What comes to mind when you think of Italy? Al dente pasta? Atrocious driving? Sun-soaked coastlines? Wearing sunglasses after dark? How about elegantly dressed locals sitting in a square sipping on Italian cocktails? (With a cigarette in hand and probably wearing sunglasses).
From the effervescent spritz that has taken the world by storm to the bittersweet staples of pre-dinner aperitivo, this article guides you through the origins and recipes of eight must-try Italian cocktails, each with its distinctive flavour and vibe.
1. Aperol Spritz: The Quintessential Summer Spritz
Let’s start with the star of spritz cocktails: the Aperol Spritz. This bright, bubbly turbo-charged alcoholic Fanta is the epitome of summer in a glass, and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out. With its blazing orange hue and perfectly balanced flavour, the Aperol Spritz combines Aperol, prosecco, and soda water, garnished with a slice of orange.
What many people don’t know is that this world-famous Italian cocktail was born out of a military occupation – namely Austria’s occupation of Venice in the 1800s. Austrian diplomats and employees of the Hapsburg Empire were inspired by the Venetians’ habit of drinking a glass of wine after work. But because they weren’t used to such strong wines — and didn’t want to get so wrecked they could be beaten to death and chucked into a canal — they asked for a ‘spray’ (spritz) of water to dilute the wine.
The addition of Aperol in 1919 added a new dimension to this local favourite. Its burst of orange zest, complemented by a blend of herbs and roots, became an instant hit, and turned Aperol Spritz into a staple in Italian gatherings and a quintessential part of Italy’s aperitivo culture.
Aperol Spritz is the kind of cocktail you can sip slowly while sitting in a Roman piazza and watching the world go by. Or, if you’re more of the beach type, imagine sipping it on a sun-drenched terrace overlooking the Amalfi Coast. Either way, it’s a vibe. Aperol Spritz is also the main star of our Spritz & Spaghetti Cooking Class: a unique evening experience which combines a hands-on pasta-making class with a cocktail demo and drinks-tasting session.
Tipsy Tour Tip: If you want to enjoy your Aperol Spritz the Italian way, pair it with some salty snacks like olives or chips—it’s all about that perfect aperitivo moment.
Check out our Aperol Spritz Recipe
2. Americano: A Classic Cocktail with a Cosmopolitan Twist
The Americano cocktail is smooth, sexy and sophisticated, unlike the American tourist sat next to you at dinner who can’t quite believe his pasta “dang beats that of Olive Garden back home”.
Don’t let its name fool you—this classic cocktail is as Italian as they come. Made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and a splash of soda water, the Americano is a light, bittersweet drink that’s perfect for easing into the evening. It was originally called the “Milano-Torino” after the birthplaces of its ingredients (Campari from Milan, sweet vermouth from Turin). But in the early 20th century, it became known as the Americano, as it was popular among Americans travelling to Europe to escape Prohibition laws so they could get nice and pissed in peace.
The Americano, and not the Vodka Martini, was James Bond’s initial cocktail of choice, appearing on page 22 of Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel, Casino Royale (see, ChatGPT would never deliver this level of pointless detail). So if you want to win over sexy Russian spies for toxic short-term relationships, order yourself an Americano. Shaken, not stirred.
3. Bellini: As Pink as Peaches, as Sweet as Spritz
We can’t talk about Italian cocktails without mentioning the Bellini. Invented in Venice’s iconic Harry’s Bar (the watering hole of choice for Peggy Guggenheim, Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway among others) this cocktail is a blend of peach purée and prosecco.
The Bellini cocktail is light, fruity, and oh-so-elegant—perfect for brunch, a lazy afternoon, or to kick off a night of celebration. It derives its name from the Venetian Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini, whose works were often characterised by a distinctive shade of pink.
The Bellini is proof that sometimes, simplicity is key. And it’s a reminder to enjoy the little things in life—like joining a group of fellow fun-loving travellers on a Tipsy Tour through Rome or Florence. 😉
4. Campari Spritz: For the Bold and Bitter
If you like your cocktails with a bit more bite, the Campari Spritz is the Italian cocktail for you. This cocktail is all about bold flavours, blending the intense bitterness of Campari with the fizz of prosecco and soda water. It’s far less sweet than the Aperol Spritz and, at twice the strength of its bright-orange sibling (20-28%), packs a real punch.
The Campari Spritz first appeared in the 1800s in a small neighbourhood bar in Northern Italy’s Novara region. At first, the only place you could try this drink was Milan’s Gaspare’s Bar. But when his sons took over the firm, this Italian drink was transported to Nice and the stunning French Riviera.
It didn’t take long for Campari to become popular all across the world, and for the Campari Group to become Italy’s leading beverage company.
The Campari Spritz is a great way to kick off a night out, especially if you’re in the mood for something that stands out from the crowd. Serve it over ice, garnish with a slice of orange or a sprig of rosemary, and you’ve got yourself a drink that’s as striking as it is delicious.
5. Hugo: A Spritz Cocktail with a Floral Twist
Sounding like a posh yet forgettable character from Emerald Fenner’s Saltburn, the Hugo is a relatively new addition to the Italian cocktail scene. But it has quickly become a favourite, especially in the northern regions like South Tyrol (birthplace of Italian tennis superstar Jannick Sinner, in case anyone’s interested).
This refreshing spritz cocktail is made with elderflower syrup, prosecco, and soda water, garnished with fresh mint and a slice of lime. It basically tastes like a garden, much like gin and tonic — albeit a garden that Monet has painted, and so colourful and full of life.
Since the Hugo is light, floral, and slightly sweet, it is the perfect Italian cocktail for a sunny afternoon. It’s like a breath of fresh air in a glass, and it’s ideal for those who want something a bit different from the usual spritz.
6. Limoncello Spritz: A Zesty Twist on Southern Italian Tradition
Italy’s Amalfi Coast is world-famous for its lemons, and it’s no wonder that Limoncello—a sweet, zesty liqueur made from lemon zest—is a staple of Italian cocktail culture.
This refreshing twist on the classic spritz cocktail is perfect for anyone who loves a bit of citrusy zing. Made with Limoncello, prosecco, and soda water, the Limoncello Spritz is like summer in a glass: light, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweetness.
Since we’ve already started on ‘Italian cocktails-as-art’, the Limoncello Spritz would be Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh (only stripped of the crippling depression that plagued the life of its inventor).
Learn to make a Limoncello Spritz in our Spritz and Spaghetti Cooking Class 😋
7. Negroni: The King (or rather Count) of Classic Italian Cocktails
The Negroni cocktail boasts a history to match its flavour. Legend has it that one night in Florence in 1919, a man called Count Camillo Negroni really fancied getting wrecked. And so he asked his bartender to supercharge his Americano by swapping soda water for gin. 🙂
The result? A bold, balanced cocktail that has since become a staple of Italian cocktail culture, and the cocktail equivalent of Ben Fenske’s impressionist painting Bar Scene, partly because of the colour and partly because this is how any bar will look after several Negronis.
Made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, the Negroni is the perfect blend of bitter, sweet, and aromatic. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel instantly aristocratic, whether you’re sipping it in Florence, the cocktail’s birthplace, or in your own living room (spoiler alert: Florence is far nicer).
8. Sbagliato: The “Mistaken” Negroni
The Negroni Sbagliato (pronounced “spal-yah-to” for those looking to master the local lingo) is a happy accident in the world of Italian cocktails.
Legend has it that this drink was born when a bartender accidentally grabbed a bottle of prosecco instead of gin while making a Negroni. The result was a lighter, fizzier version of the classic—hence the name “Sbagliato,” which means “mistaken” in Italian.
That bartender might have made a mistake. But the one pictured below in Guy Buffet’s Making of a Great Martini certainly didn’t. Just look at the exuberant passion and professionalism with which he goes about his work, even messing up his coiffure at the expense of creating the perfect cocktail.
The Sbagliato is perfect for those who want all the flavour of a Negroni but with a little less intensity. It’s a great choice for an aperitivo or a brunch cocktail, and it pairs beautifully with a plate of antipasti.
Ready to Sip Your Way Through Italy?
If you want to experience these drinks the way they were meant to be enjoyed, why not join one of our Tipsy Tours? Explore Italy’s best bars, sip on these iconic cocktails, and immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife of Rome, Florence and beyond.
Book Your Florence Tipsy Tour!
And if the frequent and unexpected references to art have inspired you to make a masterpiece of your own, come and join us on our Tipsy Art Class in Rome! You’ll learn to make watercolours worthy of the great masters – if they were wasted on wine to the point they could barely hold a brush.
