Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Hall.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got into bartending on accident. I originally pursued a career in audio engineering. However, after a few short years working in music, I decided it wasn’t for me. Overall, I’m happy with that experience because it gave me the opportunity to travel all over while I was very young. After coming back, I got what I thought was a temporary job as a bartender. That was almost six years ago, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. I’ve had lots of dead ends and moments where I debated giving up.
The most difficult part for me was the learning curve and the education needed to pursue craft cocktail. I’ve been lucky enough to have several amazing mentors who taught me the fundamentals, as well as more advanced techniques that help me provide great service every day.
If you come into the bar with your ego set aside and a willingness to learn, you’re already ahead of most.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the Head Bartender at The Monarch Bar in Kansas City. We’re a James Beard nominated cocktail bar known for pushing classic concepts forward with unique flavors and advanced techniques.
What sets us apart is our passion. Any day of the week, there’s always someone passionate willing to explain the ideas and technical preparation that go into our drinks.
However, I’m more proud of our staff’s love for hospitality and work ethic. It defines our guest experience and makes difficult tasks easy to achieve.
For example, we recently published our 2026 Spring / Summer menu. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help and support of my peers and their love for creating amazing experiences for our guest.
Our staff drives me to be better everyday.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s no shock to anyone that we’ve been seeing a decline. Young people are going out less and being more careful with their money. I think what’s going to define the next several years is a dedication to overall service.
With people going out less, the decisions they make are going to be much more methodical.
From my experience over the last few years, people are going out less but prefer a much more premium experience when they do decide to indulge.
Quality of product, hospitality, and culture, will define the industry exceptions of the coming years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themonarchbar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonarchbarkc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonarchBarKC/
