Break out the rocks glasses and orange slices — because it’s once again that most excellent time of year when Negroni Week takes Australia by storm.
The popular, gin-soaked festivus (co-founded 10 years ago by Campari and Imbibe Magazine) is slated to return to major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, between September 18th to 24th; with over 230 participating venues, each of whom will donate a portion of profits to Slow Food (this year’s partner charity of choice).
RELATED: The Only Negroni Recipe You Need To Know
With so many bars jumping into the fray (all offering varying levels of Negroni-centric revels), we thought we’d take the guesswork out of planning your next tippling session, with a curated list of the best/most anticipated events happening next week.
From a multi-city takeover by one of the World’s 50 Best Bars to an entire month of aperitivos at an inner-city institution; these are all the essential pitstops worth making in Melbourne and Sydney for Negroni Week 2023.
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What’s On In Sydney For Negroni Week 2023
Kwānt x Rockpool Takeover
In Sydney for a highly anticipated two-night run, award-winning mixologist Giusy Castaldo will be behind the stick at Rockpool Bar from September 19th to 20th.
Here in Australia to rep Kwānt Mayfair (Erik Lorincz’s famed “five-star tropical bar”) Castaldo will be making three of her team’s signature cocktails; all expertly matched to a selection of canapés from the Rockpool kitchen.
Tickets are available for $90 per head at the link below, in one of two sittings commencing at either 6 PM or 7:30 PM. Walk-ins are also welcome on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bar Red By Campari
If a week-long supply of Negronis doesn’t slake your thirst, then what about a month? That’s surely the rhetorical The Dolphin Hotel had in mind prior to the launch of Bar Red: an “immersive bar-inside-a-bar” concept that shall be taking up residence inside the eponymous Surry Hills public house until October 22nd.
From 4 PM to 6 PM daily, drinkers will be able to celebrate “the ritual of the apéritivo” with a promotional menu of affordable snacks (starting at $6) and $12 classic Negronis.
In addition, Josh Reynolds, Beverage Director at The Dolphin, has programmed an original list of Campari-themed specialty cocktails with the “London Passion Week” ($23) and milk-clarified “Tiramisu Negroni” looking like special mixological highlights. Walk-ins only.
Rina’s Bar
Not dissimilarly to The Dolphin’s Bar Red pop-up, “Rina’s” is a limited-time activation (between September 21st and October 14th) set to take place in the upmarket, Italian restaurant-enclosing confines of the Paddo Inn.
Drawing on the venue team’s own fond “memories of small Italian bars, and the characters behind them,” over the next four weeks Rina’s will be whipping up a number of classic Roman-inspired serves, its own signature drinks, and a selection of small plates tailored for enjoyment with a cocktail.
Begin with a couple of Tropicale spritzers ($19) and linger over Cantabrian anchovies ($22). Walk-ins welcome, bookings available.
Icebergs Sundays x Campari
A twist on Icebergs Bar’s signature blend of music and mixological programming, the Sundays x Campari takeover is set to occur weekly throughout September.
Each Sunday, the venue’s bar team will present a range of signature apéritivo-inspired drinks; alongside a roster of live DJs (including perennial favourite Peter Dolso) and a specialty food menu.
Icebergs being the lightning rod for splashy Sunday sessions that it is, reservations — which can be made at [email protected] — are staunchly recommended.
Hellenic Twists At The Apollo
Keen to add “a splash of Greek flair” to Negroni Week’s traditionally Italo-heavy programming, Potts Point fixture The Apollo will be adding not one, but five Negroni-style libations to its cocktail list throughout the month of September.
The Hellenic Boulevard ($24) and Mykogroni ($26) both appear to be considered, on-theme accompaniments to the usual assortment of Apollo crowdpleasers — kritharaki anyone? — and to really sweeten the whole affair, the venue will be donating $1 for every classic/signature Negroni sold to StreetSmart Australia. Drink well, do good.
What’s On In Melbourne For Negroni Week 2023
Kwānt x Society Takeover
A follow-up to Giusy Castaldo’s Rockpool takeover in Sydney; the Kwānt bartender will be bringing a number of her establishment’s inimitable signature cocktails to The Lounge at Society for a single evening — on September 24th, starting at 5 PM.
In contrast to the Rockpool pop-up, Melburnians won’t require tickets in order to experience the innovative, award-winning mixology of Kwānt. All admissions are on a walk-in basis only with Castaldo slinging a trio of showcase cocktails, accompanied by “bespoke small bites” from the Society kitchens.
Fancy Hank’s ‘Negroni Dinner’
In conjunction with Campari Australia, the popular barbeque specialists at Fancy Hank’s are celebrating Negroni Week 2023 with a one-off pairing dinner on September 20th.
Pitched at a $75 price point per head (that’s considerably good value, all things considered) diners will be treated to a three-course menu and nibbles; along with an equal number of classic cocktails that have been selected by the teamsters at Campari to “highlight” each food item.
The only thing better than a classic Negroni? A plateful of smoked duck breast to accompany it.
Doms Negroni Week Closing Party
To capitalise on the trio of specialty Negronis its bar team will be slinging (until October 18th) the good folk at Dom’s Pizzeria & Social Club will be on-hand to close out this year’s Negroni Week festivities on September 24th.
With Matthew Linklater of Campari and Four Pillars ambassador Rebecca Lam behind the bar to deliver a number of unique Negroni twists, this promises to be a high note for what is already shaping up to be a bumper week full of pop-ups and crossovers.
Bookings are essential: email [email protected] to secure your posse’s reservations.
