On my third and final night in Milan, I got drinks at Nottingham Forest, which is consistently named one of the best cocktail bars in the city. Owner Dario Comini's unique cocktail bar has been featured on The World's 50 Best Bars list, recently appearing at #38 in 2016.
As it was a Friday, and I wanted to avoid the common complaint of long wait times to get in, I arrived a little after 7 p.m., about thirty minutes after opening. Nottingham Forest in Milan is indeed small. It's a rectangular space with a long, bottle-filled bar on the right side. There's just enough space for some stools, a path to the back, and a few leather chairs and tables flush against the left wall.
It's got a tiki vibe thanks to the various souvenirs Comini has brought home with him from trips abroad. Over 2,000 bottles of spirits fill every nook and cranny of the space. It's almost hard to take in all the details surrounding you; it's like walking into a mad scientist's laboratory.
Related: Aperitivo in Milan
I was seated at the small bar and presented with an extensive English menu. It went beyond a list of original cocktails to include detailed descriptions of each and the molecular techniques used to make them. During happy hour from 6 to 9 p.m., cocktails cost $11 (€10) apiece, rising to $11.50 (€12) after 9 p.m. Expect to pay more for high-end liquors.
My first drink was the playful Sephora, which included tonic water, a lemongrass infusion with absinthe vodka, and white foam from peach liquor. It was delivered in a bathtub with a little rubber duck on the side, which you then place in the bathtub for an added citrus aroma. I loved the presentation, and it tasted delicious, too.
Related: Best Bars in Copenhagen
Happy with my first choice, I returned to the menu for drink number two. This time, I wanted simulated smoke, so I ordered Polonio 210, a cryogenic drink made with compressed carbon dioxide (i.e., dry ice). A tiki skull full of a guarana infusion, lime, and tonic water arrived, bubbling and smoking.
As much as I would've liked to continue the exceptional experience of sampling cocktails at Nottingham Forest, one of the best bars in Milan, I was getting hungry. An hour after arriving, I paid my bill and headed out for dinner. The next day, I was off to Florence.
Visit Nottingham Forest
- Address: Viale Piave 1, Milan, Italy
- Dress: Casual
- Reservations: Not accepted. Tables seat a maximum of four people.
