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Faces Friday! Celebrating the people who make the hospitality industry special.

This week we’re spotlighting General Manager Alex Leidy and Head Bartender Sam Nellis at Silver Lyan in Washington DC.

Alex has been an integral part of the Silver Lyan team since joining in January 2020. With a diverse background in the Washington DC hospitality scene, working across institutions from Michelin-starred restaurants to late night speakeasies, he now leads the day to day operations of one of North America’s finest establishments.

Sam Nellis oversees cocktail and menu development at Silver Lyan with 12 years of experience in the industry, trains the team and manages service planning for all bar activations. His leadership focuses on fostering a positive, collaborative environment, ensuring the team delivers world class hospitality every night.

When Alex isn’t working, you can find him trying all the latest restaurant spots in the city or cooking up a storm at home. He highly recommends the Smithsonian Museums (obviously!) and Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown - with the Byzantine and Pre-Columbian works. Eating out? He loves Bar del Monte, Izakaya Seki, The Green Zone and Trouble Bird. His favourite cocktail changes depending on the day: either a Negroni or a 50/50 Martini.

Meanwhile, Sam loves spending time with his wife and two dogs. After 17 years together, their favourite activity is still having a long chat on the couch over a glass of wine. In DC, he recommends the wonderful free museums, especially the National Museum of African American History and Culture, though really they’re all worth a visit. You’ll often find Sam with his favourite cocktail, a wet gin Martini, at OKPB, or enjoying a burger at Eebee’s Corner Bar