Although The Botanical Club in increasingly hip Isola is technically both a bar and restaurant, don’t bother with the back dining room; instead, hunker down at the retro green and metal bar in the front of the house, where you can spend a night in cocktail heaven. Owners Alessandro Longhin and Davide Martelli, who opened The Botanical Club in 2015, are serious about their spirits, opening Italy’s first gin micro-distillery on the premises. Their signature cocktail menu changes every month, but be sure that whatever you try is made with one of their limited edition gins. And come early if you want a seat, as the small bar fills up fast.
Time Out tip: If you have a bigger crew, go to The Botanical Garden outpost on Via Tortona, which has a much larger bar and seating area. As a bonus, you can order from their raw bar—talk about rarefied bar snacks!