Julie Reiner

North America’s reigning cocktail queen

Renowned mixologist, bar owner, author and vocal champion for diversity and women in the drinks sector, Julie Reiner is indisputably one of the most influential bartenders of our time.

Born in Hawaii and educated at Florida State University, Reiner’s incredible rise in the bar industry began as an 18-year-old cocktail server at rock-style bar Waikiki and was followed by stints at now shuttered, all-female-run The Red Room in San Francisco and a drag bar Asia SF. By 1998, she had moved to New York City to serve as the bar manager at C3 Lounge in the Washington Square Hotel with her then partner, now wife, Susan Fedroff.

New York was the city that would become her long-term home and provide the backdrop to a career fuelled by innovation, education and advocacy, collecting bylines in prestigious publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Imbibe and New York Magazine along the way.

In 2003, Reiner co-founded the Flatiron Lounge, New York City's first high-volume craft cocktail bar, playing a pivotal role in the city's cocktail renaissance while establishing her hallmark style of drinks made with fresh ingredients, premium spices and spirits inspired by her native Hawaii. She later collaborated with Audrey Saunders to open the now legendary Pegu Club in 2005. In 2008, Reiner and Fedroff launched Clover Club in Brooklyn with Christine Williams as a partner, firmly establishing the NYC borough as a beacon for craft mixology.

2015 saw her partnering with Ivy Mix (co-founder of women and femme bartending competition Speed Rack) and Williams to open Leyenda, a bar and restaurant celebrating Latin spirits and traditions, which closed its doors in April 2025 after ten years in operation. In 2022, Reiner revived SoHo neighbourhood institution Milady’s with Fedroff, Williams and chef-partner Sam Sherman, bringing the bar back to its former glory with a laid-back drinks programme and undeniably fun atmosphere created with her signature attention to detail.

​Beyond the bar, Reiner’s impact is extensive, from her role as a partner at Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR), a leading spirits and cocktail education program​me, to her commitment to fostering talent. Reiner has mentored many in the industry, notably advocating for women in bartending, including her Leyenda co-founder Ivy Mix, who has previously credited Reiner with creating opportunities for women in the bar space in way that many others didn’t.

Throughout her career, Reiner has received numerous accolades, including the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award at Tales of the Cocktail in 2022. Her dedication to quality, craft and mentorship​ has as solidified her legacy as a transformative figure in the cocktail industry and her impact on shaping the modern approach to mixology in North America and beyond sees her add another accolade to list by being named the winner of the Roku Industry Icon Award as part of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025.

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