Milan invented aperitivo. Bar Basso invented the Negroni Sbagliato in 1972. Nottingham Forest has been making modernist tropical drinks since 1981. The 10 below are the technical references for Italian cocktailing — more polished than Rome's, more design-led than any other Italian city's.
Part of our 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
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The 10 best cocktail bars in Milan
01 · Milan
Loreto
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1947 · Aperitivo institution
Operating since 1947. Mirko Stocchetto's room invented the Negroni Sbagliato in 1972.
Order: Negroni Sbagliato (where it was invented)
02 · Milan
Loreto
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Tropical · Modernist
Dario Comini's room opened in 1981. Modernist tropical drinks before the term existed. World's 50 Best veteran.
Order: Whatever's the season's modernist tropical spec
03 · Milan
Brera
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Speakeasy · Reservations
Hidden speakeasy in Brera. Reservation-only. Pre-Prohibition American cocktails done by an Italian team.
Order: A Sazerac
04 · Milan
Navigli
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Vintage · Cocktails
On the Navigli canal. Vintage furniture, classic cocktails done right. The most photographed bar on the canal.
Order: A perfect Manhattan + canal-side seat
05 · Milan
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
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1915 · Campari home
Operating in the Galleria since 1915. The original home of Campari. Restored in 2019; serious cocktail program.
Order: A Campari Spritz at the home of Campari
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06 · Milan
Centro
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Futurist art · Cocktails
Futurist art-themed bar. Drinks themed around the Futurist art movement.
Order: A Futurist-themed signature
07 · Milan
Isola
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Garden · Late-night
Isola neighbourhood favourite. Garden seating, mid-week DJ programming, drinks built around classic Italian liqueurs.
Order: An Aperol Spritz in the garden
08 · Milan
Brera
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Pizza + cocktails
Pizza restaurant + cocktail bar in one room. The cocktails punch above the pizza-place expectation.
Order: A signature Italian-spirit cocktail + a Margherita
09 · Milan
Navigli
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World's smallest bar · 1.5 sq m
Officially the world's smallest cocktail bar. 1.5 square metres. Reservations recommended for the experience alone.
Order: Whatever they can fit in the bar
10 · Milan
Navigli
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Modern · Counter
Modern Navigli cocktail counter bar. Younger crowd than Bar Basso, modern Italian-spirit-led drinks.
Order: A drink built around their seasonal Italian amaro
More Milan cocktail barsThe full Milan cocktail-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Milan exports cocktail thinking
Milan exports its drinking ideas worldwide — the Spritz, the Negroni Sbagliato, the modern aperitivo format all came from this city. The 10 above are where those traditions are at their best in 2026. Bar Basso and Nottingham Forest are essential historical context; 1930 and Mag Café are the modern reference. Most peak between 8 and 10 PM (aperitivo) and again midnight to 2 AM.
