With its chandeliers, ornate bar and wooden wainscoting, Bar Basso is an impeccable example of Milan’s old world glamour, a place where an eclectic mix of students and professionals, designers and neighbourhood locals go to drink in style. The negroni sbagliato (a “wrong” negroni where spumante instead of gin is mixed with Campari and vermouth) was first created at this classic Milanese cocktail bar and is still served today in an enormous glass. Located in Città Studi, an area buzzing with students, Bar Basso fills up during Salone del Mobile, the annual design week, when it becomes the after-party venue of choice.
Time Out tip: The close connection between Bar Basso and the global design community dates to the 1980s when Maurizio Stocchetto, the bar’s owner, befriended a group of English designers. The normally packed bar is even more difficult to navigate during Salone del Mobile, so be sure to check the calendar before you go (unless literally rubbing elbows with designers strikes your fancy).