Raise your glass! Now in its 11th year, Negroni Week is a worldwide celebration of the famed Italian cocktail made with Campari, gin, and red vermouth. Since its launch in 2013, Negroni Week has become an annual tradition and a force for good, having raised over US$4 million in donations across various charitable organisations.
From Sept. 18-24 of this year, leading bars and restaurants worldwide will honour this 104-year-old cocktail and donate a share of their sales to a charity of their choice. If you’re interested in joining the initiative, order yourself a Negroni at the following establishments in Hong Kong!
Penicillin
Dubbed one of the most sustainable bars in Hong Kong, Penicillin is all about creating a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, where guests can enjoy delicious food, premium drinks, and a homey ambience. Make a stop for their version of the Negroni, made using Watermelon Gin, Jalapeño Campari, and Omija Vermouth for that harmonious blend. If that’s not enough, feel free to order some of the menu’s usual crowd-favourites, such as the sweet Duke’s Martini.
Penicillin: Amber Lodge, L/G, 23 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 9880 7995
Stockton
On Wyndham Street, you’ll find Stockton, a whiskey bar that will take you to the Halcyon days of the late 19th-century London. For Negroni Week, the bar will be mixing green guava sous vide cognac, clear lychee, Campari, Lillet, a dash of Absinthe, and citric solution to keep you pumped for the rest of the evening. Adventurous drinkers will be delighted to know that this establishment also offers bold and innovative beverages, such as the Prince Jellyfish, a chamomile-tinged champagne, and the God Damn Gatsby, a gin infused with citrus undertones.
Stockton: 32 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2565 5268
Frank’s Italian American Social Club
While Frank’s eye-catching red neon sign and retro-inspired exteriors may grab your attention, the true thrill lies in its selection of quality food and drinks. If you’re adding this bar to your hit list, make sure to order the flavourful Chili Honey Garlic Wings, the tangy Ceasar Salad, and the tasty Pecorino Truffle Fries for a savoury accompaniment to your tipples. Finish off your meal with Frank’s supercharged version of the famed Negroni drink.
Frank’s: Harilela House, G/F & 1/F, 79 Wyndham St, Central, Hong Kong; +852 9097 9730
Sam Fancy
Paying tribute to the Chinatowns of America, Sam Fancy is a dining establishment that blends mouthwatering dishes, quality drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere where guests can recreate a place of refuge. After downing a glass of their take on the Negroni, be sure to try out their signature inspired by the gastronomy Chinese-American immigrants, including the award-winning Salted Mandarin IPA.
Sam Fancy: The Plaza, 3/f & 4/f, 21 D'Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong
ZEST by Konishi
Led by acclaimed chef Mitsuru Konishi, ZEST by Konishi is “Hong Kong’s first chef-inspired restaurant.” This MICHELIN-starred dining place not only serves fantastic classic drinks like the Negroni but also offers breathtaking views of Hong Kong’s skyline from its 29th-floor location. Be sure not to overlook its newly crafted
ZEST by Konishi: 28 & 29/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2715 0878
Ponty Café
The newly relaunched Ponty Café by Beckaly Franks and Ezra Star is an all-day café and bar that serves hearty cuisines and drinks. You’ll never go wrong with their Double-Stack Flapjacks, two stacked pancakes topped with sweet syrup and butter, as well as Green Pesto Genovese, a hearty fill consisting of fusilli, cherry tomato fondue, and parmesan. For a burst of freshness, try pairing their Chicken Wings with an invigorating Negroni that will cut through the richness of this indulgent bar snack.
Ponty Café: 15 Old Bailey Street, Hong Kong; +852 9666 2573
Veda
If you’re on the hunt for a bar where you can indulge in vegetarian food while sipping a glass of Negroni, look no further than Veda. Stop by this establishment on Arbuthnot Road to try out the Christmas-inspired Brulée Negroni Spiced Gin, a masterfully crafted blend of Americano Bianco, vermouth, aveze gentian, and a dash of chocolate. As for Veda’s best-selling vegetarian offerings, make sure to order its cheesy Ave Ceasar salad; a combination of crunchy lettuce, tahini dressing, and shaved parmesan.
Veda: 2 Arbuthnot Rd, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3755 3067
Bar Leone – Closing Party
After a week of downing this bittersweet red libation, end the week with a bangin’ closing party at one of the city’s latest mixology hotspots – Bar Leone. Whilst the Roman-inspired bar will be pouring special Negronis all week; with the prosecco-topped Negroni Sbagliato playing a starring role, alongside the sophisticated and deep Negroni vs Martini, the aromatic Caffe Casoni Negroni blend with espresso and coffee liquer, as well as the summery Tropicale Negroni. Guests can also tuck into a series of mouthwatering Italian snacks like the Tramezzini, Meatballs Arrabbiata, and even the Negroni Rigatoni that brings together the eating and drinking.
Bar Leone: 15 Bridges Street, Central