Bar Basso

Bar Basso is the most famous cocktail bar in Milan and a genuine landmark of the city's drinking culture, on Via Plinio in the Porta Venezia district. It is celebrated above all as the birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato — the 'mistaken Negroni' created here in the 1960s when, the story goes, sparkling wine was reached for instead of gin, producing a lighter, effervescent twist on the classic that has since gone global. Today the bar serves its signature cocktails in distinctive oversized goblet glasses that have become an icon in their own right, and the Negroni Sbagliato and the Americano remain the drinks to order. Beyond its cocktail history, Bar Basso is woven into the fabric of Milan's design and fashion world: during the Salone del Mobile design week each spring it becomes a legendary, overflowing gathering point for designers and creatives from around the world. The interior is a wonderfully preserved mid-century room, all polished surfaces and old-school service from career bartenders, and the atmosphere ranges from a relaxed early-evening aperitivo to a buzzing late-night scene. It keeps long hours, open late into the night, and prices are fair for the quality and the history. No reservations are needed for drinks at the bar, though it can become very crowded during design week and on weekend evenings. The Porta Venezia location is well served by the metro. For visitors who want to drink a piece of cocktail history — the original Negroni Sbagliato in its giant glass — in one of Milan's most storied and characterful bars, Bar Basso is an essential stop.