The best negronis in Manchester

All of 10 Tib Lane’s cocktails are worth exploring (particularly during their happy hour), but for all things negroni, their sour berry iteration is the one. It’s blended with Beefeater gin, sour blackberry, Campari, Dolin Rouge vermouth and a barely-there hint of vanilla. We couldn’t think of anything more sophisticated than enjoying one in the moody, sultry surroundings of this effortlessly cool restaurant and bar. For Negroni Week they’re truly pushing the envelope, offering five different negroni or negroni-adjacent beverages, including a Mochamaro with cocoa-infused Campari, and a Milanese Spritz.

Blinker’s Tiny Negroni is nothing of the sort. It is a mighty beverage indeed. Bartender extraordinaire Dan Berger’s take on the classic involves the fabulous Plymouth Dry gin, melding it with Surrey-distilled aperitif Sipello, fragrant with gooseberries, and Cocchi di Torino vermouth and orange oils. No Campari, so it’s massively controversial, but it is excellent.

The Premier Padmini Negroni at Dishoom is steeped in history. It’s a nod to the Italian Fiat 1100 (also known as the Premier Padmini), which was made in India from 1964 right up to 2001. The car is as synonymous as the Indian taxi, just as the Austin FX4 is in London. Indian cocoa and sweet pears are soaked overnight in Campari, then blended with vermouth and dry citrus gin, and garnished with chocolate. It’s sumptuous (and you can even buy it pre-batched in bottles to take home).

Chorlton’s favourite neighbourhood bar gives you boundless Negroni options, even before you get to the Negroni section of the menu, there’s a strawberry sbagliato, with strawberry-infused Campari, Dolin Rouge vermouth, St Germain, a champagne cordial and lemon oil. But their white negroni is a cracker – simple but devastating, with Plymouth Gin, Suze and Lillet Blanc. Plus, every Thursday they’re a fiver, all night long.

The Hawksmoor Negroni is the stuff of which dreams are made. It’s a sour cherry number, mixed up with Tanqueray, Campari, Martini Rubino vermouth and some sour cherry syrup to add an unctuous twist. The only issue being that once you’ve tried it with cherry, other Negronis struggle to measure up. Plus, to celebrate Negroni week they’re also offering a floral alternative, the ‘Wilde Negroni’, designed by Eve Cairns to be a more ‘approachable’ alternative to the old-school classic.

If the straight-up bitterness of Campari is a little too much for you, Maray’s take on the classic could be what turns you to the dark side. They infuse their Campari with pineapple to give it a slightly sweeter twist, blending it with Beefeater gin and sweet vermouth. It really, really works.

Mostly known for their simple Neopolitan pizzas, they don’t go all out when it comes to cocktails, but they don’t need to when their classic, unfussy negroni is this good. Campari-heavy and served in a low-key tumbler, it’s good pre, during or post-pizza. For Negroni ‘month’ (22-28 September) though they’ve added some new specials to their menu, as inspired by a trip to Milan’s iconic Camparino Bar. There’s a rhubarb and apple variety, a sour peach sbagliato and a passionfruit negroni too.

Across all of San Carlo’s six Greater Manchester locations, there are two special negronis on offer, alongside their evergreen classic version. There’s a ‘fruit-forward’ watermelon variety, and a maraschino cherry variety too. The perfect thing to sip while you enjoy their sumptuous, slightly kitsch dining rooms and romantic terraces.

What the team down at Schofield’s don’t know about cocktails, simply does not exist. And while their menu is full of painfully elegant signature drinks, they’ll happily prepare all the classics for you, probably to the highest standard you’ve ever experienced. And then they’ll stick it in the fridge while you pop to the loo, which is the absolute pinnacle of sophistication in our book. If you want a really, really great negroni, book a spot at Schofield’s. Or even chance your arm as a walk-in. Stranger things have happened.

A satisfying ‘hidden bar’ in that it doesn’t overly-announce its existence (about Cane & Grain on Thomas Street), Science & Industry is a buzzy, speakeasy style cocktail spot offering an array of outré creations with vodkas washed in everything from goose fat to biscuits. If you sidle up to the bar and ask nicely though, they’ll make you a stunning, unadulterated negroni. No notes.

Stray – the super-cool cocktail bar on the corner of Mackie Mayor – are known for some of their signature creations, but they don’t mess around when it comes to the classics. Their classic negroni is exactly that, and we advise sipping one moodily while sat on one of their high stools, watching the world go by. Those with a more adventurous palate can opt for a grapefruit and vetiver variety.