
Shot by a City Insiders curator.
Nottingham Forest is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stumbled into a mad scientist's tropical living room — red walls, trailing plants, and curiosities from the owner's travels crammed into a tiny space on Viale Piave. Since 1970, this has been one of Milan's most beloved cocktail institutions, and the team behind the bar are genuine pioneers of molecular mixology. The menu runs over 100 drinks deep, all at a flat €14, and the presentations are theatrical without being silly — we're talking cocktails served in miniature bathtubs with rubber ducks, in flower pots, and in boxes that open like gifts.
Over 100 theatrical cocktails at a flat €14 — served in bathtubs, flower pots, and boxes — in a tiny red-walled tropical hideaway since 1970.
Arrive before 8pm on weekends to skip the queue — the space is tiny and there are no reservations. Groups of more than four will struggle to fit.
Milan's Quirky Cocktail Legend
Nottingham Forest has been pushing the boundaries of cocktail culture in Milan since 1970, long before "mixology" became a buzzword. The moment you push through the door on Viale Piave, you're swallowed by a tiny, dimly lit space dripping with character — deep red walls, lush greenery, and shelves cluttered with oddities the owner has collected from decades of travel. It feels less like a bar and more like the inside of someone's eccentric imagination. The space is genuinely small, so you'll likely queue on weekends, but that's part of the ritual.
The cocktail menu is enormous — over 100 options, all priced at a reasonable €14 — and this is where Nottingham Forest truly shines. The drinks are theatrical without crossing into gimmick territory. The "Bathtub" arrives in a miniature tub with bubbles and a rubber duck; others come in flower pots, paper cups, or wooden boxes that you open like a present. The bartenders, led by owner Dario Comini, are among the pioneers who introduced molecular mixology techniques to the international scene, and you can taste the precision behind the showmanship.
A few practical notes: there are no reservations, so arriving early on weekends is smart. Groups larger than four will genuinely struggle — the space simply can't accommodate them. Come with one or two friends, order something you've never seen before, and let the bartenders do their thing. This is a place that earns its legend status.