Two decades ago, Bahrami had a cocktail that changed her life: a gin martini, perfectly made by a seasoned bartender, that opened her eyes to the botanical spirit’s stunning beauty. Now she stands atop an international brand, Ginworld; runs the James Beard Award–nominated bar The Gin Room, which recently welcomed back Bahrami’s mother, Hamishe, to oversee culinary operations; and humbly celebrates her place in the World Gin Hall of Fame. Bahrami credits her success to the fierce support of the St. Louis community behind her. “Passionately believe in your goals and engage the community surrounding you,” Bahrami says. “When supported by your community, you can accomplish anything. It will be difficult; keep focused.
2026 QUESTIONNAIRE
What advice would you give to the next generation of St. Louis entrepreneurs or leaders? St. Louis has so much potential. Community is the center of success here. Passionately believe in your goals and engage the community surrounding you. When supported by your community, you can accomplish anything. It will be difficult, keep focused.
What’s a risk you took in business that didn’t pan out—but taught you something valuable? Success is overcoming many many many attempts that were not successful and being willing to continue to your accomplish your goals.
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck or uninspired? Take a moment. Take a nap. Take a shower. Take a walk. Clear your mind and do something that makes you happy. Give yourself room to rest. We often overwhelm ourselves with the need for immediate action or success. You will be surprised how much a little rest can bring on new perspectives or new ideas.
What’s a local organization, nonprofit, or initiative that more people should know about—and why? M.I.C.A. Project. The work they are doing for immigration and immigrants in this current client is inspiring.
2025 QUESTIONNAIRE
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? We are excited for the future of our spirits industry becoming so much stronger in the Midwest. The secondary and tertiary markets are becoming the strongest growth markets in the United States. We own Ginworld, a platform of gin education nationally, where we work in different cities with national and global brands to further the category of gin. We are excited for the embrace of gin and the increasing market share of gin in the U.S.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? We hope for this industry to be more united. Together, we could get so much more done.
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? We opened a gin bar in a beer and bourbon town of St. Louis, let alone the Midwest. It was hard to engage guests in a preconceived notion of the gin category, so we had to grassroots, baby-step guests with education and engagement to where the city is now bursting with gin enthusiasm.
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MENTORS & PEERS
To whom or where do you go for sound business advice? I look to peers and mentors who have continued to grow and take new leaps in this national market. Those working in emerging categories are of deepest interest. I’m always ready to learn from another’s success or even from failures.
What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? Never let anyone push you away from your goals if you feel you have the power to do more. It is hard to be surrounded by those who think you cannot because they cannot. You have to believe in your self and you have to be passionate enough to not let the obstacles dissuade you.
What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? We have some of the most supportive guests in the world. We need some changes in the city to help foster growth. There are often so many obstacles in running a business that having the support of your city from licensing to renewals to permits can definitely be updated to create a ease of business flow year to year.
BACKGROUND
Where were you born? St Louie
What was your childhood aspiration? I wanted to be an entrepreneur.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? I helped run my parents’ Persian restaurant, Cafe Natasha, which was open for 39 years. It taught me so many life lessons. I never knew how influential it would be but helped me be who I am today. Hospitality runs in my blood.
What educational degrees do you hold, and where were they earned? I have a bachelor’s in Business from Saint Louis University. I have a degree from American University in Beirut. And I have a master’s in Political Science from Webster University.
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? I have worked in foreign policy on the Hill in Washington DC advising on sanctions for HR resolutions. I also worked for Express Scripts in the IT data analyst positions. I like working with objective facts and educating on how those manifest to real life.
What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? Akar by Bernie Lee. The passion reflected on the menu is apparent.
What is one item you recently crossed off your bucket list? I traveled a multiple-week amaro tour of Italy, meeting and visiting some of the very best amari producers in the world and sharing their stories and our adventures with our guests through our daily amaro cart flight experiences .
What is one book you think everyone should read (or podcast everyone should listen to) and why? Every young woman should read Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. Every person will interpret it differently, but the life choices and lessons are up to your interpretation.
What’s your hobby/passion? I love photography. I was the photo editor for our newspaper and yearbook since freshman year. I was obsessed with the dark room. I never followed that path professionally, but it seeps into my life daily. We have our gin room walls filled with my photos from our Italian and Spanish trips, full of the emotions of our experiences. I love sharing our life experiences though the photo world.
What is your most prized possession? We recently bought a lake house near Hermann. The serenity of sitting on the porch and listening to the cicadas or kayaking on the lake—a slower life—is a necessity for balancing the craziness of our chaotic daily lives.
What would people be surprised to learn about you—a fun fact? I love goats and camels. I almost started a camel farm B&B before I started Ginworld.
What is your go-to karaoke song? King of Wishful Thinking
Hear more from Natasha on the Arch Eats podcast.
