Bar Basso: A Milanese Institution

Bar Basso, located on Via Plinio, has been a Milanese institution since its opening in 1947. Initially a local neighborhood bar, it rose to prominence after Mirko Stocchetto took over in 1967 and introduced cocktail culture to Milan. Before Bar Basso, cocktails were mainly found in the exclusive lounges of luxurious international hotels. The bar is most famous for the Negroni Sbagliato, a cocktail invented here in the 1970s when Mirko Stocchetto accidentally used Prosecco instead of gin while making a Negroni. This 'mistaken Negroni' is served in a large, custom-made Murano glass. The bar boasts a cocktail list of over 500 drinks, including classics and new creations like the Rossini and the hazelnut ice-cream cocktail Mangia e Bevi. Bar Basso's enduring charm lies in its unpretentious atmosphere and dedication to traditional bartending methods. The interior retains its original décor from the 1950s, with a large neon sign and light boxes from the 1970s. Managed by the Stocchetto family since 1967, Bar Basso has become a meeting point for the city's design community and a must-visit for cocktail enthusiasts. During Milan Design Week, the bar becomes a social hub for designers from around the world.