The Soda Jerk

In a few years, this Verona venue will have turned ten. The reason? The speakeasy of Claudio Perinelli and Thomas Bianco, partners and bar managers, has stood out in the city since its inception, and, no small thing, it's been perfectly executed. After ringing the doorbell, you enter these rooms, where a bicycle and a painting of Michael Jordan stand out on the walls. The cocktails, also created by head bartender Simone Broglia and bartenders Bruno Simoncelli and Edoardo Cipriani, increasingly place the focus on the ingredient, and in particular, a flavor for each cocktail, as in the case of the unusual guacamole. The most commonly used alcoholic bases remain, due to customer preference, vodka and gin, but here they also mix with pisco, mezcal, and other international spirits. The menu also features some bestsellers, like El Gianissero, a standout from the first drink list, and "aged" cocktails, created by sous vide cooking the ingredients, which perfectly blends them. A small chalkboard also features four off-the-menu options, mostly twists on classics made with seasonal ingredients, like the Old Fashioned with plum.