9 Best Places to Celebrate Negroni Week in Abu Dhabi

Sameer Khan
Sameer Khan
Sameer Khan is a creative Content Writer based in the UAE, specializing in feature articles, digital storytelling, and editorial content. He is passionate about crafting engaging...

Negroni Week Abu Dhabi 2026 at a Glance

Negroni Week has returned for 2026, giving Abu Dhabi’s cocktail scene a reason to get creative with one of Italy’s most recognisable drinks.

Running globally from September 21 to 27, 2026, Negroni Week brings bars and restaurants together around the classic combination of gin, vermouth and bitter aperitif. The annual initiative is organised by Imbibe and supports Slow Food through participating venues and fundraising activities.

Across Abu Dhabi, the celebration looks very different from one venue to the next. There are beetroot-infused interpretations, smoky tableside serves, tasting flights, sparkling Sbagliatos, coffee-inspired creations and even cocktails influenced by racing at Yas Marina.

Here are nine places to celebrate Negroni Week in Abu Dhabi in 2026, along with the offers, dates and prices worth knowing.

1. Ilios Brings Mediterranean Flavours to Negroni Week

Ilios Restaurant on Hudayriyat Island is taking a Mediterranean approach to the celebration with three limited-edition interpretations of the cocktail.

Available from September 21 to 27, the menu features the Negroni di Saronno, Avellana and Negroni Tramonto. The restaurant is also pairing the drinks with sharing dishes such as tuna nigiri, beef tartare bites, fried calamari and truffle fries.

Its setting gives this option a slightly different personality from the capital’s traditional hotel bars. Ilios sits beside Surf Abu Dhabi and combines Mediterranean and Greek-inspired dining with poolside and waterfront spaces. Its official venue information describes multiple areas including the restaurant, Apollo Bar and Euphoria Bar & Lounge.

That makes it well suited to anyone who wants Negroni Week to become a full dinner or relaxed evening rather than simply stopping for one cocktail.

When: September 21 to 27, 2026
Where: Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Contact: 02 419 8508

2. Novikov Abu Dhabi Is Serving a Full Negroni Flight

At Novikov Abu Dhabi, Negroni Week is designed for people who would rather compare several interpretations than settle immediately on one.

The restaurant at The Galleria is presenting five variations, including a beetroot-infused Novikov Negroni, a Sake Negroni and a Smoked Cigar Negroni prepared with a theatrical tableside element. Individual cocktails are listed at AED 65, while a three-drink tasting flight costs AED 150.

The tasting-flight format is one of the more interesting ways to approach Negroni Week because it highlights how dramatically the basic concept can change when bartenders adjust spirits, bitterness, aromatics and preparation.

Novikov’s location on Al Maryah Island also makes it convenient for combining the experience with dinner or a longer evening around The Galleria.

When: September 21 to 27
Where: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
Price: AED 65 per cocktail; AED 150 for a three-cocktail flight

3. The St. Regis Bar Is Taking the Negroni in Six Directions

The St. Regis Bar is offering one of the larger selections of the week, with six interpretations of the classic.

The programme moves beyond the standard gin-based formula with variations including the sparkling Sbagliato, the bourbon-led Boulevardier and other creations incorporating ingredients such as sweet potato, blue pea tea and coconut-infused rum. Cocktails are AED 50 individually, while three can be ordered for AED 120.

There is also an additional reason to visit this week. On September 25, mixologist Debjani Rudrashift is scheduled to appear for a special evening of signature serves between 7pm and 11pm.

For travellers or residents who prefer the atmosphere of a classic luxury hotel bar, this is one of the more traditional settings in the guide, even if the drinks themselves take some decidedly unconventional turns.

When: September 20 to 27, 4pm to 1am
Special event: September 25, 7pm to 11pm
Where: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi
Price: AED 50 each or AED 120 for three

4. Al Hanah Bar Takes Guests Around the World

Negroni Week lasts slightly longer at Al Hanah Bar inside Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri.

The hotel’s official 2026 programme confirms its Negroni Week offer runs from September 21 through September 30, giving guests extra time beyond the official global celebration.

The idea here is to use one cocktail as a starting point for a journey through different regions. Five creations take their inspiration from destinations and flavour profiles associated with Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The wider programme goes beyond ordering from a menu. Guest bartender appearances, entertainment and cocktail-related experiences have been incorporated into the celebration, while an industry masterclass was scheduled for September 23.

For anyone interested in mixology rather than simply drinking the finished cocktail, Al Hanah offers one of the week’s more experience-focused programmes.

When: September 21 to 30, from 7pm
Where: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Price: AED 65 for one cocktail or AED 110 for two

5. Perlage and Rosewood Abu Dhabi Join Forces for One Night

Perlage is doing something different by concentrating its Negroni Week celebration into a single collaborative evening.

On September 24, Perlage and the Rosewood Abu Dhabi bar team come together for four original interpretations. Rosewood contributes Cherry and Moka Negronis, while Perlage adds Smoke & Silk and a V60 Zero Proof creation.

The inclusion of a zero-proof option also broadens the format beyond conventional Negroni variations.

A resident DJ is part of the evening, so this is structured more like a nightlife event than a week-long drinks promotion. Prices run from AED 48 to AED 58 per cocktail, with the programme beginning at 8pm.

The Al Maryah Island location means it can also be combined easily with dinner elsewhere around The Galleria before moving into the late-night portion of the evening.

When: September 24, from 8pm
Where: Al Maryah Island
Price: AED 48 to AED 58 per cocktail

6. Black Pearl Offers Four Classics and a Tasting Flight

At Black Pearl, guests have four approaches to choose from.

The Negroni Week line-up includes the venue’s Black Pearl Negroni, a sparkling Negroni Sbagliato, the whiskey-based Boulevardier and a Smoked Negroni. Guests can order a single drink for AED 50 or compare three through a tasting flight priced at AED 125.

This menu works particularly well for anyone who wants to understand the broader family of cocktails surrounding the Negroni. A Sbagliato changes the traditional structure by introducing sparkling wine, while the Boulevardier moves away from gin toward whiskey.

The tasting option therefore makes the experience less about finding one dramatic signature cocktail and more about comparing several styles side by side.

When: September 21 to 27
Where: Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi
Price: AED 50 each or AED 125 for three

7. Stars N Bars Gives Its Negroni a Yas Marina Racing Twist

Negroni Week Abu Dhabi

A cocktail called The Pit Stop feels particularly appropriate at Stars N Bars.

The Yas Marina venue has built its Negroni Week special around its motorsport surroundings. The drink combines Bulldog Gin with roasted coconut-infused Campari and Martini Rosso, adding cardamom and toasted coconut to the profile.

It is a good example of how Negroni Week encourages bars to work within a recognisable framework while still giving the cocktail a strong connection to their own identity.

Here, that identity is unmistakably Yas Marina. Instead of the quiet luxury-bar atmosphere offered by some other venues on the list, Stars N Bars provides a more casual sports-bar and waterfront setting.

That makes The Pit Stop an easy addition to an evening on Yas Island rather than an occasion that necessarily requires a formal dinner reservation.

When: September 21 to 27
Where: Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
Signature drink: The Pit Stop

8. Sorso Is Serving Four Versions Plus a Negroni Hour

Sorso at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is covering both traditional and modern interpretations.

Guests can begin with the original Negroni before moving toward a sparkling Sbagliato, a bourbon-based Boulevardier or Sorso After Dark, which introduces coffee and chocolate notes.

Each cocktail costs AED 55, but there is also a four-drink flight priced at AED 110.

The venue is adding another event on September 26, when a special Negroni Hour will run between 5pm and 6pm.

The variety makes Sorso particularly useful for groups in which everyone has a slightly different preference. Someone can stay close to the traditional recipe while another person chooses the sweeter, darker Sorso After Dark.

When: September 21 to 27
Negroni Hour: September 26, 5pm to 6pm
Where: The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal
Price: AED 55 each or AED 110 for the four-cocktail flight

9. Isabel Mayfair Has Some of the Week’s Most Unusual Flavours

For drinkers who want to move furthest away from the familiar recipe, Isabel Mayfair has a five-drink menu running from September 21 to 27.

There is still a traditional Classic Negroni, priced at AED 65, but the remaining menu becomes considerably more experimental.

The Isabel Negroni takes a herbaceous direction, while the Mushroom Negroni incorporates porcini mushroom-infused Campari. The Tea Time Negroni uses Genmaicha and Hojicha tea infusions, while a fruit-forward Peach Negroni combines bourbon with peach liqueur and other components. Prices range from AED 65 to AED 75.

The variety makes this one of the stronger choices for people who have already tried plenty of standard Negronis and want to see how far bartenders can reinterpret the formula while keeping its bitter-sweet character.

Its position inside The Galleria also puts it close to Novikov and Perlage, meaning Al Maryah Island has one of the highest concentrations of Negroni Week options in the capital.

When: September 21 to 27
Where: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
Price: AED 65 to AED 75

What Exactly Is Negroni Week?

Negroni Week began as a way of bringing bars together around a famous cocktail while connecting the celebration with charitable fundraising.

The official 2026 dates are September 21 to 27, with registered venues around the world taking part. The programme is operated by Imbibe Magazine, with Slow Food connected to its charitable mission.

The classic Negroni is traditionally built around equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Its apparent simplicity is precisely what makes it useful for experimentation.

Switch the gin for whiskey and the drink moves toward Boulevardier territory. Introduce sparkling wine and it becomes a Sbagliato. Change the vermouth, infuse the bitter component or introduce coffee, tea, smoke, fruit or herbs and the drink can take on a completely different personality.

That flexibility is clearly visible across Abu Dhabi’s 2026 menus.

Which Abu Dhabi Area Has the Most Negroni Week Options?

Al Maryah Island is especially convenient this year.

Novikov, Perlage and Isabel Mayfair are all located around The Galleria area, giving visitors several different experiences within the same district. Novikov focuses heavily on tasting and presentation, Perlage has its one-night collaboration, while Isabel Mayfair takes a more experimental approach to ingredients.

Yas Island has a more casual option at Stars N Bars, while Hudayriyat Island offers the poolside setting of Ilios.

Hotel-bar fans can look towards The St. Regis Bar, Al Hanah or Sorso, while Black Pearl covers the Al Raha Beach area.

The geographic spread means visitors do not necessarily need to cross the entire city to participate.

Classic Negroni or Something More Experimental?

Anyone trying a Negroni for the first time may want to begin relatively close to the original combination before moving into the more adventurous interpretations.

Sorso includes the traditional version alongside its variations, making comparisons straightforward. The St. Regis Bar also provides familiar relatives such as the Sbagliato and Boulevardier.

For experimentation, Isabel Mayfair’s mushroom and tea creations push much further into unusual territory.

Novikov’s beetroot and smoked serves focus heavily on technique and presentation, while Stars N Bars uses roasted coconut and cardamom to make its cocktail feel connected to its Yas Marina personality.

There is therefore no single style defining Abu Dhabi’s Negroni Week. That range is arguably the main attraction.

How Much Does Negroni Week Cost in Abu Dhabi?

Most of the published individual cocktail prices sit at roughly AED 48 to AED 75, depending on the venue and drink.

Tasting flights can offer more variety. Black Pearl lists three cocktails for AED 125, Novikov’s three-cocktail flight is AED 150, and Sorso lists four for AED 110. Published offers may be subject to venue terms, taxes or service conditions, so it is worth checking the final price when reserving.

For people who primarily want to experience the creativity of the week, a flight can make more sense than ordering several full individual serves.

Negroni Week in Abu Dhabi Runs Until September 27

For most venues, the main celebration finishes on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in line with the official global Negroni Week dates.

There are exceptions. The St. Regis Bar began its programme on September 20, while Al Hanah continues its celebration through September 30. Perlage, meanwhile, concentrates its collaboration into the single evening of September 24.

With poolside restaurants, luxury hotels, waterfront bars and experimental cocktail menus all taking part, the capital offers several very different ways to experience the event.

Whether you want the original Italian formula, a tasting flight or something involving smoke, coffee, mushroom, tea or roasted coconut, Negroni Week in Abu Dhabi 2026 provides plenty of reasons to try the classic in a new form.

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Sameer Khan is a creative Content Writer based in the UAE, specializing in feature articles, digital storytelling, and editorial content. He is passionate about crafting engaging narratives that showcase the achievements of professionals, entrepreneurs, and brands.✍️