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Best Negronis in San Francisco for Negroni Week 2016

So you say you love Negronis. But how much do you really love Negronis?

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Monday marks the start of the fourth annual Negroni Week, in which bars across the world break out their rendition of the classic bitter drink from June 6 to June 13 — with the proceeds going to the charity of the bar's choice. What started three years ago as a small fundraiser in Portland has now plumed into about 4,500 bars in 46 countries, according to Campari, the sponsor for the event. The result is fun, zany, and sometimes unconventional takes on what is usually a straightforward blend of equal parts gin, vermouth, and the Italian bitter Campari.

Wondering where to go this year? Here are San Francisco's highlights.

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Bar manager Christopher Longoria serves up a selection of five different Negronis. You can get the sparkling Negroni Sbagliato ($10), which features Prosecco and a Campari ice cube. Or try some sweet and savory infusions with Negronis using sage-infused Campari ($13) or TCHO cacao-infused Campari ($13). Charity: Tenants Together

Grace Sager

Bear Vs Bull

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Alamo Drafthouse’s chill neighborhood bar, Bear Vs. Bull, offers four Negronis next week. The frozen Tropical Negroni, in particular, sips like an irresistible adult Icee that will keep you coming back for more. The cocktail blends together Campari, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, Beefeater Gin, coconut cream, and fresh ripe strawberries. Price: $15 Charity: Tipping Point

Cafe Du Nord

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San Francisco’s famous cocktail innovators, The Bon Vivants, take you back to small kid days with the classy looking Ants on Logroni — a savory mix of Campari, Rutte Celery Gin, peanut-infused Cizano 1757, scotch, and poached golden raisin garnish. Price: $12 Charity: SF-Marin Food Bank

Holy Mountain

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On Wednesday evening only, four well-known San Francisco bartenders descend onto Holy Mountain to create four zany versions of Negronis, all served in fruit. Nora Furst’s (Horsefeather) Love, Lava, and Burning Desire is served in a pineapple. Nicholas Torres (Lazy Bear) puts a classic Negroni and a banana in a blender and then clarifies it—it is allegedly served in a banana. Kevin Dowell’s (86 Company) Duck Duck Chi Chi comes in a coconut. Tory Bayless’s (Holy Mountain) drink will come in a watermelon. Price: $12 each Charity: La Coccina

Wes Rowe

Horsefeather

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Justin Lew and Ian Scalzo’s trendy cocktail bar on Divisidero features its Foamy Negroni — a textured drink made from Campari, Bulldog Gin, Cinzano 1757, and topped with foam made from Stieg Radler. Price: $12 Charity: Rocket Dog Rescue

Locanda

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For some classic variations of the Negroni, Italian osteria and bar Locanda is serving six of them. Along with the original Negroni, they present the Sbagliato (Campari, Cocchi Torino, prosecco, the Café Roero (mezcal, sibona, coffee, cappelletti), and The Imposter (rye, Averna, bruto Americano), among others. Price: $12-13 Charity: Lustgarten Foundation

Maven, known for its pairings of cocktail and food, brings a spice-spiked rendition of the Negroni. They combine a cumin oleo saccahrum (a sugar preparation typically used for punches), apple jack, and Campari, topped with a Zinfandel float. Price: $12 Charity: Room to Read

The modern Moroccan Michelined restaurant offers a Negroni Board — a presentation of a Coffee and Coconut Negroni, a Juniper Ganache Macaroon, and Harissa salted orange segment. First you sip the Negroni, then take a bite of the Macaroon, and then the orange slice is intended to cleanse your palate. Price: $16 Charity: Mission Dolores Academy

Anthony Parks

For an snazzy Negroni tasting, the sleek book-themed bar Novela is offering a four-course flight, available in full-size portions or smaller tasters. Start with an aperitif of 209 gin, Suze liqueur, Noilly Pratt vermouth, lemon zest and then move to two "mains": the Primo Fragola (Bols Genever, strawberry Carpano dry, Aperol, cucumber) and the spicy Secundo Piccante (Lunazol reposado, El Silencio mezcal, Gran Classico, Ancho Reyes, Carpano Antica). Finish with a dessert Negroni poured over black forest cake ice cream. Price: $36 Charity: Muttville

Tradition

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Famously creative Johnny Codd has just taken over as General Manager of Tradition in the Tenderloin. In addition to debuting a new menu this week, he features four Negronis with trademark inventive flair. This includes his frozen Negroni, a Negroni jello shot, a barrel-aged Negroni with Negroni cotton candy, and Negroni fruit rollup. Charity: San Francisco Education Fund

Grace Sager

Whitechapel

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San Francisco’s elaborate London Underground-themed gin bar, Whitechapel, will feature three Negroni Variations on their menu, including a savory BBQ Negroni made from Campari, smoked vermouth, apple cider vinegar, and Texas dry rub-infused gin. Price: $13 Charity: Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation

Grace Sager

Wildhawk

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Newly opened Wildhawk in the Mission makes an argument for early drinking: it creates its Negroni twist using cereal. Its Breakfast Negroni combines Campari, Bulldog Gin, Cocoa Puffs-infused Cinzano 1757, and chocolate salt bitters. Price: $12 Charity: Holy Family Day Home

1760

Bar manager Christopher Longoria serves up a selection of five different Negronis. You can get the sparkling Negroni Sbagliato ($10), which features Prosecco and a Campari ice cube. Or try some sweet and savory infusions with Negronis using sage-infused Campari ($13) or TCHO cacao-infused Campari ($13). Charity: Tenants Together

Grace Sager

Bear Vs Bull

Alamo Drafthouse’s chill neighborhood bar, Bear Vs. Bull, offers four Negronis next week. The frozen Tropical Negroni, in particular, sips like an irresistible adult Icee that will keep you coming back for more. The cocktail blends together Campari, Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, Beefeater Gin, coconut cream, and fresh ripe strawberries. Price: $15 Charity: Tipping Point

Cafe Du Nord

San Francisco’s famous cocktail innovators, The Bon Vivants, take you back to small kid days with the classy looking Ants on Logroni — a savory mix of Campari, Rutte Celery Gin, peanut-infused Cizano 1757, scotch, and poached golden raisin garnish. Price: $12 Charity: SF-Marin Food Bank

Holy Mountain

On Wednesday evening only, four well-known San Francisco bartenders descend onto Holy Mountain to create four zany versions of Negronis, all served in fruit. Nora Furst’s (Horsefeather) Love, Lava, and Burning Desire is served in a pineapple. Nicholas Torres (Lazy Bear) puts a classic Negroni and a banana in a blender and then clarifies it—it is allegedly served in a banana. Kevin Dowell’s (86 Company) Duck Duck Chi Chi comes in a coconut. Tory Bayless’s (Holy Mountain) drink will come in a watermelon. Price: $12 each Charity: La Coccina

Wes Rowe

Horsefeather

Justin Lew and Ian Scalzo’s trendy cocktail bar on Divisidero features its Foamy Negroni — a textured drink made from Campari, Bulldog Gin, Cinzano 1757, and topped with foam made from Stieg Radler. Price: $12 Charity: Rocket Dog Rescue

Locanda

For some classic variations of the Negroni, Italian osteria and bar Locanda is serving six of them. Along with the original Negroni, they present the Sbagliato (Campari, Cocchi Torino, prosecco, the Café Roero (mezcal, sibona, coffee, cappelletti), and The Imposter (rye, Averna, bruto Americano), among others. Price: $12-13 Charity: Lustgarten Foundation

Maven

Maven, known for its pairings of cocktail and food, brings a spice-spiked rendition of the Negroni. They combine a cumin oleo saccahrum (a sugar preparation typically used for punches), apple jack, and Campari, topped with a Zinfandel float. Price: $12 Charity: Room to Read

Mourad

The modern Moroccan Michelined restaurant offers a Negroni Board — a presentation of a Coffee and Coconut Negroni, a Juniper Ganache Macaroon, and Harissa salted orange segment. First you sip the Negroni, then take a bite of the Macaroon, and then the orange slice is intended to cleanse your palate. Price: $16 Charity: Mission Dolores Academy

Anthony Parks

Novela

For an snazzy Negroni tasting, the sleek book-themed bar Novela is offering a four-course flight, available in full-size portions or smaller tasters. Start with an aperitif of 209 gin, Suze liqueur, Noilly Pratt vermouth, lemon zest and then move to two "mains": the Primo Fragola (Bols Genever, strawberry Carpano dry, Aperol, cucumber) and the spicy Secundo Piccante (Lunazol reposado, El Silencio mezcal, Gran Classico, Ancho Reyes, Carpano Antica). Finish with a dessert Negroni poured over black forest cake ice cream. Price: $36 Charity: Muttville

Tradition

Famously creative Johnny Codd has just taken over as General Manager of Tradition in the Tenderloin. In addition to debuting a new menu this week, he features four Negronis with trademark inventive flair. This includes his frozen Negroni, a Negroni jello shot, a barrel-aged Negroni with Negroni cotton candy, and Negroni fruit rollup. Charity: San Francisco Education Fund

Grace Sager

Whitechapel

San Francisco’s elaborate London Underground-themed gin bar, Whitechapel, will feature three Negroni Variations on their menu, including a savory BBQ Negroni made from Campari, smoked vermouth, apple cider vinegar, and Texas dry rub-infused gin. Price: $13 Charity: Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation

Grace Sager

Wildhawk

Newly opened Wildhawk in the Mission makes an argument for early drinking: it creates its Negroni twist using cereal. Its Breakfast Negroni combines Campari, Bulldog Gin, Cocoa Puffs-infused Cinzano 1757, and chocolate salt bitters. Price: $12 Charity: Holy Family Day Home

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