What does Tim Burton taste like? Or Zucchero, John Malkovich, Sandra Milo or Roberto Benigni? At Florence’s historic Caffè Paszkowski, the answer comes in liquid form. The café’s latest cocktail menu draws inspiration from the artists, actors and public figures who have passed through its doors over the decades, many of whom left a handwritten message in its well-thumbed guest book. The summer 2026 season also marks another milestone: the debut of PZK Bittersweet Signature, Paszkowski’s first bottled ready-to-drink cocktail.
From the Guest Book to the Glass
The menu’s 14 signature cocktails are conceived as liquid portraits, translating personality, mood and cultural references into flavour.
Take Sally, inspired by the heroine of The Nightmare Before Christmas. White vermouth, vodka, crème brûlée syrup, porcini mushrooms and raspberries come together in a cocktail where woodland aromas meet softer, sweeter notes, echoing the dark romanticism that defines both Sally and filmmaker Tim Burton. Served in a black glass and finished with theatrical smoke, the drink extends the narrative beyond flavour.
Music provides the starting point for Lover-Dose, dedicated to Italian singer-songwriter Zucchero. A red wine infused with chestnut honey, mostarda and wild berries meets Cognac, while a pear-and-vanilla shrub brings brightness to a drink that captures the earthy, soulful character of his music.
Sbirulino, meanwhile, pays tribute to actress Sandra Mondaini. Gin, vanilla yogurt curd and peach syrup create a silky texture, while coffee liqueur adds depth before an herbal amaro delivers a gently bitter finish.
Non-Alcoholic Cocktails and Pairings
Reflecting the growing demand for spirit-free drinking, Paszkowski has dedicated part of the menu to non-alcoholic cocktails.
Solero, inspired by television presenter Pippo Baudo, combines cedrata with passion fruit, mango, vanilla, condensed milk and lemon juice. Cold Spring, dedicated to Billy Joel, contrasts warm and cool flavours through herbal and lemon tea, palo santo cordial, spruce cordial and apple.
The food menu follows the same philosophy, with house-made appetisers designed to complement the drinks. Highlights include bao filled with slow-cooked pork cheek and kimchi sauce, alongside montanarine topped with zucchine alla scapece and stracciatella.
Paszkowski’s First Bottled Cocktail
Completing the launch is PZK Bittersweet Signature, the café’s first ready-to-drink cocktail, created by bar manager Luca Manni together with the Paszkowski bartending team. Produced and bottled in Florence, the recipe blends gin, vermouth and selected liqueurs into a bittersweet profile with fresh aromatics, a rounded texture and a lingering bitter finish. Available both by the glass and by the bottle, it extends the Paszkowski experience beyond the café itself.
Images courtesy Caffè Paszkowski
