Imbibe 75 Person to Watch: Chris Figueroa

Whether tending bar at Ruby Tuesday (a college gig) or at the globally awarded cocktail bar Overstory, Chris Figueroa is just thinking about the guest experience. “It’s not really about the drink,” says Figueroa. “It’s a vessel for you to create a great experience.” A Bronx native, Figueroa went to university in Maine, initially studying business, then hospitality.

Each step in his journey, from the chain to Michelin-starred restaurants, convinced him he was on the right path. “I worked at a bank, and I hated it,” he says. “As soon as I walked in to Overstory, I loved it. I could feel the passion—I could feel that this is everything I want.”

After five years with the celebrated New York City restaurant group, Figueroa joined a colleague, chef India Doris, at her new project, seasonal restaurant Markette. He created a dual-concept program: Upstairs, the fresh, culinarily driven drinks complement the seasonal fare (the Lucky Plum highball features gin, umeboshi, fig leaf, and coriander), while in basement bar The Argyle, the playful cocktails take centerstage, like a PB&J Sazerac with a peanut butter- and sesame-infused pumpkinseed oil fat wash and fresh Concord grape juice.

“It was the final piece of what I feel like I needed in my career—to start something from scratch and build a menu,” says Figueroa. “I’ve taken everything I’ve learned from my past experiences and put it on the canvas.”

Click here to read more about some of 2026’s other Imbibe 75 People and Places to Watch.