Top Bars in Italy

Locale Firenze ★ 4.8 · Florence

centro-storico · Via delle Seggiole 12R, 50122 Firenze

Locale Firenze in Florence's Centro Storico runs the cocktail bar inside the 13th-century Palazzo delle Seggiole, with the Smoked Negroni, a daily-changing.

Tip: Open daily 18:00-02:00. Book the front-courtyard table for the Renaissance loggia view.

MAG Cafe ★ 4.8 · Milan

navigli · Ripa di Porta Ticinese 43, 20143 Milano

MAG Cafe at the Naviglio Grande has shaped Milan's cocktail scene since 2011, the bar with the antique Argentine pharmacy counter where Flavio Angiolillo.

L'Ebbrezza di Noe ★ 4.8 · Naples

chiaia · Vico Vetriera a Chiaia 9, 80132 Napoli

L'Ebbrezza di Noe in Naples' Chiaia pours natural wines from 400 Italian and Campanian growers plus a modest cocktail list, the city's strongest cellar.

Tip: Closed Sunday. Book a fortnight ahead for the cellar room; cheese boards run 16 euros.

Atrium Bar at Four Seasons ★ 4.7 · Florence

santa-maria-novella · Borgo Pinti 99, 50121 Firenze

Atrium Bar at Florence's Four Seasons Hotel sits inside the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca cloister, with a Negroni programme by Edoardo Sandri.

Tip: Open daily 11:00 to midnight. The 15th-century cloister courtyard seats 60 in summer.

Ceresio 7 American Bar ★ 4.7 · Milan

isola · Via Ceresio 7, 20154 Milano

Ceresio 7 American Bar on the 4th floor of the Dsquared2 building runs two outdoor pools and a 360-degree skyline terrace. Located in Isola.

Bocum Mixology ★ 4.7 · Palermo

vucciria · Via Cassari 2-4, 90133 Palermo

Bocum Mixology on Via dei Cassari in Palermo's Vucciria is the city's senior cocktail bar, Gambero Rosso's Sicily benchmark, deep Sicilian-spirits list.

Tip: Aperitivo from 18:00. Frangiflutti is the house cocktail; the upstairs lounge is the seat to book.

Antica Bottega del Vino (bar) ★ 4.7 · Verona

Vicolo Scudo di Francia 3, 37121 Verona

Antica Bottega del Vino has run Verona's reference wine-only standing counter since 1890, with 4,500 labels on the back bar. A 2026 editor pick.

Tip: Stand at the marble bar for the €3 to 8 ombra circuit; sit for the full dinner kitchen with Veronese plates.

Antica Bottega del Vino (banco) ★ 4.7 · Verona

Vicolo Scudo di Francia 3, 37121 Verona

Antica Bottega del Vino's marble standing counter in Verona pours the city's reference ombra circuit since 1890, 4,500 labels on the back-bar.

Tip: Stand at the marble bar for the €3 to €8 ombra circuit; sit for the full dinner kitchen later in the evening.

Manifattura ★ 4.6 · Florence

centro-storico · Piazza di San Pancrazio 1R, 50123 Firenze

Manifattura in Florence's San Pancrazio square is the all-Italian-spirits cocktail bar, every bottle from an Italian producer, every drink a riff.

Tip: Open 18:00-02:00 daily. The 30-seat counter is the seat to book a fortnight ahead.

Nottingham Forest ★ 4.6 · Milan

porta-venezia · Viale Piave 1, 20129 Milano

Nottingham Forest on Viale Piave is the city's longest-running experimental cocktail bar, open since 1986 in the same room. Located in Porta Venezia.

Barril ★ 4.6 · Naples

chiaia · Via Giuseppe Fiorelli 11, 80121 Napoli

Barril in Naples' Chiaia is the cocktail-and-wine bar with a daily-changing small-plates carte and an Aperol-cetriolo spritz as house signature.

Tip: Open daily; the late-night kitchen runs to 01:00. Cocktails 12 euros, wine by the glass from 6 euros.

Drink Kong ★ 4.6 · Rome

monti · Piazza di San Martino ai Monti 8, 00184 Roma

Patrick Pistolesi's Drink Kong in Rome's Monti district is the Tokyo-style cocktail bar with signature highballs, the city's strongest cocktail list.

Tip: Open daily 19:00-04:00. Book the cocktail bar four days ahead; ramen kitchen runs from 22:00.

Bar Cavour ★ 4.6 · Turin

centro-storico · Piazza Carignano 2, 10123 Torino

Bar Cavour on the upper floor of Del Cambio in Turin pours a Negroni and an aperitivo in dark teal-and-velvet rooms. Listed on the 50 Best Discovery list.

Nu Lounge Bar ★ 4.5 · Bologna

Via de' Musei 6, 40124 Bologna BO

Nu Lounge Bar in Bologna's Centro Storico is the city's pioneering tiki cocktail bar from Daniele Dalla Pola, with a daily-changing tiki carte and the long.

Tip: Walk-in works; the late-night standing crowd takes over after 22:30. The Mai Tai and the Bolognesi-edition tiki cocktails are the order.

Donkey Speakeasy ★ 4.5 · Bologna

Vicolo Broglio 1/F, 40125 Bologna BO

Donkey Speakeasy in Bologna's Centro Storico on the second floor of a dark alley near the Two Towers is the reservation-only speakeasy with the monthly.

Tip: Book via WhatsApp +39 349 1384953; entry is by password supplied with the booking and the room runs late, Sundays open until 04:00.

Ditta Artigianale Oltrarno ★ 4.5 · Florence

oltrarno · Via dello Sprone 5r, 50125 Firenze

Ditta Artigianale Oltrarno in Florence's San Frediano runs a hybrid coffee-and-cocktail bar programme, with espresso-martini riffs by Francesco Sanapo's team.

Tip: Open daily 08:00 to midnight. The cocktail programme runs from 19:00; aperitivo crowd takes the standing area.

Rita and Cocktails ★ 4.5 · Milan

navigli · Via Angelo Fumagalli 1, 20143 Milano

Rita at Via Fumagalli in Navigli was a pioneer of the fresh-ingredient cocktail in Milan when it opened in 2002. Open mon-sat 18:30-02:00, closed sun.

The Jerry Thomas Project ★ 4.5 · Rome

centro-storico · Vicolo Cellini 30, 00186 Roma

The Jerry Thomas Project in Rome's Centro Storico is the city's original speakeasy, with a 1930s-era classic cocktail carte and a daily password posted.

Tip: Members or guests; check the daily password on the website. Book a fortnight ahead.

Court ★ 4.5 · Rome

celio · Via Labicana 125, 00184 Roma

Court at Palazzo Manfredi in Rome is the rooftop cocktail bar with a direct view of the Colosseum from every seat, the signature classic-cocktail carte.

Tip: Open daily 18:00-24:00. Book the rooftop terrace four weeks ahead; sunset slots sell out first.

Affini ★ 4.5 · Turin

san-salvario · Via Belfiore 16/C, 10125 Torino

Affini in Turin's San Salvario is a modern vermouth bar making its own bitters and house vermouth. Aperitivo plates, late crowds, low-light Liberty wood.

Experimental Cocktail Club Venice ★ 4.5 · Venice

Sestiere Dorsoduro 1411, 30123 Venezia

Experimental Cocktail Club in Il Palazzo Experimental in Venice's Dorsoduro on the Zattere is the modern cocktail room with Cristina Celestino interiors.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The signature menu refresh hit June 2025; ask for the seasonal flight. The back garden bar runs in summer.

Il Mercante ★ 4.5 · Venice

Fondamenta dei Frari 2564, 30125 Venezia

Il Mercante in Venice's San Polo near the Frari basilica is the speakeasy-style cocktail bar with seasonal themed menus, the city's modern cocktail benchmark.

Tip: Bookings via Resy. The seasonal menu refreshes four times a year; the spice-trade-themed pours are the move.

Altro? ★ 4.5 · Verona

Vicolo Cieco San Pietro Incarnario 9, 37121 Verona

Altro? in Verona is the unmarked speakeasy off Via San Mamaso, dim lighting and plush seating with a cocktail programme of original house builds.

Tip: The unmarked door is at the alley end; ring the bell and wait. Cocktails €12 to 16; cash and card both work.

Caffe Gilli ★ 4.4 · Florence

centro-storico · Via Roma 1r, 50123 Firenze

Caffe Gilli in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica pours aperitivi at the marble counter since 1733, with a strong Negroni programme (the Negroni was invented.

Tip: Counter pricing is half of table. Open daily until midnight.

Il Santino ★ 4.4 · Florence

oltrarno · Via di Santo Spirito 60r, 50125 Firenze

Il Santino in Florence's Oltrarno is the standing wine-bar annex of Il Santo Bevitore, with a 200-bottle natural-wine list, salumi flights and a 12-seat.

Tip: Open daily; first-come standing room only. The bigger restaurant next door takes bookings.

Gran Caffè Gambrinus ★ 4.4 · Naples

toledo · Via Chiaia 1/2, 80132 Napoli

Gran Caffè Gambrinus on Piazza Trieste e Trento in Naples (1860) is the city's most-storied cafe-bar with a marble counter aperitivo, Aperol spritz.

Tip: Standing counter prices are one-third of the seated terrace. The terrace gets the Piazza del Plebiscito view.

Botteghe Colletti ★ 4.4 · Palermo

vucciria · Via Alessandro Paternostro 77, 90133 Palermo

Botteghe Colletti on Via Alessandro Paternostro in Palermo's Vucciria runs a small-room natural-wine bar with a Sicilian-only list. Booking recommended.

Tip: Closed Monday. The fortnightly winemaker visits are worth the seat; check Instagram for the calendar.

Antico Caffe Spinnato ★ 4.4 · Palermo

politeama · Via Principe di Belmonte 107, 90139 Palermo

Antico Caffe Spinnato's pedestrian terrace on Via Principe di Belmonte in Palermo's Politeama is the city's senior cafe-bar for aperitivo, drawing the local.

Tip: The pedestrian terrace fills first in summer. Aperol spritz and Sicilian wines by the glass.

Stravinskij Bar at Hotel de Russie ★ 4.4 · Rome

centro-storico · Via del Babuino 9, 00187 Roma

Stravinskij Bar in Rome's Hotel de Russie is the courtyard cocktail bar with the city's most pleasing summer garden, the classic-cocktail carte.

Tip: Open daily 11:00-02:00. Book the garden seats two weeks ahead from May to September.