BARTENDER Magazine’s 27 for 27: Becca Petersen

Originally from the West Coast, Becca Petersen has built a career in Chicago around thoughtful cocktails and genuine connections. She currently serves as Bar Director for an acclaimed vegetable-forward restaurant and an adjacent cocktail lounge, where her work emphasizes sustainability, seasonality and warm hospitality. In 2026, she was named the Midwest Speed Rack champion, adding a major competition achievement to her career. Becca is committed to making people feel welcome on both sides of the bar, whether she is working with guests or supporting her colleagues. Her approach reflects the belief that great beverage programs should be responsible, creative and rooted in community. That creative energy extends beyond hospitality. Away from work, she pursues fiber arts and ceramics, giving her another way to explore process, craft and expression. With her blend of technical skill, sustainability-minded thinking and people-first leadership, Becca is helping shape the future of Chicago’s bar scene. Becca’s work brings together an appreciation for the ingredients of the season and the relationships that keep a bar thriving. Her artistic pursuits offer another outlet for the same attention to craft she brings to cocktails.