opens up about the emotional intelligence behind great hospitality — how to sense when to lean in, when to give space, and how to connect with guests beyond the drink. He reflects on the balance between presence and distance, the thinking behind the famous two-martini rule, and what it means to protect an institution’s soul while keeping it alive in the modern world.

And beyond the bar, we touch on his unexpected film cameo alongside Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in the movie Another Simple Favor, a moment where he simply played himself.

This is a conversation about legacy, ritual, and the humanity behind timeless craft.

LINKS:

Follow Alessandro here:

https://www.instagram.com/alessandro_palazzi/?hl=en

Follow Dukes Bar here:

https://www.instagram.com/dukesbarlondon/?hl=en

Follow Seat of the Muse socials here:

https://www.instagram.com/seatofthemusepodcast/

https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhostcarine