Top 10 Negroni spots in London

As the Campari Red Night District takes over London’s Shoreditch, we round up the best Negroni cocktail twists on offer at 10 top bars.

A classic Negroni

Until 10 June, a selection of Shoreditch bars will band together to form a pop-up Campari Red Night District, each offering a bespoke twist on the Negroni to celebrate the cocktail.

From coffee, Sherry and chocolate, no twist is off the menu, resulting in an innovative lineup of Negroni twists cocktails.

A classic Negroni is made from one part gin, one part vermouth rosso and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel. Its invention is most commonly attributed to the wealthy Florentine Count Camillo Negroni, who in 1919 asked his bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to add gin, rather than soda water, to his Americano cocktail.

Guests to the Campari Red Night District will also be invited to two art exhibitions showcasing the brand’s iconic artwork.

Click through for a roundup of some of the bars taking part and their Negroni cocktail twists…

Campari Red Night District (The Hoxton Gallery) – “The Negroni”

• Campari
• Cinzano Rosso
• East London Gin

Taking inspiration from the most iconic Campari artworks that built the the brand, the Campari Red Night District is inviting guests to The Hoxton Gallery to explore its Italian sophistication and style through a creative installation curated by East London art collective Moniker Projects. Art and cocktail enthusiasts are invited to sample its signature serve Campari & Tonic and explore the installation, before completing their rediscovery with a Negroni.

The Hoxton Gallery, 9 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AA

JAGUARSHOES BAR – “The Shoreditch Negroni”

• Campari
• Gin
• Coffee Syrup
• Beaver Town Bloody ‘Ell Orange Beer
• Drop of rosewater

Jaguarshoes believes that “making something, makes you happy”. They create unique exhibitions, within a constantly evolving, venue where people who share that belief can relax and have a great time in good company. This month’s interior is entitled ‘Infinite Sunset’ inspired by the red hue and intense flavour of Campari.

Its name comes from the 1980’s Bag and Shoe wholesalers that once occupied its building, whose signage still adorns the shop front. In a time before bars and art galleries, this was the primary industry in Shoreditch.

Jaguarshoes Bar, 32-34 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DA

Portside Parlour – “Taking the Pisco”

• Pisco
• Campari
• Sweet Vermouth
• Pedro Ximenez Sherry
• Crème de Cacoa
• Orange Bitters
• Garnished with dehydrated blood orange.

Portside Parlour is a small, independent cocktail and tapas bar on Rivington Street with a penchant for rum and other discernible spirits. “Taking the Pisco” is a variation on the classic Negroni made with the Peruvian white spirit Pisco, a dash of Cacao Blanc and Pedro Ximenez Sherry to round it out and add depth.

Portside Parlour, 14 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DU

Looking Glass Cocktail Club – “Perfect Negroni”

• Campari
• Cinzano Bianco
• Red wine reduction with juniper and coriander
• Absinthe rinse
• Garnished with a pink grapefruit zest.

The Looking Glass Cocktail Club claims to live and breathe “everything weird and wonderful”, incorporating childlike creativity and imagination into everything that they do.

Its bespoke serve, “The Perfect Negroni”, is made with a double shot of Campari complemented by a sweet Italian red wine reduction infused with traditional gin botanicals, and balanced by the fresh yet dry Cinzano Bianco vermouth. In the name of adventure, the flavours are then harmonised with a kick of absinthe and garnished with pink grapefruit twist.

Looking Glass Cocktail Club, 49 Hackney Road, Hackney, London E2 7NX

Callooh Callay – “Nocho Average Negroni”

• Tequila
• Campari
• Porter “Vermouth”
• Garnished with orange and chocalate

Founded six years ago, Callooh Callay was one of the first real cocktail bars in Shoreditch and continues to deliver inventive drinks, great food and good times.

Calooh Callay, 65 Rivington St, London EC2A 3AY

NOLA – “Boulevardier”

• As an American Whiskey specialist NOLA will offer the classic American Whiskey Negroni Twist
• Bourbon
• Campari
• Sweet Vermouth

NOLA is a Shoreditch-based cocktail bar, inspired by the culture and rich history of New Orleans. With a soundtrack of blues and jazz, a cigar terrace and drinks list that gives more than a small nod towards the Crescent City, NOLA is a bar that believes drinking should be fun. The cocktail list offers classic New Orleans cocktails such as the Sazerac, Grasshopper and Ramos Gin Fizz, as well as drinks created by bartenders currently working in the city, and signature serves inspired by the Big Easy.

As a Negroni twist, the team chose the Boulevardier cocktail, which is essentially a bourbon Negroni served in a coupe glass with an orange zest.

NOLA, 68 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3AY

White Lyan – “Layered Negroni”

• Mr Lyan Gin
• Vermouths
• Campari
• Layered Zest Burnt

White Lyan (named World’s Best New Cocktail Bar in 2014) is cocktail bar that takes a considered approach to every element of a drink, creating flavours in-house where ever possible, and eschewing large elements of what is considered the norm for most bars, including that fact no ice or citrus is used in any of its drinks.

White Lyan, 153-155 Hoxton Street, London N1 6PJ

Jones Family Project – “Dazed & Coff-used”

• Mezcal
• Coffee infused Campari
• House blend of Vermouths and Cynar

Jones’ ethos is simple; it is out to ensure that everyone who steps through its door enjoys sumptuous food and drink in a warm and accommodating atmosphere.

The “Dazed and Coff-used” at The Jones Family Project is a smokey and chocolaty twist on a classic Negroni. Made with coffee-infused Campari, Jones oak-aged house blend of vermouths, Sombra Mezcal and Cynar, it is described by the bar as a “slightly decadent but rather sophisticated option”.

Jones Family Project, 78 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3JL

The Happiness Forgets – “Roxanne Negroni”

• El Dorado 12 rum
• Campari
• Sweet Vermouth
• Cynar

Happiness Forgets is a nocturnal subterranean basement bar in Hoxton Square famous for its atmosphere, attitude and worldly cocktail menu.

The Roxanne Negroni, named after the Police song, is crafted with 12-year-old El Dorado, sweet vermouth, Campari, Cynar and garnished with an aromatic orange twist.

Happiness Forgets, 8-9 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU

The 100 Hoxton – “Mezcal Negroni”

• Campari,
• Belsazar dry vermouth
• Antica formula
• Los dans antes mescal
• Dash peychauds

The 100 Hoxton’s Mezcal Negroni is made with Campari, Antica Formula and Belthezar dry, muddled together to create a delicious smokey twist on the classic Negroni.

The 100 Hoxton 100-102 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SG