A sensory journey through Campari and Italian visions, in a ruby-red haven rewriting the rules of Middle Eastern mixology. At Barfly by Buddha-Bar Dubai, the first-ever Negroni Lounge has opened its doors.
Negroni Lounge: A New Aesthetic of Taste
Red lights flicker on, casting warm glows across velvet drapes that envelop Barfly’s lounge. Wide windows frame the view of the Palm, while a lip-shaped sofa beckons beneath the neon mantra: “No Negroni without Campari.”
With this bold statement, the Buddha-Bar group has inaugurated the Middle East’s first Negroni Lounge, standing out among the futuristic contours of Palm Jumeirah and the golden reflections of sunset on the water. A charming salon dedicated entirely to the cocktail that most fully embodies the spirit of Italian aperitivo — and, in recent years, has been crowned the world’s most consumed classic. Beloved in Dubai and poured in the city’s finest bars, the Negroni now finds a home of its own.
Open every Thursday to Saturday from 7pm to 2am, this exclusive hideaway evokes the Milanese night: warm, sophisticated tones, where bitter reigns supreme and mixology becomes a true art form.
Dubai Falls for the Negroni
Inside the Negroni Lounge, every detail is designed to evoke a tale of style and flavour. The cocktail list, curated by Francesco Galdi, Global Beverage and Operations Manager for Buddha-Bar, is a refined homage to the Negroni’s versatility. It begins with the timeless trio — Campari, London dry gin, and sweet vermouth — crafted to near-perfection, then unfolds into unexpected variations.
Among them the Negroncino, a half-sized pour that doesn’t hold back in intensity and the Negroni Highball, a lighter, sparkling twist brought to life with tonic water. Bold twists like À la Banana take center stage with a banana-infused gin and rosé vermouth. Then there’s the fabulous Tropical AF (and Famous), where coconut butter rum, tonka bean and pineapple vermouth, and Campari melt together in an exotic embrace.
Each month brings a new Negroni of the Month, while curious palates can opt for the Negroncini Flight, a miniature tasting that shifts daily with the bartender’s inspiration. For those craving something different, the Not Only Negroni section offers standout signatures like the Paloma Milanese with tequila blanco, Campari, mandarin cordial, and grapefruit soda; or Origami, a sultry dance between whisky, yuzu, and citrus.
The Experience Beyond the Glass
The Negroni Lounge was conceived as a theatre of flavour. Here, Chef Gustavo Guin, the culinary soul of Barfly, pairs each liquid creation with a curated menu designed to elevate every sip into a ritual of refined conviviality.
It begins with a selection of nigiri — tuna, salmon or avocado — paired with yuzu gel, and continues with Inca maki, where crab, cream cheese, raw tuna and ikura merge in a textural crescendo. Among the hot dishes, highlights include shiitake and champignon skewers, delicately charred, or the Black Angus served with yuzu mayo and a touch of shichimi togarashi, a spicy homage that resonates with the bold soul of a Negroni.
Culture, History and the Myth of a Legendary Cocktail
Every sip, every bite carries with it the legend of Campari, the iconic unforgettable Italian red spirit born in Milan in 1860 and elevated over time into a symbol of aperitivo culture and artistic expression. The star ingredient of the Negroni, it was first used in 1919, when bartender Fosco Scarselli crafted this great classic of mixology in a bar in Florence.
Campari’s unmistakable hue, its citrusy aroma and its assertive bitter edge echo in every corner of the Negroni Lounge, designed with a timeless aesthetic that has enchanted generations of artists, travellers, and bon vivants.
Negroni Lounge, the Dubai’s New Cult Destination
The Negroni Lounge is a manifesto for those in search of authentic emotions in an international setting. Here, past and present converge in contemporary twists of a perfectly balanced cocktail—cherished in the Middle East as it is across the globe. Through the sensory language of bitter, Italy tells its story in the heart of Dubai.
The new era of Middle East mixology begins here, with the iconic trio of Campari, vermouth and gin: an ode to simplicity that continues to seduce palates across the globe.
Images courtesy of Buddha-Bar
Article in partnership with Campari Academy Mediterranean
