With itâs fondant ceilings and paper-white walls, Rosso is one of the cityâs finest spots for a post-work cocktail. Iâve whiled away many an evening in itâs elegant embrace, supping rich red Amarone or, even better, working my way through the restaurantâs cocktail list with friends and colleagues.
This being an Italian restaurant and bar, itâs fitting that some of the barâs bestselling drinks draw on the motherlandâs finest ingredients. Clocking in around the £8 mark, stand out choices include the peach and lemon Bellini inspired by Harryâs Bar in Venice, a classic Negroni (Tanqueray Gin, Martini Rosso, Campari and orange) and the Bicicletta (Campari and Pinot Grigio white wine), named after old men weaving their way home after one too many a tipple after a hard dayâs work.
One of the key flavours youâll find on the menu is Campari, which is perfect at this time of year. Thereâs something about itâs bitters-infused taste thatâs grown up and bright â the taste of Spring if you like. A stylish friend Sophie introduced me to it in her 1950s-inspired milk bar of a kitchen, as she talked me through her latest project (curating film posters from remote corners of Estonia, or something). In this particular setting, I got a sense of how certain drinks - drinks which donât knock you out with one flavour but contains a collection of tastes and smells to be unravelled by over the course of a drink â can bring a sense of splendour, excitement, or elegance to a situation.
Needless to say, Campari is a feature of many cocktails on Rossoâs comprehensive list. But thereâs something for everyone thanks to a menu that follows the house-trend for simple, high quality ingredients.
The cocktail list is divided into sections which include aperitifs (pre-dinner selection), classics (ideal anytime) and digestifs (perfect for post-dinner). One that stands out is the âOriginale del Rossoâ cocktail menu, which takes in all manner of classic Italian ingredients â prosecco, Italian vermouth, amaretto - to name but a few, reconfigured with a stylish Manc-Italian twist.
Choice picks from this list include the Left Bank Sling (St Germain, Sauvignon, Lemon, Sugar, £10) a Spring take on the spritzer, all ice, citrus and zing. I also like the sparkling grapefruit and orange baseline of Laguna (£10 with Grappa, peach, lime, & more).
You can order off menu too, and the wine by the glass selection is top end. Basically, this is one of the cityâs places to see, and be seen (there is plenty of documentary evidence of celebs such as David Beckham proving this point on the walls). Itâs comfortable too, with the bar space divided down one side into semi-private booth type spaces with high stools to style on, or comfortable chairs offering the chance to lounge about nearer the ground.
43 Spring Gardens, M2 2BG. Tel: 0161 832 1400.