Sarah Syman
Bartender, The Dandy Crown | Chicago
September 2021
Chicagoan Sarah Syman initially entered the hospitality industry as a high school student, hosting in the West Loop. She moved on to bartending to subsidize her art history degree at the University of Illinois. After graduation, Syman struggled to find a good job in her field during the recession, so she decided to continue behind the bar. At 24, she had a lightbulb moment at sports bar The Anthem. She realized how much there was to learn about the beverage industry and was eager to lean in. Syman was hired as a server at The Drawing Room, but when a bartending position opened up, she jumped at the opportunity to grow at one of Chicago’s cocktail hubs.
When The Drawing Room closed in 2013, Syman went on to BellyQ, Pump Room, and The Dawson, where she worked alongside Rising Stars alum Harrison Ginsberg. From there, she followed Bartender Clint Rogers in 2016 to open Beacon Tavern. In 2019, she took on the position of beverage director at the newly opened River West cocktail lounge The Dandy Crown. Now, Syman builds a strong sense of community for the industry while slinging historical cocktails and her original refreshing creations.
