By: Sarah Finkel By: Sarah Finkel | September 10, 2024 | Food & Drink, drink, Guides, Cocktails,
You can never go wrong with a well-executed negroni. To find the best in the city, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites that satisfy at any given moment.
Sweet Liberty’s Banana Negroni offers a unique sin on the cocktail. PHOTO BY MICHAEL PISARRI
The Negroni is a liquid concoction of Italian sophistication. Some might say only the mature drinker can appreciate the bitter tang of this fashionable aperitif. Consisting of equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, the Negroni embodies serious elegance in an old-fashioned glass. This classy cocktail should be sipped and savored for peak enjoyment before or after dinner, preferably while dressed in chic Italian linen. Now that you’re longing for a Negroni, look no further than these popular bars for the best negronis in Miami.
ViceVersa Miami
398 NE 5th St,. Miami @viceversamiami
Miami’s newest Italian aperitivo bar showcases a distinct Miami influence created by the talented team behind Jaguar Sun and bartender Valentino Longo. Embodying Italy’s effortlessly cool nature, ViceVersa’s cocktail menu offers a modern take on Italian cocktails. With 14 options divided into three categories: The Negroni Family, Martinis and Signature Cocktails, you cannot go wrong with The Negroni Family.
Lost Boy
157 E Flagler St., Miami, @lostboydrygoods
Lost Boy Dry Goods is your true neighborhood bar that mixes its cocktails the classic way, yet with a dash of spice. Drawing from its downtown roots, Lost Boy is a soulful hangout spot with a pool table, an old piano and plenty of wood to go around—a welcome respite from the club-centric surrounding area. The mezcal negroni is the real star here, a well-balanced solution of strong and sweet, bitter and smokey. Instead of straight Campari, they use a house aperitif blend paired with lo-fi sweet vermouth and hopped grapefruit.
Negroni Midtown
3201 Buena Vista Blvd., Miami, @negronimidtown
It’s only logical that a place with “Negroni” in its name would make the Negroni hit list. This Latin American hospitality brand has dubbed the Negroni as cocktail royalty (rightfully so), creating an entire restaurant concept around the stylish bright orange drink. Their signature is the Negroni Sour, made of Campari, Bulldog gin, Cinzano Rosso, grapefruit cordial, lemon juice, aquafaba, and Angostura bitters. The aquafaba makes for a nice frothy texture, hence the play on a Whiskey Sour. If the foam addition has you less than thrilled, worry not—you can always order an equally fabulous standard Negroni or one of their white Negroni concoctions for a lighter alternative.
For classically elegant drinks executed to perfection, head to the Champagne Bar at Four Seasons The Surf Club and savor their classic Negroni. PHOTO COURTESY OF FOUR SEASONS HOTEL AT THE SURF CLUB
The Sylvester
3456 N Miami Ave., Miami, @thesylvesterbar
Brought to you by the same team behind Beaker & Gray, The Sylvester is a fun-loving lounge with flamingo wallpaper and velvet couches, hinting at traces of Central Perk from Friends. It’s the place you go to get comfy and cozy with your crew while kicking back with a few excellent cocktails. It’s no surprise the rum negroni makes another appearance here, except this time with Santa Teresa 1796, a bold Venezuelan rum distilled from molasses with a slightly bitter, slightly sweet tang.
The ScapeGoat
100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, @scapegoatmiami
Escape to Negroni heaven at The ScapeGoat, an Ariete Hospitality Group establishment. It’s a lively, dimly-lit bar tucked away on a side street in the South of Fifth neighborhood. Be warned, it can get quite noisy, but the energy is unmatched. The traditional negroni recipe is the move here and hits just right, as will any of the cocktails in their selection. Come here for your pre-dinner negroni fix while you wait for your table at a South of Fifth hot spot.
Torno Subito
200 E Flagler St., Miami, @tornosubitomia
Serving as chef Massimo Bottura’s first solo U.S. venture, Miami’s new Italian spot offers charm and decadent cocktails in spades. Bringing the Italian Riviera to the Magic City, guests cannot go wrong with the extensive cocktail list, curated in collaboration with 2019’s World’s Best Bar, Dante.
Margot Natural Wine Bar
21 SE 2nd Ave., Miami, @margotnaturalwine
Natural wines and low-ABV drinks are currently trending, so it makes sense that our favorite Bar Lab duo (behind the legendary Broken Shaker) would add Margot to the ever-evolving Miami bar scene. What do you get when you mix natural wine with fortified wine? The Ingraham Draft Negroni is a low-ABV cocktail made of natural red wine, BroVo Jammy Sweet Vermouth, and Cappelletti, a sweeter version of Campari.
Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co.
237 20th St. Suite B, Miami Beach, @sweetlibertymia
Sweet Liberty is a straight-up South Beach classic without the South Beach drawbacks. It’s impossible not to have a fun time when entering its doors, a mood set by the pink neon sign reading “Pursue Happiness.” It’s hip. It’s creative. It’s wild. We’re also talking about the Banana Negroni, their take on the queen aperitif—a whiskey, Campari, and vermouth combo stirred with banana, Szechuan pepper, sesame oil, chocolate bitters and smoke.
Champagne Bar
9011 Collins Ave., Surfside, @champagnebaratthesurfclub
It’s hard to come by a classier haunt than Champagne Bar at Four Seasons the Surf Club, known for offering the largest selection of Champagne in Miami. Prop yourself on one of the plush bar stools lining the emerald horseshoe bar and embrace the it-girl status you’ve now successfully claimed. Naturally, you’re sipping on a negroni, beautifully executed in true coastal Italian style, thanks to Bar Manager Ashish Sharma. This is luxury living at its finest, and it feels oh-so-good.
Photography by: Photo By: Michael Pisarri