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L'Antiquario

Naples

A love letter to the golden age of hospitality

Naples is a city defined by its loud energy and chaotic charm, but behind the discreet doors of L'Antiquario, the world slows down into a scene of classic, refined Neapolitan elegance. Founded by local legend Alexander Frezza, this bar is a love letter to the golden age of hospitality. The decor is a lush tapestry of red velvet, floral wallpaper and dark wood, evoking the feel of a classic gentleman's club or a hidden jazz lounge, with live music completing the image on weeknights.

The cocktail programme is unapologetic in its focus on the tried-and-tested classics of Italy, but clever in its flourishes. Frezza and his immaculately white-jacketed team are masters of balance, best evidenced in drinks like the quad-citrus Un Grande Limone where gin, citron water, citron liqueur, lemon and limoncello are combined into the essence of southern Italy in sippable form. Alongside the classics, a selection of modern contemporary creations are just as worthy of the spotlight, including the Banana Split – a milk-washed concoction of vanilla vodka, strawberry, banana and cocoa. There is also a charming theatricality to the pours here, with its signature trio of negronis served on a custom silver tower. As Naples continues to undergo a cultural renaissance, L'Antiquario stands as its sophisticated anchor, proving that in the home of pizza, street food and espresso, there's still a hunger for the art of the grand hotel-style cocktail.

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