Where to Drink Negronis Around the World
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 22–28.
The Negroni is more than a cocktail. Influential and inspiring, it’s also a lifestyle that takes different forms wherever it goes. As the cocktail’s 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’s Negroni Week, we’re taking a brief tour of some of our favorite bars around the world for sipping Negronis and living the aperitivo lifestyle.
Europe
MILAN, ITALY: BAR BASSO
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’ve likely heard (a lot) about—the Sbagliato. The story goes that in 1972, Mirko Stocchetto, the father of the bar’s 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 “mistaken” Negroni became enshrined among the drink’s other variations. Crowds flock to the bar daily, where countless Sbagliatos are still served from Basso’s signature oversized goblets.
Camparino in Galleria in Milan | Photos by Sete Studio
MILAN, ITALY: CAMPARINO IN GALLERIA
Opened in 1915 by Davide Campari—his father, Gaspare, created the eponymous bitter just shy of 50 years prior—Camparino 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’s 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.
BERLIN, GERMANY: BAR MILANO
For more than a decade, this elegant bar near Rosenthaler Platz has been bringing classic Italian aperitivo culture to the heart of Berlin’s 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’s 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.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: TJOGET
Opened in 2012 with the goal of being a neighborhood bar, Tjoget, in the Hornstull district of central Stockholm’s Södermalm, 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’s 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.
Great Britain
Negroni at Hey Palu in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Hey Palu co-owner Alex Palumb | Photos courtesy of Hey Palu
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: HEY PALU
There’s a subtle distinction in climate separating Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Scotland’s Edinburgh Old Town, but inside the amari- and aperitivo-focused bar Hey Palu, any other differences rapidly fall away. “Negronis and aperitivo-style drinks are a big part of our offering in Hey Palu,” says Alex Palumbo (Paluto his longtime friends), the bar’s co-owner with Rachel Bailey-Palumbo. Classic Negronis are a big draw (a portion of each drink’s sales go to a local dog rescue charity), as are modern interpretations like the White Strawberry Negroni and the Rhubarb Americano. “We offer a Negroni flight as well, which is a great introduction for people who maybe haven’t had the cocktail before,” Palumbo says. “It includes a smaller version of our classic Negroni, the White Strawberry Negroni, and our Caffé Cyroni, a rum-based Negroni laced with coffee bean aromas and Cynar amaro instead of vermouth.”
LONDON: MELE E PERE
Pizza, pasta, and Negronis go together like … 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’s 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.
“Having built up London’s largest collection of vermouth over the years, we’ve been fortunate to experiment with all sorts of styles of Negronis, which in turn has helped us to refine our homemade vermouth,” says co-owner Chris Hughes. “We 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’ve managed to achieve that.”
South America
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: FLORERÍA ATLÁNTICO
This subterranean bar beneath a flower shop in the Retiro neighborhood has topped every “best of” list in the bar world in recent years, but Florería Atlántico’s roots run much deeper. Under the guidance of Tato Giovannoni, the team at Florería Atlántico crafts cocktails informed by the reaches of Argentina’s history, from the pre-Columbian era to waves of modern migration. This historical foundation informs the bar’s Negroni menu as well, dedicated to Giovannoni’s grandfather Lelo and dubbed Los Negronis del Abuelo—the Grandfather’s Negronis. The menu is highlighted by the bar’s signature Negroni Balestrini, with gin from Argentina, Campari, Averna, and purified water, finished with grill-smoked eucalyptus to evoke “the scent of Sunday parrilladas, where memory, fire, and affection meet.”
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO: OROPEL
The scene at this fun-loving vermutería in Mexico City’s 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’s 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’s weekly “Negroni Mondays” showcase a rotating cast of local bartenders. Guest chefs and restaurant pop-ups curate the snack-centric menus of oysters, cheese plates, pan conjamón, tinned fish, and similarly shareable fare.
SANTIAGO, CHILE: BAR LA PROVIDENCIA
Since opening seven years ago, Bar La Providencia—located in Santiago’s affluent Las Condes district—has been serving high-concept cocktails with a lively, neighborhood-bar vibe. The approach of the bar program aims to “emphasize the reclamation of Chilean ingredients,” 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.
It’s 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’s 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.
Asia-Pacific
Left to right: The Mezcal Negroni at Bar Leone | Photo by Victoria Chan; Mixing a Negroni at Bar Conte | Photo by NShot Creative
HONG KONG, CHINA: BAR LEONE
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’s Central district. Two years later, the world has taken notice, with the bar named Best New International Bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards in 2024, Best International Bar in 2025, and landing in the No. 2 slot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list (and No. 1 in Asia). But the bar’s vibe remains casual and welcoming with drinks both fun and accessible—their “cocktail popolari” 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.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: BAR CONTE
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’s 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—like the Milano-Torino and the Boulevardier—and some original, like the Berlioni with gin, dry vermouth, and Cynar, or the Mary & Camillo mash-up. Bar Conte’s 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.
North America
Toronto, Canada: Bar Pompette
Craving a Negroni made with olive oil-washed gin or fresh tarragon? You’re 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.
LOS ANGELES: CAPRI CLUB
Italy’s 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’s influence could extend beyond the plate. “Los Angeles had a serious need for aperitivo cocktails enjoyed outside in the sun,” Fleming says. “Importing the drinking culture of Italy made a lot of sense.” Today, Capri Club’s 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. “It’s the perfect cold drink on a warm day outside on the sidewalk—not too sweet, and totally approachable.”
NEW YORK CITY: DANTE
The Negroni’s birthplace may be Italy, but its stateside home is Dante. Opened in 1915 as Caffè Dante in New York City’s 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’s 50 Best Bars list in 2019) but remained true to the bar’s 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’t leave before trying the bar’s signature drink: a Garibaldi with Campari and fluffy orange juice.
PORTLAND, OREGON: NOSTRANA
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’s Rooster Bar still serves one of the best Negronis around, along with new variations and riffs from a decade’s 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.
SAN DIEGO: J & TONY’S DISCOUNT CURED MEATS & NEGRONI WAREHOUSE
The Negroni is a serious cocktail, but that doesn’t mean it always needs to be taken seriously. Exhibit A: J & Tony’s in San Diego, which CH Projects partner and J & Tony’s co-founder Anthony Schmidt admits originated as kind of a joke. “It was an inside joke, with me explaining what a Negroni was to the chef,” Schmidt says. “‘What’s a Negroni? It’s art, the most delicious drink there ever could be, a gift Italy has given us!’ It became a light-hearted debate, and that inside joke turned into, ‘What if we made an entire establishment based on the idea of deep-discount Negronis?’”
The Negroni and its relatives have proven fertile terrain for J & Tony’s bartenders over the years, spawning spinoffs like the chai-accented Masala Negroni, which was also served at CH Projects’ Lou Lou’s Jungle Room, and a Miami Vice twist with a slushy Negroni as one of the swirled-in components. “We like to stay tongue in cheek,” Schmidt says. “Can something be silly and self-deprecating while also being delicious and thoughtful?”
J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats & Negroni Warehouse in San Diego, with their Top Rope cocktail and co-founder Anthony Schmidt | Photos by Shannon Partrick
San Francisco: Bar Sprezzatura
Even though Bar Sprezzatura, part of Chef Michael Mina’s 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 “for the value of the product” as to not scare off the curious. “If they are not familiar with the product, and it is expensive, then guests wouldn’t order it and we wouldn’t be able to create these moments for them,” he explains.
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 “Goccia D oro” Cogliati Manzoni liqueur. The restaurant also offers four other Negronis, including a Dirty Negroni made with a strawberry brine.
Bar Leone’s Yuzu NegroniHey Palu’s White Strawberry Negroni
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