Bar Basso

"Open for: Lunch, aperitivo, and dinner Price range: $$ Anyone who’s enjoyed an aperitivo lately can thank Bar Basso, an institution that helped expand quality predinner cocktails beyond the walls of sophisticated international hotels. In 1967, Mirko Stocchetto, a barman who had worked at Harry’s Bar in Venice, took over the space, at that time a neighborhood haunt. A year later, while preparing a Negroni, he accidentally swapped gin with prosecco, unintentionally creating the Negroni sbagliato (literally “wrong”), which soon became a classic cocktail and symbol of Milanese hedonism. Bar Basso remains popular with the art and fashion crowd (especially during fashion week and design week), as well as with local retirees enjoying a predinner drink. Vibe check: There’s excellent people watching from the outdoor tables, if you arrive early enough to snag one." - Elizabeth De Filippo-Jones

"Every Italian has their bar, and Bar Basso is the quintessential Milanese spot for aperitivo al banco any time of day. In the morning, locals shuffle in and out for coffee, and as the day passes, a younger mix of visitors joins the scene, gathering in groups at the tables outside (the crowd multiplies during Fashion and Design weeks). Bar Basso is famous as the birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato—a “mistaken” twist on the classic Negroni, swapping out gin for prosecco to create a more boozy version of a Campari spritz. Be sure to order it in their signature, retro oversized glassware, a nod to the bar’s legacy." - Elizabeth De Filippo-Jones

"A historic bar known for its design flair and as the birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato." - The MICHELIN Guide

"A Negroni Sbagliato translates into a “mistaken” Negroni. According to mixology lore, it all started out in 1972 when the bartender Mirko Stocchetto at Bar Basso in Milan mistakenly poured sparkling wine instead of the gin into the drink he was preparing for a customer. Stocchetto realized his mistake, but the results were so delicious, he decided to run with it. According to some accounts, the Negroni itself was the result of a fortuitous ingredient swap. One of the most popular tales about the elixir’s creation was that in Florence in 1919, bartender Forsco Scarselli swapped the sparkling water in an Americano for gin. As is so often the case with cocktail origin stories, both of these tales are disputed. Stocchetto’s son would later say that his father’s creation was not ’sblagliato’ at all. Rather, he claimed that his Venetian-born father was experimenting with lighter variations on spritzes and invented his winning formula very much on purpose. “The name sbagliato, especially in Italian, opens up a world of possibilities: Why mistaken?” he said in a 2022 interview with Slate. “So the name was catchy and the drink is very cheeky.” The Negroni Sbagliato’s cheeky appeal has helped it gain a global following. Yet while this bitter, bubbly drink can now be found all over, nothing quite beats sipping it during aperitivo hour at the place that invented it. Bar Basso’s is best accompanied by dishes of olives, chips, and other salty snacks. Know Before You Go Note that wait times may be considerable during the summer months." - hrnick, Kap980

"Bar Basso, Salone's unofficial social hub, where showgoers have been gathering for negronis and conversation since 1967."