How Tobin Ellis Designs Bars That Make Bartenders Faster and Guests Happier

About this episode

Shawn Soole interviews Tobin Ellis about the impact of bar design on efficiency and guest satisfaction.

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with legendary bar designer and hospitality innovator Tobin Ellis, founder of Studio Barmagic and one of the most influential thinkers in modern bar design. With more than three decades in hospitality and decades designing bars around the world, Tobin shares how smart design, workflow, and ergonomics directly impact profitability, staff performance, and guest experience. From designing cocktail stations to consulting on luxury venues and high-volume operations, Tobin’s philosophy is simple: great bar design isn’t decoration — it’s operational strategy.🧠 What You’ll Learn• Tobin’s journey from bartender to one of the industry’s leading bar design specialists• Why bar design should start with workflow, ergonomics, and staff efficiency before aesthetics• The biggest mistakes operators make when building or renovating bars• How equipment, layout, and design influence speed of service, guest interaction, and profitability• Live Q&A: building bars for modern cocktail programs, staff health, and long-term operational success⏱ Timestamp Highlights (Approximate)• 00:02:30 – Tobin’s background and the evolution from bartender to bar designer•…

People in this episode

Host: Shawn Soole

Guest: Tobin Ellis

Topics covered

• bar design
• hospitality
• workflow
• ergonomics
• profitability
• guest experience

Keywords

• bar design
• hospitality
• workflow
• ergonomics
• profitability
• guest experience
• Tobin Ellis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Studio Barmagic