Chris Gaspar
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Chris Gaspar first stepped behind the bar at Terminal 5 when he was just 20 — slinging drinks at concerts while teaching himself the craft through books. What began as a side hustle quickly turned into a calling.
After getting his start in NYC, Chris moved to Austin to deepen his understanding of cocktail bar operations and management, competing in local cocktail competitions and immersing himself in the creativity of the Texas scene.
Returning to New York, he joined the team at Mace — then ranked #47 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list — and later became part of the opening team at Café Dante in the West Village. From there, he took a detour into the dive bar world, embracing a slower pace and real neighborhood energy, before helping open Record Room, a vibey East Williamsburg spot that later pivoted into a nightclub.
At KABIN, Chris stepped in as a bartender and quickly rose to Head Bartender. He’s now leading the charge on the next chapter of the bar’s cocktail program — bringing in bold flavors, flipping the menu, and introducing more European influence to the NYC cocktail scene.
His approach to cocktail development is intuitive and artistic — often pulling from visual inspiration like desert landscapes or album covers. He’s particularly drawn to European garnishing styles and is passionate about integrating tea into his drinks.
Outside of the bar, Chris is either climbing rocks, bowling with his league, or behind the camera — he’s an avid photographer and is excited to bring that creative lens into the world of KABIN as well.