Piu Di Piu

Prepare to be dazzled by the extraordinary talent and creativity of David Lebeer, the mastermind behind one of the hottest bars in the country right now: Piu Di Piu. At just 33 years old, David has already made waves in the bartending scene, earning a reputation as a multi-award-winning mixologist and a true luminary in the world of cocktails.

Hailing from Ghent, David's journey into the world of bartending is as fascinating as it is inspiring. Armed with a degree in Japanology, his passion for Japanese culture led him to immerse himself in the vibrant cocktail scene during his time living in Japan. It was there that he discovered his true calling and decided to turn his hobby into a profession.

With an impressive list of accolades to his name, including winning World Class Belux in 2018 and clinching the international competition of Remy Martin in 2022, David's innovative creations and impeccable craftsmanship have earned him widespread acclaim and admiration within the industry.

"A lot of bartenders nowadays are looking for a quick road to fame. They start bartending and want to get accolades and create their own cocktails but they lack the basics. Start working hard, invest the hours and go back to what bartending is really about."

What made you get into bartending?

"I got interested in cocktail in my last year of high school but didn't really consider bartending a professional career at the time. During my time studying "Japanology" at the university i had the opportunity to travel and live in Japan for while. The cocktail scene in Japan is so rich and different and it started intriguing me. Then when i moved back to Belgium i started looking into opportunities, watching cocktail videos, reading cocktail book. At the same time i was still writing my master's thesis, for the second time... During this time one of my girlfriend told me that there was a job vacancy at The Pharmacy in Knokke. The Pharmacy was Venuez Best Bar at the time so it would have been a great opportunity to start my career there. They decided to give me a shot, together with Keith Cuveele."

What is your favorite cocktails to drink & to make?

"To drink it really depends on the time of day. Apero or digestive? I enjoy simple drinks, classics. A Well-made Old-fashioned is great! I like drinks that relax me and i don't have to think too much. A daiquiri for example. One of the best classics in my opinion is a "Remember The Maine". I tried this drink for the first time in Belroy's Bijou and it's been on my mind ever since.

When it comes to making drinks i enjoy making all kinds of drinks with egg white. Making it nice and frothy and doing some foam art on top with different bitters is a guilty pleasure!"

What makes a bartender stand out?

"The best bartenders really focus on their guests. They are in service of providing the best possible atmosphere, drinks and ambiance to their guests. It can be different based the bar you work at., a dive bar has different ways of making a guest at ease than a hotel bar. "

What cocktail are you tired of making?

"Pornstar Martini... The drink is soooo boring. You could probably make it more interesting and more crafty by making your own syrups, fresh passion fruit juice and giving it a little twist. The problem is that the drink would cost about 3 times as much and most guests won't really taste the difference."

What is you favorite bar in Belgium?

"Not to stroke my own ego but i like my own bar: Piu Di Piu. It is the style of bar that i prefer the most. That's why i build it, hahaha. But for real, there are so many great bars in Belgium. I was recently having a drink in Belroy's Bijou and the quality of the drinks was astounding! I also like Little Red Rooster. The concept of the great drinks and sandwiches is just really fun! I like a lot of the bars in my hometown: Ghent. Lucky me!"

Who is in your opinion the best bartender in Belgium?

"The best, but also most unappreciated bartender might be Tom Neijens from The Drifter. He makes such good drinks, but never shows off. Bart Capoen makes amazing drinks and has a great knowledge of the history of drinks. Olivier Jacobs makes amazing drinks and flavor bombs. It's difficult to pick just one."

What inspires you to create new drinks?

"My drinks are usually twists on classic, within a certain theme. I look at the different eras of drinks and base my menus on this. "

What is your favorite product to work with?

"I love Amaros and overproof rums. They give so much complexity to a drink without being overly bitter or spiced. A Daiquiri with Wray&Nephew and Amaro Montenegro is amazing!"