If there is one thing Bar Termini does with religious fervor, it is the Negroni. They serve three core variations: the Classic, the Sbagliato (with Prosecco instead of gin), and the Americano. Each is built with meticulous care, using a house-bottled blend of gin, Campari, and vermouth that is aged for a specific time.
Fun fact: The bar actually bottles and ages its Negroni in small batches on-site, allowing the flavours to marry and soften. This is the secret to their silky, balanced taste—it’s not just a drink mixed in a glass; it’s a liqueur of time and patience. The result is a Negroni that is less bitter and more rounded than most, dangerously easy to drink in two long sips.
Best cocktails in London at Bar Termini - Like Love Do
Beyond the trinity, they offer a rotating Negroni alla Stella—a seasonal special that might involve cocoa, rhubarb, or bergamot. And if you need a break from the bitter, the Vermouth di Torino on tap is a revelation: served ice-cold with a twist of lemon, it’s the ultimate summer sipper.
The Bites: Simple, Salty, and Perfect
You can’t have an Italian aperitivo without something to nibble on, and Bar Termini keeps it painfully simple. They offer a short, sharp menu of Roman-inspired snacks: olive oil-drenched taralli, delicate crostini with anchovy butter, and perhaps the finest mortadella and rocket panino in London.
This is not a restaurant. The food is designed to prepare your palate for the next sip, not to fill you up. The standout is often the cacio e pepe arancini—crispy, molten, and showered with black pepper. Grab one, use it as a palette cleanser, and order another round.
Practical tip: Cash only for small bills? No—they take cards, but tipping is appreciated. And don’t ask for a straw; they don’t exist here. Embrace the old-school, direct approach to drinking.
ANJI CONNELL – HIDDEN LONDON - IRK Magazine
