The best cocktail bars in Milan
Our guide to the best cocktails the city has to offer
Ok. Let’s do this. We’ll be honest, no matter what. It wasn’t easy to rank the best cocktail bars in Milan, but we did it. Whether you’re a traditionalist looking for the perfect Negroni or a fearless drinker eager for something new, FLAWLESS.life is here to help you find the cocktail bar that best suits your tastes and your style. So, dear friends here is the Mecca of Milanese Mixology. A definitive guide of the best cocktail bars in Milan.
Officina Milano
Via Giovenale, 7
A few steps from the waters of the Navigli and Porta Ticinese, Officina Milano welcomes its patrons in an evocative time capsule, a Milanese cocktail bar where the author’s mixology is intertwined with a refined vintage soul and cosmopolitan inspirations. Inserted among the World’s Best Bars , this sign echoing a refined New York loft reveals a large backlit counter with a rich bottle bottle, in which spirits and quality labels are the protagonists of an exceptional drink list, including Signature cocktails, international mixes and daring combinations. Be inspired by the local mixology for an unforgettable toast.
1930 Speakeasy
Secret Location
We feel bad kicking off our list with this one, but there are only a few things we can tell you about 1930 Speakeasy. All we can say is that the boys from MAG Café have created an even more exclusive, intimate outpost with knockout cocktails. Like an authentic Milanese-style Speakeasy, everyone has heard of it, but only a select few know where it is. With exclusive elegance and refinement in a location that transports you back to 1930, you can only consider yourself a real Milanese cocktail expert once you’ve managed to sneak in here. Good luck!
Moebius
Via Alfredo Cappellini, 25
If you want a venue that catalyzes the eye and captivates with its cocktails (it’s on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars), and dishes, Moebius is what you are looking for. For an aperitif or an after-dinner drink, the venue presents a constantly evolving drink list in which respect for mixing legends and inventiveness allow its barmen to reinterpret institutions such as the Negroni and the Americano by pairing them with the Rock City cocktail and the Balutin cocktail, respectively. Each drink is prepared, or perhaps we could say designed, following the seasonality of the products, however, it never lacks that original and unexpected quid. Proposals that reflect the soul of the restaurant, simple and refined. Moebius, however, is not only a cocktail bar, it is also a bistro and vinyl store, a unique place and undoubtedly one of the unmissable venues in Milan.
Camparino in Galleria
P.za del Duomo, 21
Camparino in Galleria is the venue that best interprets the most sophisticated Milanese essence and reflects the timeless elegance of a city that is fond of centuries-old tradition on the one hand, but eager for innovation on the other. During the month of December, let yourself be guided by the charm of the magical decorations in Piazza Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and enter this historic location perfect for an aperitif as the Milanese tradition commands or to sip a relaxing drink in an elegant and refined setting, amidst design elements and historic architecture right in front of the much-loved and iconic Madonnina.
Salmon Guru
Via Ezio Biondi, 4
Salmon Guru, the renowned cocktail bar founded by the famous Argentine bartender Diego Cabrera, has opened its doors in Milan, bringing with it the vibrant energy that made it famous in Madrid and Dubai. Located in the Sempione area, it stands out for its bold design, divided into four distinct spaces: the Animal Print Room, a profusion of animal patterns and fantastical creatures, featuring a central bar counter covered in iridescent scales; the iconic Comic Room, decorated with comic-inspired prints and neon lights; the Tropical Speakeasy, a sort of private lounge adorned with 1960s vinyl records; and Asian Night, which evokes oriental atmospheres. The drink menu offers both signature cocktails and mixes created especially for Milan, such as the “Spaghetti Incident”, made with vodka, sherry, celery cordial, and burrata and tomato foam. The gastronomic offering accompanying the cocktails is designed for sharing, featuring a mix of fusion and international flavors.
Mandarin Garden
Via Andegari, 9
Beating heart of Mandarin Oriental luxury hotel, Mandarin Garden is an oasis of sophistication and elegance that is unrivalled in the metropolis. A magical atmosphere hovers between the interior rooms and the lush garden of the hotel’s courtyard, which draws guests from reality to catapult them into a world where everything is granted. The backdrop to your fancy nights at Mandarin Garden will be the contemporary design of furniture and an absolute privacy, not to mention the pleasant contemporary music that will provide the ideal soundtrack of your chilled moments. The food offer is curated by double Michelin starred Antonio Guida and is accompanied by a selection of refined signature cocktails themed “around the world”, which will take you from London to San Francisco, through Suez, Hong Kong, Yokohama and many others.
Rita & Cocktails
Via A. Fumagalli, 1
A Navigli institution, Rita’s offers a spirited menu, great vibes, and Milanese style with no frills. Founded in 2002 by Edoardo Nono and Gianluca Chiaruttini, Rita & Cocktails continues to be a landmark for modern mixology in Italy and beyond. This bar satisfies its guests through simplicity, high-quality cocktails, and an eclectic cuisine with ingredients that continue to please both past and present customers for over 16 years. The signature cocktail is the GinZen, a fresh and spicy drink based on crushed ginger, lime, and gin. You have to try it at least once!
Kilburn Cocktail Bar
Via Panfilo Castaldi, 25
A proper British lounge with a Milanese soul, this cocktail bar is home to quality Mixology. Its collection of spirits boasts over 200 niche labels, including vodka, rum, whiskey, and gin in a unique taste journey through their signature cocktails. The food doesn’t trail far behind either, as their love of good food translates to their dishes and is sure to amaze you. Enjoy meats from the best local butchers at the aperitivo and dinner. Kilburn offers one of the most unique drink experiences in the city.
Baobar
Via Bartolomeo Eustachi, 24
Nella vivace via Eustachi, questo cocktail bar trasforma ogni drink in un’esperienza unica: la proposta spazia dai cocktail classici ai signature più amati, diventati ormai simbolo del locale, come il Meeting, un mix energizzante di gin, lime, ginger beer, crema di violetta, sciroppo al rosmarino e zenzero, e il Negroni Zen, un’esplosiva armonia di gin, Rabarbaro Zucca, vaniglia, Campari, ginger beer e orange bitter. Per chi desidera osare, la drink list stagionale è la scelta ideale: rinnovata ogni sei mesi, offre creazioni originali e sorprendenti che rappresentano l’anima del Baobar. L’edizione attuale, imperdibile, si ispira ai colori per regalare un’esperienza visiva e gustativa unica. L’offerta gastronomica non è da meno e combina sapori etnici con proposte come hamburger e taglieri, perfetti per l’aperitivo o una cena informale. Il tutto in un’atmosfera rilassata, animata da buona musica e un mood vivace.
MAG Cafè
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 43
Mag Cafè is not a place, but rather a state of mind. It’s much like Milan: crowded, yet offers you hidden corners of peace away from the chaos of the city. This is the kind of place where you can start a conversation just by looking at the decor, suspended in time where one goal is clear: to guarantee the best possible drink experience for the guests. The drink list changes every six months, so we advise to not postpone your next visit for long. The bar’s antique furniture was donated from an old Argentinian pharmacy. All in all, it’s just what the doctor ordered.
Milord Milano
Piazza Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Making customers feel like in their own livingroom, but served by expert bartenders until late at night: this is the philosophy of Cristian Lodi, owner of Milord. In his very unique place, tables and armchairs salvaged from antique markets show up everywhere, vintage signs and old radios open the curtain on the venue’s soul, the large and well-stocked bar where the staff prepares Milord’s elegant signature cocktails. Common denominator of all preparations is research, quality raw materials and a mix of classic and unusual ingredients, to please both eyes and taste buds. For the lovers of great classics, the venue also offers more popular cocktails such as spritz and a selection of bubbles, including some champagne labels. With its 400 square meters of space, Milord is a great candidate for your next party; what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t it be better to try it first?
Tripstillery
Piazza Alvar Aalto
Mag and kinship aficionados (Mag Navigli, Mag La Pusterla, Iter, 1930, Backdoor 43 and Mercato Centrale) here is bread for your teeth. Tripstillery is the new address in Milan signed by Flavio Angiolillo & Co., a unique and fascinating place where, in addition to sipping excellent mixology classics and always surprising signature blends, you will have the opportunity to create your own distillate. That’s right, nothing less than a miniature distillery awaits you at Tripstillery to transform yourself, for a day, into an expert distiller. If you are already familiar with the other venues of Mag Group, then you will know that there is no sace for boredom here and no end to novelty. At Tripstillery you will find attention to detail, meticulous staff training and the use of the highest quality, hand-selected and artisan-sourced raw materials.
Eppol
Via Marcello Malpighi, 7
Eppol wouldn’t feel out of place in Williamsburg or Shoreditch. With a bar that comes finished in exquisite marble and dark wood, surrounded by exposed brick and a garden wall, it’s the perfect blend of elegance and grunge. The cocktails are authentic yet brilliantly balanced, and it’s what’s inside your glass, not the glass itself or the garnish, that’s the main focus of this place.
Eppolino
Via Melzo, 28
Eppolino is the baby of the Eppol family. Small yes, but with all the potential of a “place to be” on bustling Via Melzo. Entering this little piece of Milanese Mexico is like getting lost in a short parade for Día de los Muertos: colour, cheerfulness and lots of Mexican skulls. Choose your drink from an original deck of tarot cards and rest assured, Tequila, Mezcal and all the other Mexican spirits served at the venue are of the highest quality and carefully crafted to make up surprising and unique blends. What are you waiting for? Come take a trip to Eppolino’s and discover that perhaps El Dorado is not so far away, nor is it legendary.
Pinch – Spirits & Kitchen
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 63
Another quirky vintage bar in Navigli, walking into Pinch’s parlor feels like going back in time to the golden age of the 1940s. Everything from the vintage furniture, sepia-tone photographs, and eccentric staff uniforms help to create the feeling that you’ve travelled not only back in time, but out of Navigli and into Prohibition-era America. Let the bar staff in their snazzy vests whip you up something that not only looks spectacular but will take your breath away.
Backdoor43
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 43
Another mysterious offering from the boys of MAG Cafè, Backdoor43 calls itself the smallest bar in the world. Knock on the window and Mr. V, the only Mixologist in town that wears a mask, will make you a takeaway cocktail. You can’t ask any questions, you can’t try to open the window, and you must leave once you get your cocktail. Unless, of course, you’ve managed to secure the room for two hours. Backdoor43 has room for only 4 people at a time, so choose your friends wisely!
Dhole
Via Tiraboschi, 2
A Mixology cocktail bar and restaurant with Asian influences, Dhole takes daring ingredients and flavors from the East and translates them in their drinks. Enjoy these exotic flavours and combinations from across the globe while surrounded by chic wallpaper, furniture, and soft lighting.
Iter
Via Mario Fusetti, 1
Iter is the first fusion cocktail bar in Milan by Nicola Scarnera and (again) Flavio Angiolillo & Co, with a nomadic soul that takes guests from Italy to the world. In fact, every six months, the team of chefs, bartenders, and photographers pack their suitcases and travel to another country for a week of exploring culinary cultures and traditions to reinterpret them back in Milan. The proposed menus, therefore, are a real gastronomic ‘’airport’’ full of peculiar combinations that transport you to the exotic location itself.
Nottingham Forest
Viale Piave, 1
No list of the best cocktail bars in Milan is complete without Nottingham Forest. A consistent top-dog on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars, this place is a mecca of mixology, a cathedral to the cocktail, and a bonafide laboratory of libations. Mad genius Dario Comini and his creations continuously push the envelope. Your cocktail might come served in a sneaker, a miniature bathtub, or maybe even a skull to add an eccentric twist to the classics. If you somehow manage to get a seat inside, let the bar staff surprise you.
Gramm
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 49
A cosy cocktail bar with two shop windows, a large wood and marble bar and a pleasant dehor, directly overlooking the Milanese canals. Gramm is the reign of Eda and Nicolò, professional bartenders who opened their bar in 2018 and, slowly, with passion and perseverance, are becoming one of the reference points for those who love to drink well on the Naviglio Grande. In an environment with vintage accents that recall the popular and artisanal vocation of the place where it is located, amidst lots of wood, old-fashioned globes, hot air balloons, antique paintings, pianos and abat jour, the large gramophone that gives the place its name stands out. Here, of course, you can find all classic cocktails, but also creative reinterpretations, such as the Gramm Spritz, with a mandarin liqueur; but the creativity of the owners is best expressed in the drink list, which changes seasonally, with ever-changing inspirations, recipes and suggestions.
Bar Basso
Via Plinio, 39
2016 was a rough year. We lost some incredible pioneers in art, music, literature, and mixology. Bar Basso’s chief barman, Mirko Stocchetto, may have left us in November, but his world-famous concoction, the Negroni Sbagliato, lives on. Rumor has it that Stocchetto accidentally mixed prosecco in a Negroni instead of gin, but when he tasted it, he realised he was onto something. Stocchetto started serving his Negroni Sbagliato made to order with a single large ice cube in a tall glass in Venice. Order two Sbagliati: one for yourself and one for Mirko.
