Born in Brazil and trained as a Journalist, Flavi Andrade has taken the still very masculine industry of bartending by storm with her consistency, versatility, and passion for her work.

As head bar manager of Rossio Gastrobar she won the award for Best Female Bartender in Portugal in 2023, and helped Rossio Gastrobar win Best Hotel Bar by Lisbon Bar Show in 2022 and Best Restaurant Bar at the Mesa Marcada awards in 2023.

How did your journey lead you to where you are today? 

I’m a journalist, and to pay for my PhD studies, I started working in bars. I went from being a journalist-bartender to a bartender-journalist. It was a mix of necessity, passion, curiosity, and a touch of serendipity. When I eventually arrived in Portugal, Rossio Gastrobar became the perfect stage for me to create, innovate, lead, and host. 

Where is “home” for you? 

Home is where I can feel good energy — from people and the atmosphere itself. I’ve moved quite a few times, but I’d say home is less a place and more a state of mind — somewhere between Lisbon’s golden sunsets and the sound of a busy bar in perfect harmony. 

Pros and cons of life as an expat? 

The greatest advantage is perspective — you get to reinvent yourself constantly and see the world through different lenses, always with respect and never forgetting where you came from. The downside? The distance, the longing for your roots… and the comfort food. But even that turns into a beautiful kind of nostalgia that keeps you grounded.   

“Make it count — with style. Whether it’s a cocktail, a conversation, or a challenge, I believe in doing everything with purpose and a touch of elegance.”

Favourite drink? 

A classic Dry Martini — clean, elegant, and timeless. It’s a drink that demands respect for technique and balance. To me, it represents everything I admire in mixology: simplicity, precision, consistency, and strength. Plus, it’s the kind of cocktail that speaks without needing to shout. 

Any memorable moments? 

The opportunity to share moments with great industry masters such as Salvatore Calabrese, Dale DeGroff, Peter Dorelli, and Javier Caballero. Listening to their stories and learning from their savoir-faire has been more valuable than any masterclass. Those are the moments that remind me why I fell in love with this profession. 

Favourite food and wine pairing? 

A perfectly seared scallop with a glass of Arinto from the Azores Islands — there’s something magical about how the salinity meets the minerality and acidity of the wine. Simple, yet divine. 

In another life, I would have been… 

A gastronomic travel writer or perhaps a jazz singer. Either way, I’d still be chasing rhythm and the art of storytelling — only the instrument would change.

Follow @rossiogastrobar or @flavi.andrade.flavi