Negroni Week brings the cocktails, and the cause

In a spirited and charitable initiative, Imbibe Magazine and Campari’s Negroni Week is making its way to the City of Brotherly Love to do some good—and to also promote some tasty cocktails. 

Beginning Monday, Sept. 12 and lasting through the 18, Negroni Week will be in full swing in Philadelphia to raise funds for its giving partner, Slow Food. The global organization promotes local food and traditional cooking, and as a release states, represents the ethos of Negroni Week, as it aims to cultivate community, foster equity and justice, and seek a better world for all through food and beverage.

Philadelphians can get involved themselves by just heading to some of the city’s hotspots and ordering a cocktail. 

Rex at the Royal

South Street’s own Southern-styled hotspot is offering its own Negroni menu to celebrate the week. Available in the dining area and also the bar, Rex at The Royal will be featuring Coopers’ Craft Bourbon, aka the official Bourbon of Negroni Week 2022, through their variation of cocktails. Options include the Classic (made with gin, campari and sweet vermouth), the Royal (chicory-infused Bluecoat barrel aged gin, forthave red and cocchi vermouth di torino,) Boulevardier (Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve, campari, and sweet vermouth,) the Summer Child (muddy river spiced carolina rum, gran classico, rainwater madiera and house orange bitters,) and the Wear After Labor Day ( Forthave Blue Gin, letherbee besk and lo-fi Sweet vermouth.)

In addition to the libation menu, according to a release, on Wednesday, Sept. 14, Rex at The Royal will also host an exclusive, ticketed Negroni Hour where guests can sip on five cocktails paired with light hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Executive Chef Aaron Paik. Tickets to Negroni Hour are available to purchase online on OpenTable. 

1524 South St., rexphl.com

The Grove at Assembly Rooftop Lounge 

Described as a lush tropical haven in the sky, Assembly Rooftop Lounge’s latest activation gives the city a paradise garden feel while 9 floors above Philadelphia. And while taking in the vibrant textures, patterns, décor and exotic plant life on top of Assembly’s great views, comfortable seating, food options and fire pits, visitors can also sip on a their Paper Negroni ($16) in honor of Negroni Week. Mixed with “thoughtfully curated” ingredients including orange bitters, Malfy Limone gin, Campari, Nonino Amaro, and a housemade lemon cordial, for each drink sold, Assembly Rooftop Lounge will donate $2 of the proceeds to Slow Food.

1840 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., assemblyrooftop.com

Urban Farmer

Located in the same building as Assembly Rooftop Lounge (the Logan Hotel), the rural-chic farm-to-table mainstay will celebrate Negroni Week with a reimagined Posh Negroni ($17), complete with Earl Grey Infused Gin, Campari, Peche de Vigne, Carpano, and peach bitters. For each Posh Negroni sold, Urban Farmer will donate $2 of the proceeds to Slow Food, a release states. 

1850 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, urbanfarmersteakhouse.com

Royal Boucherie 

To celebrate Negroni Week in Philadelphia, Old City hotspot Royal Boucherie is offering up more than one spirited option on their menu—three options to be exact. The trio of drinks includes the Jabroni (described as a reimagined concoction of Old Grandad Bonded Bourbon, Faccia Brutto Aperitivo, and Ploughman Plenum Vermouth), the Mafiosa (made with a blend of La Gritona Reposado Tequila, Amaro Nardini, Bonanto, Carpano Antica, and peach bitters), and the Bardot (made with a white negroni prepared with Bluecoat Gin, Salers Gentian, Dolin Blanc, and lemon bitters).

52 S. 2nd St., royalboucherie.com