Negroni All-Stars: Travel the World to the Best Places to Celebrate National Negroni Week

Move over, Christmas. Negroni Week (September 22nd—28th) is the most wonderful time of year.

Who can resist the famed blinding-red libation made with Campari, Gin and Vermouth? The answer is: not many of us. To celebrate, here are some of the most notable places the world over where one can partake in a nice and nourishing Negroni. From the newest hotspots to old standbys, and even international legends, one can’t go wrong.

The New Class

It makes sense to kick things off with the newest kids on the block; the restaurants and watering holes where the Negronis are fresh and the views are new. Starting in Brooklyn, New York, Jr and Son, which flung open its wooden doors in May, has quickly made a name for itself thanks to its modern take on what was once an old-school neighborhood bar.

New ownership proudly honors the past, complete with the autographed pictures of Frank Sinatra and local characters that cover the walls, while bringing it into the beautiful future. In between Negronis, try their inspired cocktails (like the Red Hot Sicilian Summer made with tequila and Calabrian Chili-infused agave) and lip-smacking food like their Rainbow Cookie Cake and massive Chicken Parm. Act fast, as reservations are hard to come by since its spring opening.

Over the bridge in Manhattan, Opto has become a go-to date-spot in New York’s Flatiron neighborhood since it started welcoming customers earlier this year.

Sip your Negroni in the view of bouquets of flowers, as you feast on a menu that celebrates Mediterranean cooking including Giant Tiger Shrimp, Crispy Calamari and Macaroni di Bussa al Pomodoro made with tomatoes from Italy’s Mount Vesuvius. Aside from Negronis, an impressive wine list includes rare varieties from the likes of Sicily and its mighty Mount Etna, proving you’ll never go thirsty there.

For Los Angelenos, Settecento is an Italian oasis in the city’s otherwise sterile and urban Downtown area.

Located steps from the transportation hub Union Station, its sprawling space is set around a wrap-around bar and a patio that mimics an Italian countryside villa. The menu here boasts pizza cooked by a real Italian nonna, which hits the spot just as much as a freshly-made Negroni: an improbable feat made possible!

The Vacation Stand-Outs

Trekking from Los Angeles and heading due south in North County, San Diego lies the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, which is as close to Italy one can get without booking a flight on ITA Airways.

Its jaw-dropping property with bubbling fountains, serene pools, and lush grass mimics the Tuscan countryside so much that it’d be easy to forget you’re still stateside. The interiors are just as lush: chandeliers, cavernous halls, staircases worthy of social media stories. In other words, it’s all a perfect place to sip a Negroni; whether in the lush Lobby Lounge which turns into a weekend hotspot, or outside as you look at the Tuscan-style San Diego countryside.

Due north, the vacation destination Whistler in British Columbia Canada offers idyllic winter wonderland vibes when it’s cold thanks to its awe-inspiring peaks (dubbed Whistler and Blackcomb respectively) and drop-dead gorgeous foliage in the autumn which envelops the area in spectacular color.

Both scenarios make for the perfect backdrop to sip a Negroni, and you won’t find a better one than at Il Caminetto.

A favorite of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (the royal couple makes annual Valentine’s Day visits to the eatery) the restaurant is known for its top-shelf bar program and top-tier Italian food. In fact, it’s part of the Toptable Group which operates a large array of quality restaurants and cafes (many of them Italian) across the Pacific Northwest, as well as New York.

From the mountains to the beaches of south Florida, Palm Beach’s Polpo, at the Eau Resort and Spa, marks some of the best Italian food you can get outside of the major cities.

Accentuated by a bar made from white marble and an oak-wood top, the restaurant combines homey Northeast cooking with coastal flavors (true to its name, as Polpo translates to octopus). Wash its quality eats down with a Negroni, including meatballs made with a mixture of beef, veal and pork, as well as Swordfish Orgenata and its eponymous grilled octopus. For those in the northeast, the eatery also has a popular location in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The classics

With locations in the Big Apple, as well as Red Lodge, Montana, Piccola Cucina stands as an authentic love letter to Italy, from its Italian owners and staff to its menu and ingredients. Order a negroni over one of their famous lunch specials; look around and you’ll see a crowd of native Italians, which is as big of an endorsement as they come.

Meanwhile, Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s Bar Madonna has fast-gained a reputation as one of the most acclaimed bars in the Big Apple.

With an Italian cocktail bar menu on steroids (including their beloved Smashed Meatball Parm), the happy hour boasts a Negroni di Stagione, a variation made with mezcal and Juliette Peach.

Back in Los Angeles, the acclaimed Capri Club has become a mainstay of the LA cocktail scene, which continues a proud legacy of the original Capri Club which opened in 1963.

These days, it’s a place to see and be seen, boasting treats like crispy Polenta Sticks and garlic bread. Order a classic Negroni here, or order their inspired twist on the cocktail in the form of the delectable Frozen Negroni.

And while it may go without saying, Eataly’s various locations, from Vegas to Boston and Chicago (as well as NYC and LA), serves as the perfect place to drink a Negroni, slurp down some spaghetti and do some shopping while you’re at it. Cin-cin to that.

Other highlights:

Camparino – Milan, Italy

Located in the city’s legendary Galleria, it’s a mecca for Campari and Negronis as well as the iconic Campari Spritz.

Dante – West Village, NY

It’s been called the world’s best bar for good reason.

Dan Tana’s – Los Angeles, CA

The iconic old school Italian restaurant still draws young and old alike.

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