From October 5 to 7, Camparino in Galleria will turn its three distinctive spaces — Bar di Passo, Sala Spiritello and Sala Gaspare — over to the international bar community for three days of cocktails, conversations and encounters with bartenders from some of the world’s leading bars. At the center of it all is Tommaso Cecca, Global Head of Camparino Licensing & Mixology, with a few surprises of his own planned along the way.
Why Everyone Is Heading to Camparino
During The 50 Bars week, finding some of the biggest names in international bartending at Camparino in Galleria will be easy. The harder part may be deciding which bar to pull up a stool at.
On the ground floor, Bar di Passo will remain open to the wider community, with cocktails, tastings and conversations throughout the day. Upstairs, Sala Spiritello will hand its bar over to international guests for a series of aperitivo takeovers. Below ground, Sala Gaspare will bring together established professionals and emerging talent for invitation-only events curated with Coqtail – for fine drinkers.
From October 5 to 7, the program moves between these three rooms, shifting character each day under Cecca’s direction. First rule: save the dates. Then decide where to be.
October 5: Bar Leone at Bar di Passo, Followed by Asia’s Bar Scene
The program begins on October 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., when Bar di Passo hosts the Bartender Playground, open to the bar community. Guests can move between the Garibaldi Playground, devoted to one of Camparino’s signature serves, and the Riso al Salto Club, where cocktails meet a Milanese culinary staple. The Cocktail Cart will offer tastings throughout the day, while Camparino Voices puts the focus on the people and stories shaping the industry.
From 4 to 7 p.m., the bartenders from Bar Leone take over the same counter with their Cocktail Popolari. Their drinks will slip naturally into the rhythm of Bar di Passo, among guests stopping in for aperitivo and bartenders reconnecting with colleagues in Milan for The 50 Bars celebrations.
From 6:30 to 10 p.m., the action moves upstairs to Sala Spiritello for the Asian Bars Takeover. Behind the bar will be Palm Muttarattana of Dry Wave in Bangkok, Dre Yang of Pony Up in Shanghai and Joash Conceicao of Offtrack in Singapore, each bringing a taste of their respective bars to Milan.
Earlier in the afternoon, downstairs in Sala Gaspare, Camparino and Coqtail – for fine drinkers will host Past, Present & Future, an invitation-only gathering for industry professionals, press and guests. The experience also includes Emanuele Balestra’s Scent Bar, bringing edible fragrances and botanicals into conversation with the drinks.
October 6: Aperitivo With Bartenders From the Americas
On October 6, Bar di Passo once again becomes the daytime meeting point for the community. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Bartender Playground continues with the Garibaldi Playground, Riso al Salto Club, Cocktail Cart and Camparino Voices. The day will also include an encounter with the team from London’s Scarfes Bar.
That afternoon, Sala Gaspare hosts the second installment of Past, Present & Future, again presented with Coqtail – for fine drinkers and reserved for invited guests, with another appearance by Emanuele Balestra’s Scent Bar.
From 6:30 p.m., Sala Spiritello turns its attention west for the Americas Bars Takeover. Four bartenders from four cities will take their places behind the bar: Oscar Valle of Tonana in San Miguel de Allende; Will Patton of Press Club in Washington, D.C.; James Grant of Library Bar in Toronto; and Nicolas Torres of True Laurel in San Francisco.
Different cities, different drinking cultures, one bar in Milan. The cocktail recipes are being kept under wraps, leaving the first taste for the night itself.
October 7: The Next Generation Takes the Floor
The final day shifts the focus toward the next generation of bartenders. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Bar di Passo continues to welcome the community with the Bartender Playground, while the day’s invitation-only program, presented with Coqtail – for fine drinkers, unfolds downstairs in Sala Gaspare.
From noon to 3 p.m., the finalists of the 50 Best Bars Scholarship will take part in an educational experience exploring Camparino’s history, aperitivo culture, mixology and hospitality.
Later in the afternoon comes Meet the Masters: Knowledge & Craftsmanship, a private gathering that, for the first time, brings Campari Group’s masters together with members of the international bar community.
After two days spent meeting visiting bartenders across the counter, Camparino’s final day turns its attention to those learning the craft — and to those in a position to pass their knowledge on. A fitting prelude to the evening’s gala and the announcement of The 50 Bars.
Immagini courtesy of Camparino in Galleria
