The Doping, the cocktail bar tucked inside Aethos Milan, has just launched a new menu that reads like a love letter to the city. Here, the spirit of “Milano da bere”—a phrase that first emerged in the gloss of 1980s amaro commercials—finds new life, poured into elegant glasses and stirred with intent.
A City in Fourteen Sips
The menu invites you to drink your way through Milan’s soul. Parco Sempione is reborn in a refreshing mix of gin, herbal liqueur, lemongrass, green shiso, grapefruit, and lime. Duomo becomes a golden interpretation of tradition with gin, bitter, vermouth, butter, saffron, and edible gold. Chinatown tells its story through rum, amaro, strawberry, tea, soy, and rice vinegar. And then there’s Porta Venezia—vodka, green tomato, basil, spices, and a whisper of barbecue sauce—and Corso Como, where tequila dances with pear, ginger, and grapefruit.
Each of the 14 cocktails pays homage to a specific Milanese neighborhood: San Siro combines gin, Champagne and lime; Zona Farini blends mezcal with sherry syrup; Aethos Navigli is a tropical encounter of tequila and coconut cream. Bosco Verticale goes green with matcha and gin, while Lambrate balances amaro with Japanese beer. Bicocca stirs rum and coffee, Brera indulges in whisky and bourbon. Finally, Centrale is built around a citrus cordial, and Fondazione Prada stands out for its zero-proof mix of non-alcoholic amaro and gin with a sage twist.
All Shades of Spirit
Bar manager Nicola Romiti crafted the menu with a broad spectrum of preferences in mind. “Guests who prefer non-alcoholic options can choose Fondazione Prada or Centrale,” he explains. “Others, like Parco Sempione and Corso Como, are low-ABV. We wanted everyone to find their place on the map.”
The Inspiration Behind the List
The concept is as thoughtful as it is playful. “Each drink mirrors the contrasts and layered personality of Milan. Just like the city, no cocktail is ever quite the same,” reads the introduction to the menu.
Romiti elaborates on how the 14 locations were chosen: “We selected areas that are both meaningful to locals and recognizable to international visitors. Since the menu unfolds like a city map, we focused on places that would naturally spark curiosity.”
From Street to Shaker at The Doping
Once the map was drawn, came the more intricate challenge—translating neighborhoods into flavor. “We studied combinations that felt true to each place’s character, while still delivering a compelling drinking experience,” Romiti says.
Sometimes, the connection is immediate. Chinatown speaks in a clear Asian dialect of flavor, with soy and rice vinegar at its core. Bosco Verticale channels its namesake’s lush green palette through matcha and hierba luisa. Other cocktails are more interpretive. Brera is built around elegance; Porta Venezia captures a bold, eclectic energy. To truly grasp these nuances, there’s only one way: sip by sip, glass by glass.
More than a Menu
Romiti sums it up best: “This menu it’s a keepsake. Each guest receives a copy to take home—like a map of Milan they can unfold whenever they wish to remember the night.” A taste of the city, wrapped in memory and mixed with care.
Images courtesy of The Doping
