Drink Kong
Drink Kong is a Rome-based cocktail bar brand founded in 2018 by Patrick Pistolesi, operating four venues (Monti, Campo Marzio, Baja Sardinia, and Nite Kong) and an e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise, ready-to-drink cocktails, and collectible menus, serving cocktail enthusiasts and nightlife consumers in Italy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersRome, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Drink Kong does
Drink Kong is a Rome-based cocktail bar brand founded in 2018 by Patrick Pistolesi, operating under the legal entity Drink Kong srl. The company runs a small portfolio of physical venues — the original bar at Piazza di S. Martino ai Monti 8 (Monti), a second Rome location in Campo Marzio, a seasonal site in Baja Sardinia, and a standalone late-night concept called Nite Kong — supplemented by a direct e-commerce shop. The on-premise business sells cocktails, spirits, wine, and food, with reservations handled via the Superb Experience platform and operating hours of 6:30 pm to 2:00 am daily.
The company's product portfolio spans two clear streams. On-premise, Drink Kong is recognized among the World's 50 Best Bars and runs themed annual cocktail menus (e.g., Menu FLUX, Menu Perimetro e Forma 2023/2024) designed by Studio Lord Z and produced on Fedrigoni paper. Off-premise, the e-commerce shop sells branded clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, caps, pins, bags), bar accessories (mixing glasses, coasters, mugs), limited-edition anniversary posters, collectible menu books, gift cards for Nite Kong and Macallan tasting events, and co-branded packaged goods: GINARTE gin (with Ginarte) and BOX NIO ready-to-drink cocktails (with NIO Cocktails and partner spirit brands Casamigos, Bulleit, Italicus, and Tanqueray).
Revenue is generated through on-premise bar transactions (per-drink pricing), gift card sales, e-commerce merchandise and spirit sales, and event ticket revenue (e.g., €80 Macallan tasting events). The business is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds. Customer segments are consumer end markets: cocktail enthusiasts and nightlife seekers in Rome, and a secondary base of brand enthusiasts purchasing merchandise and collectibles. The business model is asset-light in terms of technology but capital-intensive in physical venues, with a deliberate emphasis on design-led brand equity and curated spirit-brand collaborations as the primary moat.
Drink Kong firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drink Kong
- Legal name
- Drink Kong srl
- Website
- https://drinkkong.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Drink Kong is a Rome-based cocktail bar brand founded in 2018 by Patrick Pistolesi, operating four venues (Monti, Campo Marzio, Baja Sardinia, and Nite Kong) and an e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise, ready-to-drink cocktails, and collectible menus, serving cocktail enthusiasts and nightlife consumers in Italy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drink Kong industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cocktail Bar Hospitality
- NAICS
- Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cocktail Bars & Lounges (CRANACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cocktail Experiences (Mixology Classes, Cocktail Tours) (THAJAGAG)
Keywords
Where Drink Kong is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rome
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Drink Kong business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bar revenue (food and beverage): Revenue from selling cocktails, spirits, wine, and food to bar patrons at multiple locations in Rome and Sardinia.
- E-commerce merchandise sales: Online sales of branded merchandise including clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, caps), bar accessories (mixing glasses, coasters, mugs), limited edition posters, and cocktail menu books.
- Gift cards: Sale of gift cards for Drink Kong and Nite Kong venues, including special event gift cards for whisky tastings.
- Ready-to-drink cocktails: Pre-packaged cocktails in 100ml bottles sold through e-commerce, featuring collaborations with spirit brands.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | On-premise cocktail pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clothing merchandise |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Menu books and posters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bar accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Spirits and ready-to-drink |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift cards |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Drink Kong product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drink Kong is a craft cocktail bar brand that serves signature cocktails, spirits, wine, and food on-premise at multiple venues in Rome and Sardinia, Italy. Beyond bar service, the company sells branded apparel, mixology accessories, collectible cocktail menus, limited-edition posters, a collaboration gin (Ginarte), ready-to-drink cocktail boxes, and gift cards through its own e-commerce shop. The brand also hosts exclusive tasting events in collaboration with spirit brands such as Macallan.
Product overview
Drink Kong is an award-winning cocktail bar in Rome, Italy, operated by Drink Kong Srl, with additional locations including Drink Kong Campo Marzio and Drink Kong Sardinia, plus the Nite Kong nighttime concept. The company's online shop offers a curated merchandise portfolio across four main categories: Clothing (T-shirts, caps, hoodies, sweatshirts, pins, and bags with branded prints in red, white, and turquoise colorways), Mixology products (GINARTE premium gin collaboration, mixing glass, coasters, mugs, and a pre-made cocktail gift box), Menu & Poster collectibles (annual cocktail menus and limited-edition anniversary posters designed by Studio Lord Z on Fedrigoni papers), and Gift Cards for Nite Kong events and Macallan tasting experiences. The product portfolio centers on the bar's cocktail menus as premium collectible items, complemented by branded apparel and mixology accessories that extend the Drink Kong brand experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NITE Kong: Evening events and tasting experiences concept operated by Drink Kong.
Products and services
- Menu FLUX Award-winning cocktail menu with 29 cocktail illustrations across 64 pages, designed by Studio Lord Z, with holographic embossed logo on violet canvas and Fedrigoni paper. Sold as a collectible for cocktail enthusiasts and bar visitors. Priced at €20.
- T-SHIRT RED PRINT+ Black short sleeve crew neck unisex T-shirt with red screen print on both sides, made of 100% cotton, for fans of the Drink Kong brand. Priced at €30.
- CAP "YUPOONG" Black one-size cap with red embroidery, made of 100% cotton, for Drink Kong brand fans. Priced at €35.
- GINARTE (Drink Kong collaboration gin) Premium Italian Dry Gin co-developed with Ginarte, featuring 13 native botanicals plus Yuzu, with a minimalist label design inspired by co-founder Patrick Pistolesi's love for Japanese culture. Available within Europe only. Priced at €38.
- SNAPBACK PATCH CAP Black one-size snapback cap with white embroidery, 100% cotton.
- SNAPBACK CAP TOTAL BLACK Black one-size snapback cap with black embroidery, 100% cotton.
- HOODIE WHITE EMBROIDERY Black hoodie with white cotton embroidery, 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Priced at €50.
- SWEATSHIRT WHITE/RED EMBROIDERY Black long sleeve crew neck sweatshirt with white/red cotton embroidery, 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Available in RED LOGO and WHITE LOGO variants.
- T-SHIRT WHITE PRINT Black short sleeve crew neck unisex T-shirt with white screen print on both sides, 100% cotton.
- T-SHIRT TURQUOISE PRINT Black short sleeve crew neck unisex T-shirt with turquoise screen print on both sides, 100% cotton.
- SILVER PINS Silver pins enameled in black with 2.5 cm diameter. Priced at €5.
- ZIPPER SHOPPER Black zipper shopper bag with white screen print, 100% cotton, with zip closure.
- SILICON COASTERS Black silicon coaster set with white Drink Kong logo, 2 pieces per set. Priced at €6.
- MUG White ceramic mug with black Drink Kong logo screen printing. Priced at €12.
- BOX NIO / DRINK KONG 4 drinks (ready-to-drink cocktail set) Pre-packaged gift box containing 4 ready-to-drink signature cocktails in collaboration with NIO Cocktails, featuring Casamigos, Bulleit, Italicus, and Tanqueray spirits. Available only in Italy, 18+ only.
- DRINK KONG 1 YEAR – POSTER LIMITED EDITION Limited edition 70x50 cm poster signed and numbered 1/10, artwork by Studio Lord Z, hi-quality digital print on Polyester Silverback, commemorating the 1-year anniversary of Drink Kong.
- DRINK KONG 3 YEARS – POSTER LIMITED EDITION Limited edition poster commemorating the 3-year anniversary of Drink Kong.
- DRINK KONG 5 YEARS – POSTER LIMITED EDITION Limited edition poster commemorating the 5-year anniversary of Drink Kong.
- DRINK KONG 6 YEARS – POSTER LIMITED EDITION Limited edition poster commemorating the 6-year anniversary of Drink Kong.
- MENU PERIMETRO E FORMA 2.0 / 2024 52-page cocktail menu with 26 cocktail illustrations, hardcover with embossed logo on black canvas, featuring Sirio Orange and X-per paper by Fedrigoni, for collectors of the Drink Kong menu series.
- MENU PERIMETRO E FORMA 2023 44-page cocktail menu with 22 cocktail illustrations, CMYK plus white printing, hardcover with Imitlin Clay embossing by Fedrigoni, part of the Drink Kong collectible menu book series.
- Menu NEW HUMANS – 2020 64-page cocktail menu from 2020, with cover in Fedrigoni X-Per 320g and embossed Drink Kong logo, inside pages in Fedrigoni X-Per 140g. Priced at €10.
- MENU REFLECTIONS 01 – 2019 44-page cocktail menu from 2019, with cover on Fedrigoni X-Per 320g. Priced at €15.
- NITE KONG – GIFT CARD €100 €100 gift card valid only at Nite Kong venue. Valid for one year and must be used all at once.
- NITE KONG – GIFT CARD €50 €50 gift card valid only at Nite Kong venue.
- GIFT CARD – MACALLAN TASTING NITE 13/01/2025 €80 gift card for the Macallan Tasting Nite event on 13/01/2025, hosted by Andrea Brulatti (Macallan Brand Specialist) and Patrick Pistolesi (Owner & Bartender).
- GIFT CARD – MACALLAN TASTING NITE 16/12/2024 Gift card for the Macallan Tasting Nite event on 16/12/2024, hosted by Andrea Brulatti and Patrick Pistolesi.
Companies that use Drink Kong
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Drink Kong technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Drink Kong partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- MacallanminorMacallan whisky brand collaborated with Drink Kong for exclusive tasting events, including Macallan Tasting Nite on January 13, 2025 hosted by Macallan Brand Specialist Andrea Brulatti and owner Patrick Pistolesi.
- MacallanminorMacallan whisky brand collaborated with Drink Kong for exclusive tasting events, including Macallan Tasting Nite on December 16, 2024.
- GinarteminorGinarte, a premium Italian Dry Gin dedicated to Art, collaborated with Drink Kong to create a personalized edition gin. The bottle design was inspired by co-founder Patrick Pistolesi's innovative vision and Japanese culture. The gin features 13 native botanicals plus Yuzu for an exclusive release.
- CasamigosminorCasamigos tequila brand partnered with Drink Kong for the BOX NIO ready-to-drink cocktail featuring the 'Big Trouble in Oaxaca' cocktail made with Casamigos mezcal.
- BulleitminorBulleit bourbon partnered with Drink Kong for the BOX NIO ready-to-drink 'Bang Bang' Manhattan cocktail.
- ItalicusminorItalicus Rosolio di Milano partnered with Drink Kong for the BOX NIO 'Summer Kup' gin cocktail.
- TanquerayminorTanqueray gin featured in multiple BOX NIO cocktail collaborations with Drink Kong.
- NIO CocktailsminorNIO Cocktails partnered with Drink Kong to create a box of 4 ready-to-drink cocktails featuring the bar's signature recipes.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Drink Kong competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Dead Rabbit: New York cocktail bar historically ranked #1 on World's 50 Best Bars. Comparable to Drink Kong as a globally recognized, design-forward cocktail bar with multi-format venues.
- Employees Only: NYC-origin award-winning cocktail bar that has expanded into multiple cities. Comparable to Drink Kong as a branded cocktail bar concept that leverages recognition to scale venues and brand extensions.
- Dante NYC: New York cocktail bar repeatedly ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars. Comparable to Drink Kong in being a heritage cocktail destination with a strong brand identity and merchandise program.
- Freni e Frizioni: Rome cocktail bar in the Testaccio/Ostiense district and a fixture on Italian bar rankings. Comparable to Drink Kong as a direct in-city competitor for Rome's cocktail enthusiasts and nightlife clientele.
- Himkok: Oslo cocktail bar and distillery ranked on the World's 50 Best Bars list. Comparable to Drink Kong as a craft cocktail destination with its own spirit output (distillery) and branded merchandise.
- Salmon Guru: Madrid cocktail bar consistently ranked among the World's 50 Best Bars. Comparable to Drink Kong as a Southern European contemporary cocktail bar targeting cocktail tourists and brand-driven nightlife.
- Handshake Speakeasy: Mexico City cocktail bar that topped the World's 50 Best Bars rankings. Closely comparable to Drink Kong as a contemporary, award-recognized craft cocktail bar whose brand extends into merchandise and collaborations.
- Locale Firenze: Florence-based contemporary cocktail bar frequently cited on Italian and international bar rankings. Comparable to Drink Kong as a peer Italian craft cocktail destination competing for the same cocktail-tourist segment.
- The Connaught Bar: London cocktail bar inside The Connaught hotel and long-time fixture on the World's 50 Best Bars list. Directly comparable to Drink Kong as an award-winning, design-led cocktail bar targeting cocktail tourists and an affluent urban clientele.
Broad incumbents
- American Bar at The Savoy: London hotel bar at The Savoy and historic World's 50 Best Bars fixture. Comparable to Drink Kong as an internationally recognized cocktail destination, but operates within a broader luxury hotel portfolio rather than as a standalone bar concept.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Drink Kong social profiles
Digital presenceDrink Kong financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drink Kong leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Drink Kong subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Drink Kong funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drink Kong M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Drink Kong
What does Drink Kong do?
Drink Kong is a craft cocktail bar brand that serves signature cocktails, spirits, wine, and food on-premise at multiple venues in Rome and Sardinia, Italy. Beyond bar service, the company sells branded apparel, mixology accessories, collectible cocktail menus, limited-edition posters, a collaboration gin (Ginarte), ready-to-drink cocktail boxes, and gift cards through its own e-commerce shop. The brand also hosts exclusive tasting events in collaboration with spirit brands such as Macallan.
Is Drink Kong a public or private company?
Drink Kong is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Drink Kong founded?
Drink Kong was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Drink Kong based?
Drink Kong is headquartered in Rome, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Drink Kong make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bar revenue (food and beverage) is the primary driver. The others are E-commerce merchandise sales, gift cards and ready-to-drink cocktails.
Who are Drink Kong's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Dead Rabbit, Employees Only, Dante NYC, Freni e Frizioni, Himkok, Salmon Guru, Handshake Speakeasy, Locale Firenze and The Connaught Bar. American Bar at The Savoy is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Drink Kong have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drink Kong.
What industry is Drink Kong in?
Drink Kong's product category is Cocktail Bar Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANACAD, Cocktail Bars & Lounges, with a secondary code of THAJAGAG, Cocktail Experiences (Mixology Classes, Cocktail Tours). Its NAICS code is 7224 and its SIC code is 5810.