As a founding member of the Banquets Bar team at Montage Healdsburg, Natalia Faustino was recruited by Little Saint’s founding executive bar director, Matt Seigel, in 2023.
Faustino jumped over to Little Saint, creating a bar program that highlights seasonality and zero waste, ultimately becoming general manager.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Natalia Faustino: I began my career in hospitality after moving to Brooklyn in 2015. Like many immigrants, I found limited opportunities outside the restaurant industry and started working as a server. As a naturally social person, I quickly found purpose in the daily rhythm of the restaurant—connecting with guests and building a sense of community.
After relocating to San Francisco, the beverage director of the restaurant I worked at encouraged me to try bartending. I began training and immediately discovered a new passion.
Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.
Yes. My ‘aha moment’ came while I was working at a classic French restaurant in San Francisco. The cocktail list leaned heavily on classic cocktails, and one night I tried a French 75 for the first time.
It completely blew me away. It combined two of my favorite ingredients, gin and sparkling wine, but what struck me most was the balance. The brightness, the elegance, the lift from the bubbles; it was both delicate and powerful at the same time. That drink shifted something for me.
What is your favorite thing to drink at home?
After a long day, nothing hits the spot quite like a fresh, well-balanced margarita. It’s straightforward, refreshing and exactly what I need to unwind. When I have friends over, I make caipirinhas. I always keep a bottle of my favorite cachaça—Carvalheira—from my hometown of Recife, Brazil, on hand. Sharing it feels personal; it brings a taste of home.
Where do you like to go out for a drink?
I am always working, so I don’t get out as often as I’d like, but Healdsburg has no shortage of excellent cocktail spots. I often find myself at the bar at Little Saint, where I currently work, as well as Spoonbar and Lo & Behold. I love going out when there’s a real buzz in the room—sitting at a lively bar brings me so much joy. Lioco, Marine Layer and BloodRoot are my favorite tasting rooms in town. I can always count on running into friends there, and it’s the perfect setting for a relaxed afternoon of day drinking and great conversation.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?
I would definitely go for fresh passion fruit juice and coconut water straight from the coconut.
Little Saint, 25 North St., Healdsburg, 707.433.8207, littlesainthealdsburg.com.
