Italy gave the world the Negroni, the Bellini, the Negroni Sbagliato, the Aperol Spritz, and the very concept of aperitivo. The 10 below run from where these drinks were invented — Bar Basso (Negroni Sbagliato, 1972), Harry's Bar Venice (Bellini, 1948), Camparino in Galleria (Negroni, debated) — to the modern Italian cocktail revival led by Drink Kong, Locale Firenze, and Mag Café. Rome and Milan lead the field, but Florence, Venice, and Naples all add weight.
The 10 best bars in Italy
01 · Rome
Rome (Centro Storico)
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Iconic · Italy's first speakeasy
Italy's first speakeasy — password required.
Order: A precise Sazerac
02 · Rome
Rome (Monti)
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World #11 · Cyberpunk
Patrick Pistolesi's Blade Runner-themed Monti bar.
Order: Penicillin Tokyo
03 · Milan
Milan (Galleria)
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Iconic 1915 · Galleria
Iconic 1915 Galleria bar — invented the Negroni Sbagliato here.
Order: A Negroni Sbagliato
04 · Florence
Florence (Piazza della Signoria)
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Iconic 1872
Iconic 1872 Piazza della Signoria caffè-bar.
Order: A Negroni and the chocolate cake
05 · Venice
Venice (San Marco)
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Iconic 1931 · Bellini
Iconic 1931 Venice bar — invented the Bellini.
Order: A Bellini, the original
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06 · Milan
Milan (Loreto)
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Iconic 1947 · Negroni Sbagliato
Iconic 1947 Loreto bar — invented the Negroni Sbagliato.
Order: A Negroni Sbagliato in a goblet
07 · Florence
Florence (Centro Storico)
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Iconic · Modern
Iconic Centro Storico modern cocktail bar in a 13th-century palazzo.
Order: A bartender's signature
08 · Rome
Rome (Trastevere)
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Iconic · Aperitivo
Iconic Trastevere bar in a former mechanic's workshop.
Order: A classic Negroni
09 · Naples
Naples (Chiaia)
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Iconic · Speakeasy
Iconic Chiaia hidden cocktail speakeasy.
Order: A precise Manhattan
10 · Milan
Milan (Navigli)
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Iconic · Cocktails
Iconic Navigli cocktail bar.
Order: A bartender's signature
The full guide, city by city
Each entry below is a deep dive into the best 10 bars in that city — picked by editors who live there.
Browse the full Italy bar indexBars by Italian city — every featured venue has a profile.
See the full list
What makes a great Italian bar
Forget Aperol Spritz. The best Italian bars work because they treat the drink with the seriousness it deserves — Bar Basso pours its Negroni Sbagliato in a goblet, Harry's Bar serves its Bellini at table-side, Drink Kong reinvents the entire form. The 10 above all do that. Pick the city that matches the night you want.
