Little sister to Rita Cocktails - the historical American bar born in Milano in 2002 - Rita’s Tiki Room was born as an authentic Polynesian, Hawaiian and Caribbean style Bar.
Founded in 2019 by Edoardo Nono and Chiara Buzzi, the bar aims to be a destination place with a 360° concept dedicated to tropical, Cuban and Tiki mixology.
The décor is hand made and reflects the interior design of the original American tiki bars rich of details and objects, woven coconut- and bamboo-covered walls, rattan peacock chairs, jungle-themed wallpaper, wooden carved totem figures and masks. Lush, dense vegetation tumbles from the ceiling, a canoe hangs above the bar counter, while suspended jute lamps provide suffused lighting to intimate nooks.
The bartender
Alessandro D'Alessio
Alessandro D'Alessio (1994) began working in 2014 in nightclubs and catering for high-profile events. His love for mixology came early, was nurtured with courses training, research and independent studies that pushed him to leave Italy. In 2019, he arrived in London, where he worked in one of the Mexican establishments of the well-known chain La Bodega Negra, a format that combines cocktails & food. After a short time, he moved to the team of established chef Robin Gill, at his Derby's. In 2019 he returns to Puglia, where he resumes his studies and deepens his knowledge and always during this year he accepts a call from Edoardo Nono and Chiara Buzzi to go to work at Rita's Tiki Room, the new Polynesian Caribbean spin-off of the historic Rita's Cocktails. For more than three years now, Alessandro D'Alessio has been the real face as well as the driving force of Rita's Tiki Room. In 2024 he won the Best Italian Bartender Under 30 award for Bar Awards, Bargiornale and won Campari Bartender of The Year for Campari Academy.
The bartender
Edoardo Nono
Born in Varese (1969) Edoardo has been treading bar counters since '88 despite his technical training and a path far from hotel school. He traveled the world in his youth working in luxury resorts, hotels and cruise ships. He perfected his preparation by studying hotel management at the University of Tourism in Rimini and then refused a job at the Four Seasons to return behind the counter of a bar in Milan in 1998. A few years of work and research to finally open Rita & Cocktails in 2002 where he collects successes, constant appreciation and contagious growth. Together with Compagnia dei Caraibi he is the owner of Mr Three & Bros Ginger Falernum. More recently, together with his business partner Chiara Buzzi, he doubled the showcase on the Navigli with an original Tiki bar, RITA'S TIKI ROOM. He alternates his entrepreneurial activity with training, bar consultancy and, last but not least, the promotion of his product.
