Dry Martini’s Sebastian Vazquez on where he goes for good cocktails

SINGAPORE — Sebastian Vazquez was just another bartender in the town of A Coruna in Spain until he read Cocktail And Drinks by Javier de las Muelas, the godfather of the Spanish cocktail scene. “I was so inspired that I went to take part in a bartending competition he was judging (just) to meet him,” he said.

Vazquez went beyond meeting his idol — he got a job at De la Muelas’ famed Dry Martini Academy in Barcelona and is now seconded to Four Seasons Singapore as its head bartender, where he whips up some of his signature cocktails. We asked Vazquez to share his favourite Barcelona spots with us. SERENE LIM

> For cocktails

“Of course, I’m going to say Dry Martini. You’ve got to try the original Gimlet Foxtrot in Barcelona. The cocktail also looks greener due to our limes and we have a machine just to make the frozen part of the martini. Bobby Gin is where I go for gin. It has a very private atmosphere and a nice bartender.

> For food

“I’m vegetarian and I recommend Teresa Y Carles, where practically everything is good. It’s a vegetarian restaurant that’s considered among the best eateries as its standards are very high. I’d order the vegan burger and the Spanish croquette. They also do good salads. But you must call to reserve a table.”

> For photography

“I like going to St Feliu de Guixols, which is just outside Barcelona. It’s a place that was (partly) destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. I could spend hours just taking photos in the market square.”