Oscar Simoza, Mixologist

Born and raised in Venezuela, Oscar Simoza has become one of Boston's most recognizable and respected hospitality professionals, known for blending technical cocktail craftsmanship with warmth, humor, and deeply personal storytelling. Currently serving as Director of Spirits for BCB3 Hospitality and helping oversee beverage programs across some of Boston's most celebrated venues, Simoza has built a reputation for creating cocktail experiences that are thoughtful, playful, and unmistakably his own.

Simoza moved to Boston from Venezuela in 2007 to visit his brother, but what was meant to be temporary quickly became permanent after falling in love with the city and its hospitality community. He got his start working at the legendary Johnny D's in Somerville before refi ning his skills at Beat Hotel and later becoming a beloved fixture behind the bar at Silvertone in Downtown Crossing. His charisma, encyclopedic spirits knowledge, and ability to make every guest feel like a regular helped him stand out in Boston's evolving cocktail scene.

In 2022, Simoza joined BCB3 Hospitality to lead beverage operations for jm Curley, Bogie's Place, and the highly acclaimed The Wig Shop, where his imaginative cocktails and theatrical presentation style gained national attention. He later expanded his mentorship and creative direction to concepts including Temple Records, Sushi@, Somaek, and Zurito, helping shape beverage programs that balance technical precision with personality and cultural influence.

A 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist® for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service, Simoza is celebrated not only for his drinks, but for his generosity, leadership, and infectious energy behind the bar. Whether building low-ABV Basque-inspired cocktails, mentoring young bartenders, or talking video games with guests over mezcal, he represents the modern evolution of hospitality in Boston: serious about craft, never too serious about himself.