Featured Bartender September 2026: Dragan Milivojevic

Dragan Milivojevic is the beverage director and co-creator behind the acclaimed Papercut bar in Austin, Texas—which holds a 2 PIN status from The Pinnacle Guide, and was featured in Esquire’s “14 Best Bars in America” in 2026. Papercut was also awarded Best New Bar by both Eater Austin and Austin Monthly and named one of the Top 10 Best New U.S. Cocktail Bars by Tales of the Cocktail (2025).

With a deep-rooted passion for hospitality and a flair for innovation, Dragan has shaped standout beverage programs for Bacalar, Prelude, and Malinche Audiobar alongside top chefs Gabe Erales, Matt Peters, and Jose Avila.

Originally from Serbia, Dragan honed his craft across Southern Europe—bartending in Belgrade, Croatia, and Naples—before making his mark in the U.S. at celebrated Austin spots Here Nor There and In Plain Sight. A finalist in high-profile competitions like the Art of Italicus (Top 10, 2025), Patron’s Top 10 U.S. (2022 & 2023), World Class Top 100 U.S. (2022), he also holds winning regional titles from Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve.

Certified by the IBA since 2017, Dragan is known for his warm, guest-first philosophy and a signature cocktail style that fuses global flavors with creative storytelling.