On the Scene Milan: Locals Talk About the Latest Trends in Their City

Nothing changes as quickly as fashion and trends. Milan is home to fashion and furniture designers who determine what the world will be wearing and how we will be living the day after tomorrow. Yet, these very people whose job it is to tempt us with new products are magnetically drawn to a place where nothing ever changes. Well, almost never.

Bar Basso is the name of this almost mythical place. Since 1947, it has been located in a pleasant spot away from the bustling streets of downtown Milan, at a roundabout in the university district. On a normal weekday, it can be quite tranquil here. Just a few neighbors, friends, and perhaps a few tourists who want to try the Sbagliato, Bar Basso's signature drink, which was invented here. This drink combines Campari and vermouth with Prosecco to create something that epitomizes the Italian way of life like no other. It is more stylish than a Spritz and lighter than a classic Negroni.

"My father created this drink in the 1970s," says Maurizio Stocchetto, the current owner of the bar that his father took over from its namesake Giuseppe Basso in 1967. According to Stocchetto, it was a time of change. "Factories were gradually closing, and the former industrial city of Milan had to reinvent itself as a center for art, fashion, design, and finance." Society was changing, too. "At that time, more and more women were coming to the bar, and they wanted to drink something less alcoholic than the men."

Trendy for Half a Century: the Sbagliato

The Negroni Sbagliato, meaning "wrong Negroni," was popular with everyone. However, according to Stocchetto, it took until the 1990s for the Sbagliato to become internationally known. The internet was still in its infancy then, and everything moved much more slowly. The Sbagliato is served in an oversized, heavy glass mug. It's fair to say that the Sbagliato has been a trendy drink for half a century, and its popularity continues to grow. Cocktail lovers are increasingly ordering a "wrong one" at the best bars, from Buenos Aires to Berlin.

But let's return to the cozy Bar Basso, with its mirrors, chandeliers, dark wood furnishings, and well-dressed, attentive bartenders. Not much has changed here since the Sbagliato was invented. "Why should everything stay the same?" we ask Stocchetto. "Because it's good this way," he replies, and his success proves him right.

Milan's Classic Bar: Pure Perfection

However, to ensure repeat business from the creative types, wealthy individuals, oddballs, and ordinary neighbors, Stocchetto believes that one thing is essential: an unwavering commitment to maintaining high quality and never letting up. "Milan is the city that sets the trends," he says, "and the people responsible for that end up at our bar sooner or later." They know exactly why: this bar doesn't chase short-lived trends; it focuses on consistency, the highest standards, and recognizability.

At Maurizio Stocchetto's bar, perfection is paramount, whether it's a quiet Wednesday evening or during Fashion Week or the Salone del Mobile, the world's most important furniture and design fair, when hundreds of people gather in a burst of creativity in front of the bar.

About

Maurizio Stocchetto was born in Cortina in 1960. His father Mirko, an experienced restaurateur, took over Bar Basso in 1967 and transformed the inconspicuous Milanese pub into a trendy cocktail bar. Since the 1980s, his son Maurizio has also worked behind the bar and has run it since the death of his father in 2016.