Backroom Bar: A Hidden Miami Cocktail Experience
- Backroom Santiago stands out as an unusual success story in Chile's hospitality scene, attracting foreign investment and offering a culturally distinct experience.
- The bar is the creation of Nick Baranov, a restaurateur whose life has been defined by migration, reinvention, and cultural exchange.
- In 2020, while traveling through Latin America, the COVID-19 pandemic found Baranov in Buenos Aires.
Backroom Santiago: A Global Venture takes Root in Chile
Backroom Santiago stands out as an unusual success story in Chile’s hospitality scene, attracting foreign investment and offering a culturally distinct experience. The bar’s emergence challenges the typical struggles faced by new businesses adapting to local regulations and securing local capital.
The bar is the creation of Nick Baranov, a restaurateur whose life has been defined by migration, reinvention, and cultural exchange. Born in Russia, Baranov spent much of his youth and adulthood in Los Angeles, California, working in bars that blended mixology with design, experience, and culture. His travels weren’t merely geographical; he absorbed international practices that shaped his approach to hospitality.
In 2020, while traveling through Latin America, the COVID-19 pandemic found Baranov in Buenos Aires. What began as a temporary stay evolved into the launch of Backroom Argentina, a bar in Palermo. it quickly gained recognition for its focus on cultural experiences-including jazz, gastronomy, and a unique cocktail menu-aiming to recapture the spirit of speakeasies.
building on the success of the Buenos Aires location, Baranov expanded to santiago, Chile, in November 2023. Backroom Santiago, located in the Providencia neighborhood, reportedly required an initial investment of $150,000 USD, 80% of which came from foreign investors, primarily from the United States and Europe.
the Santiago location mirrors the Buenos aires model, emphasizing curated cultural events. Backroom Santiago hosted 12 jazz performances in December 2023,attracting an average of 65 attendees per event.The bar’s cocktail menu features 15 signature drinks, with prices ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 chilean pesos (approximately $13 to $20 USD as of January 24, 2026).
baranov’s strategy focuses on creating a space that transcends a typical bar experience.He aims to foster a community around shared cultural interests. ”We’re not just selling drinks,” Baranov stated in a November 2023 interview with La Tercera. “We’re selling an atmosphere, a connection, and a moment of escape.” (https://www.latercera.com/estilo/backroom-santiago-nick-baranov-entrevista-cultura-cocteleria-palermo-buenos-aires-chile-416991)