While we’re not huge fans of arbitrary national days and weeks here at dealchecker HQ, we are huge fans of a negroni and so National Negroni Week is something that we’re more than happy to get on board with. The week runs from the 18th to the 24th September, and sees bars across the capital (and indeed the world) serving up discounted cocktails for us negroni lovers.
The Drink Itself
It’s short, it’s boozy and it will make you look like you really know your cocktails: the negroni has exploded in popularity in recent years and these are just a few of the reasons why. For those who’ve never had one before, it’s worth noting that the jewel-like colour belies a bitter note than can be an acquired taste, but we think it’s a great accompaniment for evenings spent at a leisurely pace, enjoyed one sip at a time.
The Recipe for (Drink) Success
Ingredients:
25ml gin
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
Ice
An orange slice
The method:
This is incredibly simple. You just combine the first four ingredients, and garnish with a slice of orange. Anyone can look like a cocktail connoisseur here!
The Origins
Rumour has it that the negroni was born in 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni switched the soda in his Americano, at the Caffè Casoni in Florence, for gin. The Negroni family loved the tipple so much that they launched their own bottled ready-to-drink version, and the rest is history!
The Best Spots for a Negroni in the Capital
Whether you’re a classicist or a fan of something a little more unusual, there are bars aplenty in London serving up the negroni for you. We’ve rounded up five of our very favourites (but it’s worth noting that any bar worth its salt should serve a good negroni, so head down to your local hotspots and ask for one there too).
5. Hawksmoor, Multiple Locations
This group of steak restaurants is a favourite with those looking for a sexy dinner date in dimly lit, wood-panelled surrounds. While they serve a very good classic, it was the sour cherry version that took our fancy on a recent visit to the Seven Dials restaurant.
4. The Coral Room, Bloomsbury
We’re big fans of asking would-be dates for cocktail bar recommendations, and the Coral Room in The Bloomsbury Hotel was one of these such recommendations. In fact, the would-be date in question said it was the best negroni they’d ever had. You’ll find decadent coral-hued surrounds so don your glad rags and head their with your hottest crush.
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3. Bar Termini, Soho
For an experience as close to the one that Negroni himself would have enjoyed in Florence, head to the tiny Bar Termini in Soho. This petite spot advertises itself as selling coffees, negronis, and cocktails, and so it’s a tipple that they take seriously. The staff wear white jackets, always, lending an air of old-school glamour to the establishment.
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2. Padella, Multiple Locations
Drinking in London can be an incredibly bank-denting experience, however London’s favourite pasta spot is trying to change that. They are currently offering £2 negronis with any pasta dish purchased between 5pm and 6:30pm at their Shoreditch branch. What are you waiting for?
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1. Forza Wine, Peckham
For a negroni with a view, look no further than Peckham’s Forza Wine. While their kitchen serves up delectable small plates, it’s fair to say that the cocktails here are equally important (if not more so). You’ll find the classic version here, as well as the now infamous negroni sbagliato and a sour cherry take on the classic. Head up here at sunset for the moodiest and most atmospheric of tipples.
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