The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
The Negroni is a beloved spirit-forward cocktail with a history forged in time.
The origin story differs depending on who you ask, but one tale goes that in the early 20th century, an Italian count by the name of Camillo Negroni was sitting at a bar in Florence and asked the barkeep for a classic Americano — a cocktail consisting of Campari and sweet vermouth — but with a little something stronger. The bartender obliged and added a shot of gin.
Thus, the Negroni was born and has since taken the world by storm.
Ottawa is no exception, and the Negroni is a staple among many bars, restaurants and Italian food spots in the city... But which ones do it best?
Fear not, because I'm here to tell you definitively — and it's a job I take very seriously. After all, the Negroni is the perfect cocktail that represents a lot of things in my mind:
Class — It's objectively a classy drink. It's pretty, meant to be sipped slow and has a level of elegance attached to its lore that many other cocktails just don't have.
History — Like many amaro-based cocktails, the history of the Negroni runs deep. The understanding of this history is a large aid to those who make a good one, and those who use it to create something completely new and creative.
Simplicity — With the exception of a few riffs, the Negroni is beautiful in its simplicity. Three ingredients in equal parts means there's nowhere to hide. You'd better be using the best ingredients available.
And so, without further ado, here's my definitive list of the best Negronis in Ottawa.
Bar Guapo
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Cocktail Bar
Address: 324 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: I am no stranger to shouting out Bar Guapo, and even alluded to them having my favourite Negroni in the city in a previous article I wrote involving them.
Guapo keeps it simple but chooses the right ingredients to make the best product. Much like Italian cooking — very clean, very simple and with very little margin for error.
Thankfully at Guapo, they made the right choices for my palate, and at only $14, the right choice for my wallet too.
Ventuno
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Italian Antipasto
Address: 1355 Wellington St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Leave it to the amaro bar to make a top-tier Negroni!
For those of you who are new here, Ventuno is an apericena bar located inside Il Negozio Nicastro on Wellington West. The bar serves up Italian antipasto bites with product pulled right from their own shelves.
Their cocktail list features an array of amaro-based cocktails to satisfy the bitter need in your life, with perhaps none being more important than their Negroni.
Smooth, balanced and gently bitter, it's everything you want from the classic cocktail.
The great thing about Ventuno is that you could drink Negronis all night and never have the same one twice. Their list of amari is one of if not THE most extensive in the city, and this makes mixing and matching ingredients for a Negroni riff essentially endless.
Giulia
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Coastal Italian
Address: 350 Elgin St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: OKAY, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INSTRUCTIONS SO PLEASE LISTEN UP.
You're going to head to Giulia, specifically the Elgin Street location.
You are then going to ask for Madigan the bartender.
Next, you're going to say, "Hey Madigan, Jordan told me you made him this pretty wicked Negroni riff that he loved. Could I please try it?"
You're then going to revel in true greatness.
This Negroni was next-level good. I loved it so much and cannot tell you how much praise Madigan deserves for this cocktail. If you're lucky enough to try one, you'll understand exactly what I mean.
Bar Lupulus
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Indigenous Inspired
Address: 1242 Wellington St. W., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Bar Lupulus does a classic Negroni riff. That may sound like kind of an oxymoron, but the white Negroni has become a staple in its own right amongst Negroni drinkers over the years.
Generally swapping out the vermouth and Campari for Suze and Lillet Blanc to create a similarly flavour-profiled drink with a lighter colour is what makes the white Negroni unique.
Although I do not know the exact spec on Bar Lupulus' white Negroni, I do know that it's an industry favourite, getting multiple shoutouts in my "best of" series on TikTok and Instagram.
Whether you like them red or white, the bartenders at Lupulus whip up a wicked Negroni.
Riviera
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern Steakhouse
Address: 62 Sparks St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Stephen Flood is a legend in the bar scene in Ottawa, and his Negroni is a testament to that. The years of dedication Flood has put into his craft (mainly at Riviera, but also across the city) has only continued to strengthen his case as an Ottawa great in the bar scene.
These years have also resulted in a bank of knowledge, specifically about amari and other bitter liqueurs that have helped Flood continue to refine not only his own unique cocktails, but also his presentation of the classics as well.
This is a Negroni that represents years of perfecting a craft... Cheers to that!
Cantina Gia
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian
Address: 749 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Three words: NEGRONI. ON. TAP.
That's right. Cantina Gia hasn't only perfected a classic plate of pasta; they've also found a way to put together an impeccable ratio of classic ingredients and let it flow like beer from a pressurized spout.
This is the type of thing you'd find in my house if I won the lottery. Like, I wouldn't tell anyone directly... but there would be signs.
Gia also has a wide range of amari and a talented bar team, so if you're feeling adventurous for a Negroni riff, they've got you covered.
My recommendation? Try an ounce of gin, an ounce of Campari, and half an ounce each of Strega and Cocchi Americano Bianco.
Ultimately, the Negroni is like Italian food: widely loved, simply made and filled with love. So the next time you're out drinking a Negroni in Canada's capital city, remember to dedicate it to someone you love.
Cheers, friends.
