Bar Kokomo, Hanky Panky Lounge owner Annaliese Grazioli crowned Australia’s bar operator of the year

The owner of two of Darwin’s chicest cocktail bars has been crowned the Australian Bar Operator of the Year 2024 at an industry celebration that also saw her husband clinch Bartender of the Year.

Darwin bartender Joey Folkersma, pictured alongside wife Anneliese Grazioli, owner of Hanky Panky Lounge and Bar Kokomo, is Australian Bartender Magazine's Bartender of the Year 2024.

Updated, September 20: The owner of two of Darwin’s chicest cocktail bars has been crowned the Australian Bar Operator of the Year 2024 at an industry celebration that also saw her husband clinch Bartender of the Year.

Anneliese Grazioli, owner of Hanky Panky Lounge and Bar Kokomo, was awarded the gong earlier this month at the 23rd annual Australian Bartender Bar Awards, held in Sydney.

Posting to social media in the wake of her victory, Ms Grazioli said the award was “literally what dreams are made of”.

Her staff were effusive in their praise of the young hospitality veteran, with Bar Kokomo manager Pouya Khoushtarash bestowing upon her the title of “queen in the north”.

“People ask why I am still in Darwin – she is the reason,” Mr Khoushtarash said.

NT News Woman of the Year Awards: Anneliese Grazioli, finalist in the Stars of Tourism & Hospitality category. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ms Grazioli’s win caps off a stellar 12 months for the bar operator.

Her two venues, and their staff, have received or been nominated as finalist in more than 20 awards so far in 2024, while Ms Grazioli was also recently named eighth in Australian Bartender’s Most Influential List 2024.

Ms Grazioli’s husband Joey Folkersma, who is the operations manager of the two venues, was awarded the magazine’s Bartender of the Year at the same event as his wife.

Earlier in the year, Bar Kokomo head chef Pablo Stuardo Arismendi was recognised as the Hospitality NT Chef of the Year, while more recently, Bar Kokomo won NT Cocktail Bar of theYear at the Australian Bar Awards.

Ms Grazioli started her career in hospitality at just fourteen years old, working in the Darwin Waterfront venues of mentors and fellow hospitality heavyweights David and Kellie Robinson. Her career has been on a meteoric rise, winning multiple cocktail competitions, receiving industry awards, and opening her first venue at just 27 years old.

‘Huge’: NT officially home to Australia’s best cocktail slinger

Initial, September 11: A Darwin bartender who plies his trade at two of the city’s coolest watering holes has been named as best in Australia, with hospitality insiders labelling it one of the most significant awards to ever be bestowed on the adolescent local industry.

Joey Folkersma, an eight-year veteran of Darwin hospitality, was crowned Australian Bartender Magazine’s Bartender of the Year at the Bar Awards 2024 after a rigorous competition in Sydney on Monday.

“It was such a fun night, I’m so proud of my achievement and putting the Top End on the map,” he said.

Wife Anneliese Grazioli, whose CBD bars Hanky Panky Lounge and Bar Kokomo are where Mr Folkersma earns a crust as operations manager, said she couldn’t be prouder of her husband’s achievement.

“He has so worked hard and deserves this recognition from pillars of the industry at the national Bar Awards,” she said.

Darwin bartender Joey Folkersma is Australian Bartender Magazine's Bartender of the Year 2024.

The competition and awards, which closed out this year’s edition of the annual Sydney Bar Week, saw contestants tested via a written exam, mystery box challenge and blind tasting.

Mr Folkersma progressed to the final three and created signature cocktails ‘Three Malts and an Orange’ and ‘Dutch Summer’ live on stage in the final round, taking out top honours.

Northern Distilling and Snapper Rocks co-owner David Robinson said Mr Folkersma’s award was “huge” for the industry and the most prestigious national accolade ever bestowed on a local bartender.

Mr Folkersma’s crowning glory caps a steady but irresistible rise for the bartender following his arrival to Darwin in 2016, a rise embellished along the way by winning NT Bartender of the Year in 2018.

Bar Kokomo will be slinging Mr Folkersma’s award-winning cocktail duo for a limited time to celebrate his win.

Not to be outdone by her husband, Ms Grazioli was ranked eighth in Australian Bartender Magazine’s list of 100 most influential industry figures.

Originally published as Bar Kokomo, Hanky Panky Lounge owner Annaliese Grazioli crowned Australia’s bar operator of the year