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67
KAZARIAN ON HOTELS
◆
Hospes Americo, Alicante
(
7 Calle de Rafael Altamira; tel:
+34 965 146570, hospes.com
)
“A fantastic, five-star boutique
hotel in the heart of the city.
It’s close to the beach, and
is where you’ll find the great
restaurant and bar Monastrell
(
monastrell.com
).”
◆
Asia Garden (
Avenida
Eduardo Zaplana, Rotonda del
Fuego, Benidorm; tel: +34 966
818400, asiagardens.es
) “Like
a little bit of Asia inside Spain –
and I love Asian culture.”
◆
Hotel Spa Maris (
3 Plaza
Puerta del Mar, Alicante,
tel: +34 965 147 021,
hotelspaportamaris.com
) “It’s
right at the end of the beach,
so it’s like being on the deck of
a ship, looking out at the sea.”
◆
Huerto del Cura Hotel,
Elche (
14 Porta de la Morera,
Elche; tel: +34 966 610011,
hotelhuertodelcura.com
) “Right
in the middle of a beautiful
palm grove – the biggest one
in Europe.”
◆
AC Alicante (
3 Avenida de
Elche; tel: +34 965 120178,
marriott.com
) “The one if
you’re here on business. It’s
near the train station, the main
road to Madrid and the new
bus station – and it’s very easy
to get to from the airport.”
Right,
the view from
the roof terrace of the
Hospes Americo hotel;
below,
GegamKazarian
THE COCKTAIL KING
GEGAM KAZARIAN
“For me, Alicante is like Europe’s Hawaii,” says Kazarian.
“It’s sunny and beautiful. We have nice beaches, little
islands andmountains. We have everything in this small
area – that’s why I love it here.”
Kazarian came to Spain fromhis native Armenia in
2000, and it’s here in Alicante that he’s risen frombeing
a glass-washer in local dives to the city’s most celebrated
mixologist. Last year, he won gin-maker GVine’s prestigious
Gin Connoisseur Competition and, fromhis base at the bar
of high-end restaurant Monastrell, he works as a consultant,
travelling around the world teaching other bartenders the
tricks of the trade. It sounds like a great life. “I lovemy
profession,” he says, “and I think if you love what you do, you
put that into your work, whether it’s food or a cocktail.”