Negronis are on the menu everywhere at the moment – they are refreshing, sophisticated and remind us of summer – here are our 10 favourite places to enjoy a negroni in London
In 2017 we saw aperitifs appear on menus everywhere, and in 2018 they are firmly here to stay. What is it that makes the Negroni, the Italian pre-dinner cocktail, so popular? It might be the sophistication of enjoying a drink designed to prepare the palate for the flavours of a meal to come, the refreshing bittersweet taste of Campari, or simply that they remind us of summer. Whatever it is, these are our favourite places to enjoy a Negroni in London.
The Unusual Negroni: CircusXO
If you’re in the mood for something a little different the velvet negroni at CircusXO is made of figs, sherry and cinnamon, and has a silky texture. The cocktail menu at CircusXO is named liquid cuisine – a reflection of their adventurous and foodie approach to cocktail making.
£16; streetxo.com
The Smoky Negroni: Coal Rooms
Head down to Coal Rooms in Peckham if the idea of a smoky negroni takes your fancy. Coal rooms is the latest funky restaurant and bar in the former Peckham Rye train station ticket office. They specialise in great drinks and meat heavy dishes.
Cocktails from £7.30, coalroomspeckham.com
The Negroni on Tap: Butchies
For those times when just one Negroni isn’t enough – head down to Butchies in East London for Negronis on tap. Butchies is a New York inspired fried chicken joint that also offers cracking cocktails.
Cocktails from £7, butchies.co.uk
The Take-Away Negroni: Ichibuns
The smoked whisky negroni at Ichibuns comes in a ‘pop-and-go’ cup so you can take it away and sip on the go. The Negroni is made of Hakushu Distiller’s reserve whisky, Belsazar sweet vermouth, Campari, and has apple wood smoke pumped in – delicious!
£8, ichibuns.com
The Japanese Negroni: Nobu
For a classic aperitif with a Japanese twist, order the Oni negroni at the Lobby Lounge, Nobu Hotel Shoreditch. The Campari is swapped for Aperol and a splash of Onigoroshi sake, to give a slightly lighter drink, with undertones of lychee and a creamy aftertaste.
The Vintage Negroni: The Devils Daring
At The Devils Daring you could enjoy a Negroni made with a 1950s bottle of Gordon’s gin. The classic cocktail bar situated in the unique Napoleon Hotel has a collection of vintage spirits and will happily make any cocktail on request.
Cocktails from £9, napoleon-hotel.com
The Carnivore’s Negroni: Super Lyan
The underground basement bar from the multi-award winning bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana serves a Bloodshot Negroni with the addition of beef tea. The beef tea is produced by boiling down bones to give the Negroni a minerality, richness and bittersweet taste.
£9, superlyan.com
The Classic Negroni: Swift
Swift is the multi-award winning bar on Old Compton Street, serving classic cocktails over two floors. The upstairs is an aperitif style bar for those looking for a light drink and don’t have a booking. On Friday and Saturday nights, the downstairs becomes a dark and cosy, jazz and whisky den.
Cocktails from £7, barswift.com
The Real Italian Negronis: Sartoria
Sartoria’s Libare bar is an Italian style cocktail bar and the only bar on stylish Savile Row. It has a large aperitivo and digestivo emphasis, and the Negroni offering includes a classic variety, a Negroni with Prosecco, a light option with rosé vermouth, and a vintage Negroni with 1980’s gin, Campari and Carpano punt e mes.
Negronis from £10, sartoria-restaurant.co.uk
The Charitable Negronis: The Drunken Oyster
Hai Cenato’s The Drunken Oyster has a menu dedicated to the Negroni. On the creative menu is is a classic Negroni, an off-white made with Martini Bianco and green Chartreuse, a dark roast with coffee liqueur and walnut wine, a sloe Negroni with sloe gin, and the Negroni of the month which is currently a warm, spiced winter negroni, that donates £1 per cocktail to the Hospitality Action Charity.
Negronis from £9, haicenato.co.uk
