Sassy’s Guide To Negroni Week: Where To Go For Your Favourite Italian Cocktail

A dedicated week to the refreshing Italian drink

A week devoted to one of our favorite cocktails? A percentage of proceeds going to charity? Sign us up! Negroni Week is back, from Monday, 5 to Sunday, 11 June, and it is bigger than ever, with a whopping 67 bars and restaurants participating. We’ve gone through the list to pull out a few highlights – but you can check out the full list of places here. And for those of you not yet familiar with the Negroni, it’s a classic Italian drink traditionally made with one part gin, one part Campari, one part Vermouth Rosso and finished with an orange peel garnish.. You’ll see quite a few liberties being taken this week, though!

Winstons Coffee

We love Winstons for its coffee of course, but now that its liquor license is back in action, you’ll find us there sipping on its harder options. We are pretty excited to try out its specials for Negroni Week. In addition to the classic, it’s offering a White Negroni, Black Negroni, Bolly Good Negronj, and the B.S. Tea Negroni. We have no guilt about trying them all, because $25 from each Negroni purchase will go to the breast cancer charity, Susan G Komen.

Sassy Tip: Be sure to go on Saturday, 10 June for two-for-one Negronis in celebration of World Gin Day.

Winston’s Coffee, 213 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, 2559 5078, www.facebook.com/winstonscoffeehk

Jinjuu Hong Kong

We’ll admit it; we haven’t given the drinks here enough attention because we have been too distracted by the food! All is going to change this week because we can’t wait to taste Jinjuu’s Negroni specials, which include the Rose of Sharon, Bokgroni and El Santo Negroni. The El Santo especially caught our eye – with an interesting blend of Pierde Almas mezcal, Campari, Sipsmith gin, Cynar and habanero bitters. The No Kids Hungry Foundation will receive $10 per drink ordered.

Sassy Tip: Jinjuu is going all out and hosting four of Hong Kong’s top bartenders who will be bringing two of their own Negroni specials – talk about being spoilt for choice! On Wednesday, 7 June, Mario Calderone of Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge and Tunny Alexander Grattidge of The Pawn Kitchen by Tom Aikens will be behind the bar with head mixologist Edgarito Santillan, and on 8 June it will be Beckaly Franks from The Pontiac and Tom Egerton from Potato Head Hong Kong.

Jinjuu, UG/F, 32 D’anguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong, 3755 4868, www.facebook.com/JinjuuHK

Read more: Jinjuu: A Modern Funky Korean Brunch in Lan Kwai Fong

VEA Restaurant and Lounge

Hardcore Negroni purists, avert your eyes because Vea is putting its own spin on the classic Negroni by using vodka, Campari and Carpano Classico, and two drops of Bergamot essence to create its Creamy Negroni. It might not be traditional, but we are curious to try a gin-free option. Vea will be donating to Water for People, an international charitable organization that advocates the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services.

Sassy Tip: Read our full Vea review here.

VEA Restaurant and Lounge, 30/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2711 8639, www.vea.hk

CÉ LA VI

We don’t need much persuading to head up to Cé La Vi’s rooftop to have a few drinks, so there won’t be much arm twisting to get us to try its take on Negroni Week. The two specials on offer are the His Negroni, a gin-based cocktail infused with coffee liqueur, chocolate bitters and Campari, and the Her Negroni, made with Campari, Dry Vermouth, Chambord and Prosecco. Cé La Vi will also be making a donation to Water for People.

Sassy Tip: These Negroni specials are available all month here, so pace yourself!

Cé La Vi, 25/F California Tower, 36, 30 D’Aguilar St, Central, Hong Kong, 3700 2300, hk.celavi.com

Room One Bar & Lounge

Need an option off Hong Kong Island? TST’s Room One Bar & Lounge is presenting the Negroni Tyme in support of the Little Free Library foundation. Even though it may be known for its whiskey collection, it serves up a Negroni to match the others on offer. With thyme-infused gin, Punt e Mes and Campari, this drink hits all the right bitter and sweet notes.

Room One Bar & Lounge, G/F, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, 2315 5888, www.themirahotel.com/dining/room-one

Happy Paradise

Even though we were at Happy Paradise over the weekend, we are being tempted back by its Negroni specials: the Mezcal Negroni (Mezcal, Aperol, Cynar, sweet vermouth) and the Bad Girl (Osmanthus gin, Campari, sweet & blanc vermouth). A portion of proceeds will be donated to Refugee Canteen, a German organization providing culinary training opportunities for refugees.

Sassy Tip: Get there early to beat the crowds, it opens at 6pm.

Happy Paradise, Ming Hing House, 52-56 Staunton St, Central, Hong Kong, 2816 2118,  www.facebook.com/happyparadisehk

Stazione Novella

We’ve got high hopes for the Negronis here – the whole bar is inspired by the wine bars around Florence so we are pretty sure it will be erring on the authentic side. In addition to its classic, it has the Montenegro, made with Campari, Martini Rosso, and Montenegro Amaro, and the Bastardo, a mix of Campari, Martini Rosso, Bourbon. A donation will be made to Refugee Canteen. 

Sassy Tip: Can’t commit to a full sized Negroni? Opt for the mini version for $38!

Stazione Novella, 52 Staunton St, Central, Hong Kong, 2559 0559, www.stazionenovella.com