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Cocktail Hour: The Best Negroni In London

A cocktail that speaks to an era of low-lit speakeasies, 60s aperitivo hour spent cigar in hand and the elegant aesthetic of an Italian piazza. The Negroni is a drink as charismatic as its lineage, one even the most abstract of storytellers couldn’t have dreamt up. We owe the king of cocktails to a cowboy. Count Camillo Negrone, to be exact. This well-travelled gent pulled up a stool at Florence’s Café Casoniand the rest is history.

Soma

On Denman Street, amongst the thick of bustling Piccadilly, you will be greeted by a classic yet unassuming exterior. Beyond the discreet door, you will find Soma. The interior is fashioned with elegance and minimalism in mind. It centers around the nine-metre hand-finished stainless-steel bar that sits brazenly in the middle of the room, speaking volumes for the intentions of the basement space.

 A spin-off of contemporary Indian restaurant Kricket, Soma’s drinks offering is quite the opposite of its sleek setting. Vibrant and unexpected South Asian flavours are blended into fan favourites to creates unique, inspired cocktails. If you’re feeling adventurous, try their Gooseberry Chaat Margarita or Coconut and Jaggery Old Fashioned, or stick to a good old Negroni, it’s a cult classic for a reason.

The Coral Room

Tucked away within The Bloomsbury, in amongst the chaos of Tottenham Court Road, is an inspired ‘time-stands-still’ space curated by acclaimed designer Martin Brudnizki. Art Deco furniture and Jazz Age decor meet below lavish high ceilings amongst walls swathed in a generous drape of coral lacquer.

 This glamorous grand salon bar sets the scene for their extensive and thoughtfully-crafted seasonal drinks menu. From creative British-inspired blends to experimental concoctions, cocktails take centre stage at the Coral Room. Needless to say, its home to one of the best negronis in London.

Bar Termini

Bringing a touch of 1950s Italy to the streets of Soho, this suave speakeasy sits snug amidst the buzz of Old Compton Street. Brain child of coffee connoisseur, Marco Arrigo, and aperitivo afficionado, Tony Conigliaro, the menu is short, sweet and carefully-curated.

Caffeine hub by day and cocktail café by night, the Negroni takes center stage of the evening offerings. Blends are dreamt up by inventive mixologists in their Islington-based Drinks Factory and served up in signature Termini style. Poured in miniature custom-made glasses, cocktails are served strong and neat to ensure every element of flavor can be perfectly dissected and appreciated.

Fitz

An evening at Fitz’s is a chance to step into the decadent glamour of eras gone by. From Jazz Age disco balls to original 18th century stained-glass windows and 21st century artwork by iconic Italian muralists, the lavish interior sets the scene for an evening like no other. If the aesthetic Studio 54-meets-West-Egg setting drew you in, the drinks are sure to make you stay.

Titled 'The Theory of Colour,' their seasonal cocktail menu features fourteen distinct blends inspired by Dutch artist, Nicolaes van Verendael. The stand out, of course, is the Vesca Negroni that retains all the familiar complexities of the iconic drink, subtly elevated with coconut and rosehip.

Words by Talitha Ward