Iconic Italian apéritif label Campari is joining forces with Imbibe Magazine (an authority on all things spirits and drinks) for a Negroni Week celebration to shine a spotlight on the sustainable world of food and beverage. The concept includes a series of special menu offers at selected bars and restaurants in Cape Town.
Slow Food, the official giving partner for the second year, is a global movement of local communities and activists, across more than 160 countries. Just like Campari and the Negroni, Slow Food has Italian roots, creating the perfect pairing.
The Slow Food Negroni Week Fund will continue to directly support the hospitality community in 2023 and beyond, helping to preserve cultural and biological diversity, promote food and beverage education with knowledge exchange, and foster equity and justice. With the increased challenges facing the hospitality and food and beverage industries in recent years, this work is more important than ever.
All about Negroni, the iconic cocktail
Around 1919 in Florence, Count Camillo Negroni contemplated ordering an Americano cocktail but decided it was time for a change. He requested it with a touch of gin instead of soda, inspired by his last trip to London and its prevalent gin scene.
The bartender was pleased to honour the aristocrat’s request and added an orange garnish rather than the lemon wedge of the Americano to signify the new drink he had created.
Today the Negroni is one of the most famous contemporary classic cocktails that can be ordered anywhere in the world. The original recipe is perfectly balanced with equal parts of Campari, Red Vermouth and London Dry gin. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists Campari as an official ingredient of the Negroni, and thus, there is no Negroni without Campari.
What’s on at Negroni Week 2023?
There’s no Negroni without Campari, just like there’s no industry without bartenders. To celebrate this bond, the Slow Food Negroni Week Fund gives direct support to those in hospitality.
Throughout the week until Sunday, 24 September there will be the opportunity for the public to celebrate cocktail culture and show appreciation for the art of mixology through special set menus. Bartenders also show off their dedication and skill while crafting one of the world’s most popular cocktails.
Additionally, Campari brings together pairs of top-tier bartenders to celebrate the bond between mixology and the classic Negroni with the release of The Timeless Bond Series. The series features some of the best bartenders from around the world.
Where to try Negroni Week 2023?
We select 5 of our favourite participating bars and restaurants in Cape Town to explore:
TOP PICK! Gigi’s Rooftop and Bar
Gigi’s Rooftop and Bar is one of the most popular rooftop bars in Cape Town. This trendy spot offers lush and glamorous interiors with a sophisticated art collection, while the outdoor deck space boasts stunning views of the city when the weather permits,
For Negroni Week 2023, the resident mixologist team crafted a limited edition of four Negroni cocktails each with a unique edge. The Apricot Negroni weaves together Campari as the key ingredient along with Bulldog Gin and the tangy fruitiness of fresh apricot. If you prefer to stay true to the smokier and grown-up charm of the cocktail, try their Cacao Negroni with its distinct musk overtones. Negroni Spagliatto takes a different route with a sweet profile mixed with a dash of fizz and comes ideal for those who find a classic Negroni too overwhelming.
While you’re there, leaf over their menu for a selection anchored mainly in seafood. Not much is on offer in the way of starters, but the baked Camembert or French onion soup is a safe bet. For mains, we suggest the sole cooked immaculately and topped with a zesty sauce with fresh Cape citrus and greens. End off with a decadent chocolate tart or deconstructed Snickers bar and your evening is sorted.
When: Running until 24 September 2023. Daily, from 12pm till late
Where: Gorgeous George Hotel, 118 St Georges Mall, Cape Town CBD
Email: gigi@gorgeousgeorge.co.za | Tel: 021 612 0999
Fable Cocktail Bar
Where: Corner Bree &, Wale St, Cape Town CBD
Email: info@fablecocktailbar.capetown | Tel: 066 009 7786
Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar
Tjing Tjing rooftop bar is known for its modern setting and comes enveloped in wooden mansards in a 200-year-old attic in the CBD. Their signature Japanese shrine-inspired red bar has taken centre stage since Tjing Tjing Rooftop Bar opened its doors in 2011.
Expect lounge-style seating complemented by bar-height tables and luxurious indigo wallpaper with embroidered bathing Macaque monkeys. Three kokeshi doll tables subtly infuse layers of personality and Japanese subculture. The Samurai warrior doll represents the past, the Harajuku doll symbolises the present, with the Cyberpunk doll infusing a Japanese futuristic twist. The bar opens up to an airy outside rooftop terrace and is well known for its current indie and electronic music.
You can try a sharp selection of bespoke cocktails (including classics by request), Japanese whisky, gin and sake as well as an extensive wine list.
When: Running until 24 September 2023. Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 1am
Where: 165 Longmarket St, Cape Town CBD
Email: info@tjingtjing.co.za | Tel: 021 422 4920
Cause | Effect
The experience Cause | Effect gives is world-class, and one where visitors can effortlessly have a delicate Aperitivo, a Cape Negroni, or one of the bar’s fabulous experiential cocktails inspired by Cape Town’s oceans, mountains, vineyards, and fynbos. They infuse, enhance and distil some of the most powerful flavours and aromas nature has to offer to create unique vintage, classic, and experiential drinks.
Cause | Effect is currently ranked #75 in the World’s Top 50 Best Cocktail Bars, and received a Top 10 Best International Cocktail Bar Nomination at the 16th Annual Spirited Awards in June 2022.
When: Running until 24 September 2023. Monday to Sunday, 4pm to 1am
Where: The Rocket Shed, 280 Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Email: ruzaan@icloud.com | Tel: 021 422 0266
Nocturne
Nocturne officially opened their doors in July 2023 and is the brainchild of chef and restaurateur duo, Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin – also the owners of the renowned and awarded Dusk Restaurant. The space is created as a secondary expression point for the duo who have a passion for not only food but the beverage sector too.
The menu is inspired by bi-products and creations from the Dusk test kitchen and fermentation lab with a focus on pushing the boundaries of the food and beverage sector in South Africa. With an intimate space, they are allowed to engage with guests on both the beverage and food front which creates a truly unique experience.
When: Running until 24 September 2023. Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 1am
Where: 43 Plein St, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
Email: reservations@nocturneexperience.co.za | Tel: 021 023 4745
Website: negroniweek.com
Facebook: @Campari
Instagram: @campariofficial