Nico Julia
Community | Craft Bartender | Photographer
Who Is Nico Julia?
Nico Julia is a beverage professional, bar operator, and community builder based in Atlanta, Georgia, with over a decade of experience in craft cocktails, sake, and Japanese spirits. They are the Beverage Director and operator of Sakura Sake Bar, where their work centers on intentional hospitality, thoughtful beverage programming, and creating spaces where guests feel seen, welcomed, and engaged. Nico approaches bartending not just as a technical craft, but as a relational practice rooted in care, curiosity, and respect for both the guest and the product.
Throughout their career, Nico has built and led beverage programs that balance creativity with accessibility. Their strengths lie in menu development, spirit education, and guest-guided experiences, particularly within sake, shochu, Japanese whisky, and low-intervention cocktail design. Rather than relying on static menus, Nico is known for conversational service models that meet guests where they are, helping demystify complex categories while elevating appreciation and intention behind consumption.
Beyond the bar, Nico is deeply invested in community-forward hospitality. They have collaborated with artists, nonprofits, and wellness-focused initiatives to create events that prioritize inclusion, harm reduction, and shared care. Whether training staff, curating a menu, or hosting a guest behind the bar, Nico brings a grounded, values-driven approach to hospitality that emphasizes connection, education, and long-term sustainability within the industry.
