Nicholas Bonney

Bar Director

Born and raised in San Francisco, Nicholas Bonney credits his parents with sparking his interest in food and drink at an early age. Hailing from New Zealand, his mother emphasized the importance of seasonal cooking, and his British father taught him about his country’s rich history of spirits, especially gin and scotch.

Bonney has been involved in the city’s culinary scene for over a decade, beginning his professional career as a Bartender at the Slanted Door at age 21. He also worked at Black Cat, Bobo’s Steakhouse and Aziza before landing at Alexander’s Steakhouse Group as the Bar Director in 2020. 

During the pandemic, Bonney spent time at his home in Tomales Bay, where his collection of orchards allowed him to experiment with fresh produce and a variety of spirits, bitters and infusions. Much of this experimentation is reflected in AFICI’s cocktail menu, featuring handcrafted, small batch spirits and the highest quality ingredients sourced both locally and globally.

Bonney’s creations are designed to foster curiosity and he feels a great sense of joy and accomplishment when a patron is wowed by something new. His favorite aspect of working in the hospitality industry is the experience of connection and interaction with guests, whether it be cooking in an open kitchen or executing an elaborate tableside presentation. 

Bonney’s full skill set and inventive libations will be displayed front and center in AFICI’s main dining room and through the thoughtful beverage program, with specialty cocktails updating seasonally to complement the cuisine.