Camparino in Galleria — Restaurant in Milan

Made a reservation for one for a late Sat night tipple at the main bar on the second floor, and after having been to several other cocktail bars in Milan, my experience at Camparino has been very disappointing in comparison.

Arrived punctually at 11pm and was seated at the very last table in the corner where the elevator was. No bother, it was fairly packed on a weekend and I understand the bar seats were full.

Once I was seated with the QR code to scan the menu, I entered a different dimension where I was alone by myself. The wait staff mostly disappeared in the other section of the bar, and none of them seemed to be interested in taking my order until I managed to get their attention. As you can imagine, being seated in the furthest corner meant I was already out of sight, but it seemed I was out of mind as well.

Having arrived from an opera, I was hungry as well as thirsty, and enquired with the waiter if the kitchen was still open. I received a "no" with an unhappy tone as though I had asked an incredibly demanding question. I let it slide. My drink arrived almost 15min later, and that was the last I saw a wait staff at my table. It was only 90min later that a waiter came to my table, not to check on how I was doing or my drink, but to serve me the bill as the bar was closing.

During the entire time I was there, it seemed the wait staff were more interested in engaging the other guests, many of whom were American tourists, and it makes me question if I was being treated differently because of my race as an Asian?

As a member of the bartending scene back home, this experience comes even more shocking. This is not the standard of hospitality that we are trained to deliver to guests from all over the world. Should I have put a note in my reservation that I was a visiting bartender in order to receive a respectable amount of attention as a guest? But if so, it is a shame that hospitality standards are not applied equally to regular guests.

And the perfect way to cap off my visit to Camparino? As I made my way down the stairs to the exit on the first floor, the door was locked and I had to climb all the way up again to get a staff to unlock the door.

Splendid service at one of the world's 50 best bars, certainly setting the standard for how not to serve guests. Thanks for the great night Camparino!

P. S was going to give one star for this review but the...

My husband booked the Camparino in Milan for 'dinner' for a special occasion for Sunday 30 June 2024 for 2 people.

On the Sunday, we received the email below confirming the reservation for that evening. Reminder of your Reservation for Camparino in Galleria Dear Greg Nixon We kindly remind you of your reservation at Camparino in Galleria on Sunday, 30 June 2024 at 20:00 for 2 people.

Your table will be available until 9.30pm on Sunday, 30 June 2024.

However, when we arrived, we were advised that the Camparino in Galleria WASN'T OPEN ON SUNDAYS. You just can't make this up. I was so upset and I'm still at a loss to understand how such a mammoth mistake could be made by a supposedly professional company.

No apologies from the male waiter for ruining our special night. He just explained that Camparino in Galleria wasn't open Sundays and he was at a loss to understand how we received a 'confirmation' email.

He then found us a seat downstairs so that we could have a drink and decide what we were going to do and where we were going to go for dinner. But, before we could place our order, the establishment bought over 2 x Campari Sodas. Yes, that's right, a Campari Soda. The cheapest drink on their menu. A drink that would have cost the 'establishment' absolutely zero, zilch, nothing to produce. They could have at least offered us the opportunity to choose our own drinks. In which case, I would have ordered a Campari Spritz.

My husband and I are very BIG Campari lovers and in fact the day before we did a Galleria Campari Tour @ Sesto San Giovanni Milan which was fabulous.

Disappointing and...

Reviewing only the bar / cocktails:

Atmosphere: 8.5/10 Located right inside Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, across from the Duomo, this historic bar is pure Milan heritage. The full Campari backbar and elegant Art Nouveau details set the tone, while the mosaic floors and frescoes give it that timeless grandeur. Music volume is pleasant, and though there’s no counter seating, you can stand at the bar or grab a table with complimentary snacks. The view of both the cathedral and the Galleria makes this one of the most scenic bar locations anywhere.

Drinks: 8.5/10 Recommendation: Cocoa Berry Boulevardier, Negroni The menu is solid, focused heavily on Campari with only a few non-Campari options. Drinks are well executed, clean, and minimal in presentation. Coasters are nice, glassware is average, garnishes simple but fitting. Flavor delivery is consistent — if you’re a Campari fan, this is as authentic as it gets.

Service: 8/10 Complimentary snacks arrive with drinks. The team is friendly and professional, though not particularly attentive. No water on arrival, no towels, but the overall experience still feels polished. No reservation needed. Prices are high, as expected for such a prime Milan landmark.

This bar is ranked #92 on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 (51–100 list). My take: this bar has a unique concept and a unique location with unbeatable views. Paired with great Campari cocktails, it fully...