Bar Hacks · 2026-06-16 · 60 min
Artist, operator, bartender, mixologist, distiller, creator... Ektoras Binikos wears a lot of hats. That said, he wears them under the unifying umbrella of hospitality. Not long after arriving in NYC from Greece, he started making a name for himself. By 2019, Ektoras was ready to open the doors to his own bar, Sugar Monk. He and his team overcame significant challenges, including navigating shutdowns. Now, in June of 2026, Sugar Monk is celebrating its seven-year anniversary. Ektoras opened Bitter Monk in 2024, and has tapped into his family's history of distilling through the creation of Atheras Spirits. One of the threads tying his journey together is the effective balancing of creativity with ethos, sensibilities, and business. Cheers! Notes Ektoras Binikos IG Sugar Monk IG Bitter Monk IG Atheras Spirits IG Sugar Monk website Bitter Monk website Atheras Spirits website Bar Hacks IG KRG Hospitality IG KRG Hospitality website
How Bon Vivants Built a Craft Cocktail Culture in the Bahamas86 / 100
The DC Bar Scene Isn't Emerging. It's Already Here.67 / 100
Growth & Authenticity: Stay True, Listen, and Take the Risk
Drink Wise: Building a Beverage Brand with Conviction
I'm Your Huckleberry: Mike Bausch Wants You to Succeed with Pizza