Known as Italy’s fashion and business hub, Milan also wears the crown of Aperitivo culture. From chic rooftop bars to time-honored institutions, the city invites you to explore its love affair with cocktails.
Milan thrives on the vibrant tradition of Aperitivo, a pre-dinner ritual that began in the 19th century and has since evolved into a cornerstone of the city’s social life.
As the sun dips, Milanese bars fill with locals and tourists clinking glasses of Negroni Sbagliato or Campari Spritz, accompanied by delicious stuzzichini. Yet Milan’s cocktail scene doesn’t end there. It boasts an array of bars, from timeless classics that shaped Italy’s drinking culture to cutting-edge mixology spots that experiment with molecular techniques.
The city’s cocktail culture mirrors its identity: a fusion of old-world charm and contemporary innovation. Whether you’re sipping on a traditional Bicicletta in a historic piazza or enjoying a futuristic concoction in a sleek bar in Navigli, Milan offers a cocktail experience like no other.
Milan’s cocktail culture traces its origins back to the late 19th century when Gaspare Campari invented the bright Red Bitters that still bear his name. Bars like Camparino in Galleria, established in 1915, were at the forefront of blending cocktails with elegance, setting the standard for Aperitivo culture worldwide.
The Negroni Sbagliato, born at Bar Basso, added a playful twist to traditional cocktails, solidifying Milan’s reputation as a city that knows how to drink.
Did you know that Milan is the birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato, an accidental creation at Bar Basso in the 1970s? A bartender mistakenly used sparkling wine instead of gin, giving birth to this bubbly variation of the classic Negroni. Today, it’s celebrated worldwide for its effervescent charm.
Campari
Aperol
Sambuca
Fernet Branca
Amaro
Italian vermouth
Amaretto
Grappa
Milan’s cocktail story is a mix of tradition and innovation, always evolving. So, what will you sip on your next trip?