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Once upon a time, not all that long ago, the Negroni was more of a notion than a reality. Outside of its Italian home base, the Negroni existed more in books and old newspapers than it did in glasses sliding across bar tops. But over the past 15 years or so, the Negroni has mounted one of the most successful comebacks in cocktail history, spawning an endless stream of inspired riffs, along with the global celebration of Negroni Week, taking place this year September 22\u201328.<\/p>\n
The Negroni is more than a cocktail. Influential and inspiring, it\u2019s also a lifestyle that takes different forms wherever it goes. As the cocktail\u2019s fortunes have risen, so have the number of bars worldwide that hold the Negroni and its many relatives in high esteem. In celebration of this year\u2019s Negroni Week, we\u2019re taking a brief tour of some of our favorite bars around the world for sipping Negronis and living the aperitivo lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Europe<\/h3>\nMILAN, ITALY: BAR BASSO<\/h4>\n Since opening its doors in 1947 in the heart of Milan, Bar Basso has earned a global reputation for several reasons: The bar is often credited as being the first to bring aperitivo culture to the masses; it has become the unofficial meeting place for the global design community; and, finally, the bar is the birthplace of a Negroni variant you\u2019ve likely heard (a lot) about\u2014the Sbagliato. The story goes that in 1972, Mirko Stocchetto, the father of the bar\u2019s current owner Maurizio Stocchetto, was mixing a Negroni and accidentally added a pour of Prosecco instead of gin. The result was a lighter, spritzy alternative to the classic, and the \u201cmistaken\u201d Negroni became enshrined among the drink\u2019s other variations. Crowds flock to the bar daily, where countless Sbagliatos are still served from Basso\u2019s signature oversized goblets.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCamparino in Galleria in Milan | Photos by Sete Studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMILAN, ITALY: CAMPARINO IN GALLERIA<\/h4>\n Opened in 1915 by Davide Campari\u2014his father, Gaspare, created the eponymous bitter just shy of 50 years prior\u2014Camparino is one of the most influential aperitivo bars in and beyond Italy. Situated within a landmark 19th-century shopping arcade just steps from the Duomo, the bi-level spot has epically high ceilings, intricate mosaics and frescoes, and chic Italian liberty furnishings. It\u2019s a glamorous backdrop for plates like prosciutto crudo, vitello tonnato, and Milanese veal cutlets, plus classic and inventive cocktails served in two distinct venues. Expect Negronis, Garibaldis, and the perfectly chilled Campari Seltz at the ground-floor Bar di Passo. Head upstairs to the mod Sala Spiritello to sample seasonal and house creations, including the Compadre (Campari, mezcal, red vermouth, and chinotto), the Velvettino (Campari, Grand Marnier, Champagne, and orange marmalade sorbet) and the Porcini Negroni.<\/p>\n
BERLIN, GERMANY: BAR MILANO<\/h4>\n For more than a decade, this elegant bar near Rosenthaler Platz has been bringing classic Italian aperitivo culture to the heart of Berlin\u2019s Mitte district. In addition to goblet-sized Aperol and Campari Spritzes, the menu boasts a range of Negronis, including the classic, Sbagliato, and mezcal versions. There\u2019s also a short, Italian-focused wine list and a handful of globe-trotting specialty cocktails (ciao, Espresso Martini). Visit during aperitivo hour to sit al fresco and sip a cocktail alongside small plates of Italian finger food; or swing by later in the evening when lively crowds gather around the sleek marble bar.<\/p>\n
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: TJOGET<\/h4>\n Opened in 2012 with the goal of being a neighborhood bar, Tjoget, in the Hornstull district of central Stockholm\u2019s S\u00f6dermalm, became a pivotal force in the transformation of the area into a trendy, cultural hub. Today, the cocktail bar is routinely recognized among the world\u2019s best. Pulling inspiration from Mediterranean flavors, the bar team puts its creative spin on classic cocktails, and the Negroni remains a perpetual favorite. Seasonal offerings have included Another Strawberry Negroni with a strawberry aperitif in place of vermouth, accented with white cacao and olive oil. Ongoing Tjoget faves include a Watermelon Garibaldi, and the Passion Fruit Negroni Shakerato, with peach, lime, and passion fruit. Stop in during Negroni Week, and you just might be able to snag one of their custom Negroni jerseys.<\/p>\n
Great Britain<\/h3>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNegroni at Hey Palu in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Hey Palu co-owner Alex Palumb | Photos courtesy of Hey Palu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: HEY PALU<\/h4>\n There\u2019s a subtle distinction in climate separating Italy\u2019s Amalfi Coast and Scotland\u2019s Edinburgh Old Town, but inside the amari- and aperitivo-focused bar Hey Palu, any other differences rapidly fall away. \u201cNegronis and aperitivo-style drinks are a big part of our offering in Hey Palu,\u201d says Alex Palumbo (Paluto his longtime friends), the bar\u2019s co-owner with Rachel Bailey-Palumbo. Classic Negronis are a big draw (a portion of each drink\u2019s sales go to a local dog rescue charity), as are modern interpretations like the White Strawberry Negroni and the Rhubarb Americano. \u201cWe offer a Negroni flight as well, which is a great introduction for people who maybe haven\u2019t had the cocktail before,\u201d Palumbo says. \u201cIt includes a smaller version of our classic Negroni, the White Strawberry Negroni, and our Caff\u00e9 Cyroni, a rum-based Negroni laced with coffee bean aromas and Cynar amaro instead of vermouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
LONDON: MELE E PERE<\/h4>\n Pizza, pasta, and Negronis go together like \u2026 well, pizza, pasta, and Negronis, and that rule holds as true in London as it does in Naples or Milan. This Soho trattoria has been turning out handmade spaghetti and spritzes for more than a dozen years, and in that time it\u2019s also garnered a reputation for its keen approach to aperitivi and Italian-style cocktails, including its signature Negroni made with their own house-made vermouth. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving built up London\u2019s largest collection of vermouth over the years, we\u2019ve been fortunate to experiment with all sorts of styles of Negronis, which in turn has helped us to refine our homemade vermouth,\u201d says co-owner Chris Hughes. \u201cWe wanted it to have enough backbone to really come through in a Negroni, but be able to stand up on its own two feet and be delicious on its own with botanicals like fig, strawberry, and lemongrass. I think we\u2019ve managed to achieve that.\u201d<\/p>\n
South America<\/h3>\nBUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: FLORER\u00cdA ATL\u00c1NTICO<\/h4>\n This subterranean bar beneath a flower shop in the Retiro neighborhood has topped every \u201cbest of\u201d list in the bar world in recent years, but Florer\u00eda Atl\u00e1ntico\u2019s roots run much deeper. Under the guidance of Tato Giovannoni, the team at Florer\u00eda Atl\u00e1ntico crafts cocktails informed by the reaches of Argentina\u2019s history, from the pre-Columbian era to waves of modern migration. This historical foundation informs the bar\u2019s Negroni menu as well, dedicated to Giovannoni\u2019s grandfather Lelo and dubbed Los Negronis del Abuelo\u2014the Grandfather\u2019s Negronis. The menu is highlighted by the bar\u2019s signature Negroni Balestrini, with gin from Argentina, Campari, Averna, and purified water, finished with grill-smoked eucalyptus to evoke \u201cthe scent of Sunday parrilladas, where memory, fire, and affection meet.\u201d<\/p>\n
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO: OROPEL<\/h4>\n The scene at this fun-loving vermuter\u00eda in Mexico City\u2019s Roma Norte neighborhood extends from the cozy indoor space onto the sidewalk, where revelers sit at canary-yellow tables alongside a hand-painted piece by the Durango artist and designer It\u2019s a Living. The bar serves more than 20 types of vermouth, natural wines from cult producers like Marine et Pierre and Domaine Ganevat, and an array of classic and house cocktails; the bar\u2019s weekly \u201cNegroni Mondays\u201d showcase a rotating cast of local bartenders. Guest chefs and restaurant pop-ups curate the snack-centric menus of oysters, cheese plates, pan conjam\u00f3n, tinned fish, and similarly shareable fare.<\/p>\n
SANTIAGO, CHILE: BAR LA PROVIDENCIA<\/h4>\n Since opening seven years ago, Bar La Providencia\u2014located in Santiago\u2019s affluent Las Condes district\u2014has been serving high-concept cocktails with a lively, neighborhood-bar vibe. The approach of the bar program aims to \u201cemphasize the reclamation of Chilean ingredients,\u201d says owner Paula Nazal. This is seen in the use of ingredients like maqui berry and Pajarete, a sweet wine made in northern Chile, as well as the 85 labels of Chilean pisco the bar carries. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s no surprise that their appreciation for the Negroni gets experimental with local flavors, like the Amor y Lujuria, which is infused with strawberries and cacao, along with a pisco Negroni, naturally. A popular signature drink from the bar\u2019s Inconsciente Colectivo menu (collective unconscious, meant to symbolize the memories and facets of Chilean life and culture), the Visita del Sur is a smoked Negroni with maqui berry shrub and vermouth infused with grilled pears and apples.<\/p>\n
Asia-Pacific<\/h3>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLeft to right: The Mezcal Negroni at Bar Leone | Photo by Victoria Chan; Mixing a Negroni at Bar Conte | Photo by NShot Creative<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHONG KONG, CHINA: BAR LEONE<\/h4>\n Rome native and hospitality vet Lorenzo Antinori brough this love of Italian drinking culture to Hong Kong in 2023 with the opening of Bar Leone in the city\u2019s Central district. Two years later, the world has taken notice, with the bar named Best New International Bar at Tales of the Cocktail\u2019s Spirited Awards in 2024, Best International Bar in 2025, and landing in the No. 2 slot on the World\u2019s 50 Best Bars list (and No. 1 in Asia). But the bar\u2019s vibe remains casual and welcoming with drinks both fun and accessible\u2014their \u201ccocktail popolari\u201d stance makes all recipes available to the public. The bar features a selection of largely classic cocktails expertly assembled with their own twist, like a delicate Fig Leaf Negroni or a bright Yuzu Negroni with Suze and yuzu sake.<\/p>\n
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: BAR CONTE<\/h4>\n Adoration for the Negroni abounds throughout Australia, with Sydney boasting several bars devoted specifically to the drink. Bar Conte, named in homage to Count Camillo Negroni, opened in the city\u2019s Surry Hills neighborhood in 2021 and was among the first to proclaim itself a dedicated Negroni bar. Long the vision of co-owner Raffaele Lombard, whose love for the Negroni began while growing up on the Amalfi Coast, Bar Conte boasts more than two dozen variants, some classic\u2014like the Milano-Torino and the Boulevardier\u2014and some original, like the Berlioni with gin, dry vermouth, and Cynar, or the Mary & Camillo mash-up. Bar Conte\u2019s second location opened in the heart of downtown Sydney earlier this year, evolving the concept with even more original riffs and an expansive collection of vermouth and amari.<\/p>\n
North America<\/h3>\nToronto, Canada: Bar Pompette<\/h4>\n Craving a Negroni made with olive oil-washed gin or fresh tarragon? You\u2019re in luck: Negroni variations featuring these ingredients and more headline the wildly inventive drinks menu at this award-winning destination in Little Italy. Part of a family of Toronto establishments that includes a bakery and sit-down restaurant, Bar Pompette seats 30 in banquettes and around its marble bar indoors, and has a twinkling backyard patio. In addition to a rotating list of classic and creative Negronis, house specialties include the Nitro Colada (clarified pineapple juice, coconut oil-washed rum, housemade falernum, and spiced curry leaf) and Paloma Quemada (a carbonated mix of tequila, mezcal, burnt grapefruit, whey, and lime), plus snacks like caramelized nuts, cheeseboards, and a not-to-be-missed baba au Calvados.<\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES: CAPRI CLUB<\/h4>\n Italy\u2019s aperitivo culture is legendarily sun-soaked, with sunglasses a de rigueur accompaniment to every spritz. When Los Angeles restaurateur Robert Fleming began his 2022 makeover of The Capri Italian, an Eagle Rock restaurant that first opened in 1963, he recognized Italy\u2019s influence could extend beyond the plate. \u201cLos Angeles had a serious need for aperitivo cocktails enjoyed outside in the sun,\u201d Fleming says. \u201cImporting the drinking culture of Italy made a lot of sense.\u201d Today, Capri Club\u2019s outdoor tables are topped with colorful mixes of Italian-inspired cocktails from Pete St. Peter and shared plates by Puglia native Francesco Allegro. The classic Negroni (or with mezcal swapped in forgin) is consistently a topseller, as are Frozen Negronis made with the classic base fleshed out California-style with touches of orange and grapefruit juices. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect cold drink on a warm day outside on the sidewalk\u2014not too sweet, and totally approachable.\u201d<\/p>\n
NEW YORK CITY: DANTE<\/h4>\n The Negroni\u2019s birthplace may be Italy, but its stateside home is Dante. Opened in 1915 as Caff\u00e8 Dante in New York City\u2019s Greenwich Village, when the neighborhood was largely Italian immigrants, the 900-square-foot space has remained a favorite through the decades, from coffee shop to world-class bar. When Linden Pride took the reins as co-owner in 2015, Dante got serious with its cocktail program (landing in the No. 1 slot on the World\u2019s 50 Best Bars list in 2019) but remained true to the bar\u2019s Italian aperitivo heritage. Today, among a list of expertly made house cocktails, the Negroni holds court with its own menu. Dubbed the Negroni Sessions, it boasts more than a dozen takes, including their beloved Chocolate Negroni. But don\u2019t leave before trying the bar\u2019s signature drink: a Garibaldi with Campari and fluffy orange juice.<\/p>\n
PORTLAND, OREGON: NOSTRANA<\/h4>\n Not only an Italian institution founded by acclaimed chef Cathy Whims, Portland restaurant Nostrana was also the original home of the Negroni Social, a long-running one-night celebration launched in 2011 by then-bar manager Douglas Derrick and Nicholas Suhor, and an inspiration for Negroni Week. After a year of tinkering with Negroni variations, Derrick and Suhor created the invite-only party to showcase 12 interpretations, with drink sales benefitting Portland charities. Today, the restaurant\u2019s Rooster Bar still serves one of the best Negronis around, along with new variations and riffs from a decade\u2019s worth of their Negroni-of-the-Month archives, like Czech That Off the List with Old Tom gin, Campari, Becherovka, Cocchi Americano, and Amaro Braulio.<\/p>\n
SAN DIEGO: J & TONY\u2019S DISCOUNT CURED MEATS & NEGRONI WAREHOUSE<\/h4>\n The Negroni is a serious cocktail, but that doesn\u2019t mean it always needs to be taken seriously. Exhibit A: J & Tony\u2019s in San Diego, which CH Projects partner and J & Tony\u2019s co-founder Anthony Schmidt admits originated as kind of a joke. \u201cIt was an inside joke, with me explaining what a Negroni was to the chef,\u201d Schmidt says. \u201c\u2018What\u2019s a Negroni? It\u2019s art, the most delicious drink there ever could be, a gift Italy has given us!\u2019 It became a light-hearted debate, and that inside joke turned into, \u2018What if we made an entire establishment based on the idea of deep-discount Negronis?\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n
The Negroni and its relatives have proven fertile terrain for J & Tony\u2019s bartenders over the years, spawning spinoffs like the chai-accented Masala Negroni, which was also served at CH Projects\u2019 Lou Lou\u2019s Jungle Room, and a Miami Vice twist with a slushy Negroni as one of the swirled-in components. \u201cWe like to stay tongue in cheek,\u201d Schmidt says. \u201cCan something be silly and self-deprecating while also being delicious and thoughtful?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tJ & Tony\u2019s Discount Cured Meats & Negroni Warehouse in San Diego, with their Top Rope cocktail and co-founder Anthony Schmidt | Photos by Shannon Partrick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSan Francisco: Bar Sprezzatura<\/h4>\n Even though Bar Sprezzatura, part of Chef Michael Mina\u2019s MINA Group, boasts an award-winning wine program, the Financial District Italian bar also features a vintage amaro program. The selection, curated by mixologist and partner Carlo Splendorini, currently includes 42 vintage amaro and aperitif bottles. Explore the dusty bottles through a tasting flight where the staff will happily walk one through each amaro. Splendorini prices each taste \u201cfor the value of the product\u201d as to not scare off the curious. \u201cIf they are not familiar\u00a0with the product, and it is expensive, then guests wouldn\u2019t order it and we wouldn\u2019t be able to create these moments for them,\u201d he explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, hard-core Negroni lovers will want to order the Vintage White Negroni made with a gold saffrony liqueur from the 1950s, and the oldest bottle in stock, the \u201cGoccia D oro\u201d Cogliati Manzoni liqueur. The restaurant also offers four other Negronis, including a Dirty Negroni made with a strawberry brine.<\/p>\n\nBar Leone\u2019s Yuzu Negroni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHey Palu\u2019s White Strawberry Negroni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n