Be transported to another time and vibe when you step into Nu Lounge Bar!
The Vibe
I’ve always loved anything ’60s. So when I chose the Nu Lounge Bar as the spot for my birthday party, little did I know I was picking the perfect place to hold it. For more than just a few reasons.
Because of the owner’s world travels to places like South America and Hawaii, Nu Lounge Bar has the particular charm and feel that it does. Tiki mugs line the shelves in all different shapes and colors at the bar. This being just one of the few things that stand out as decoratively eye-pleasing.
Why was it the perfect place for my birthday? Where, oh where do I begin?
First of all, the atmosphere is chic-casual. Meaning, it’s a bit more posh than your average bar, but feel free to be loud, because everyone else is.
The food was perfectly fitting for the type of event (let’s leave the cocktails aside for the time being). And lastly, the music was ideal. The ’60s lounge music they had playing that night is one of my favorite genres, and it set the mood just right.
I wasn’t alone though, my friends enjoyed it just as much.
Ownership and Fame
Nu Lounge Bar is owned by Daniele Dalla Pola. The Robin to his Batman however is Niko Fontana. Acting as bar manager, Niko handles all the ins and outs of the bar’s operations.
In September of 2001 Dalla Pola opened up Nu Lounge Bar in Bologna after having traveled the world extensively. He’d lived in Miami for some years and came up with the idea to open the bar with an exotic Tiki vibe. It started out as a vodka bar and in 2011 Dalla Pola won a world competition in cocktail creations. The competition known as 42 Below Cocktail World Cup, was what really put the bar on the map after.
Even Jeff “beachbum” Berry, the Tiki culture historian has acknowledged them as one of the top 10 Tiki cocktail makers in the world. With all this adulation, you would expect the cocktails to be good. Right? Well, just take a look for yourselves…
Prepare Yourself for the Show
So with all this noise about the cocktails, obviously you’re anxious to hear what their most popular drink is. That would be a tie between two. The Zombie, and Nu Mai Tai. Each having different ingredients, they’re both laced with tons of alcohol (no surprise) giving you a whopping kick to the head, but in a good way. The Zombie is a concoction of lime, different rums, grenadine, grapefruit, cinnamon syrup and some other fun stuff. While the Nu Mai Tai has a few of the same ingredients, they’ve also added passion fruit, ginger, and almond milk. Wow. I’m feeling relaxed already.
But those are just the drinks people order most. Their signature cocktail is not just special because of the ingredients but because of its world-renowned popularity. Known as the Bolognese Americano, the drink is shaken and not stirred. It’s also got vermouth, fresh ginger, tonic water, and lemon zest, among other things. Not only is this drink not made anywhere else in Bologna, but it was discovered at the Nu Lounge Bar by someone quite important. Alex Kratena, who is one of the 2 best bartenders in the world, adopted the drink to his menu at his cocktail bar in London, England.
Okay. Are we impressed yet?
Traffic, Food and Festivities
While there are foreigners and tourists who visit the bar, 80% of their clientele are reportedly Italians. Which, for me anyway, makes me like the place all the more knowing it’s not a tourist dive. In fact, while I was there for my birthday party, I heard only Italian around me, and that’s the way I like it.
The other great thing about Nu Lounge bar, is that it doesn’t need a lot of advertisement, because the majority of traffic is due to word of mouth. And who wouldn’t want to spread the word about a place like this? It’s also located right in the heart of Bologna, just a few steps from Piazza Maggiore.
Did I mention the food yet? Ah yes, not only do they have some of the most amazing cocktails the city has to offer, but they also have some great party-style food. You can order regular dishes like Tortellini al Ragu, or some amazing Bruschetta, but if you’re there in a group, I would recommend their nachos and guacamole. The guac by the way tasted like it was spiked with jalapeno peppers and some sort of alcohol. No, I’m not complaining.
And, as an added bonus for the gals, every Wednesday night throughout the year, they have “ladies night” wherein the bar is only open to women. You get two free courses – meaning anything off their fab menu – with the purchase of a drink (it can even be a bottle of water, not necessarily an alcoholic drink)!
On December 8th, they have a Hawaiian night. How is this different from any other night? The wait staff dress in Hawaiian attire, with their Hawaiian leis and all. Customers can also participate if they’re in the mood, and why wouldn’t you be?
It’s a Must
The food is terrific, the cocktails are show-stopping, but it’s the general vibe of the place, ambiance and small touches that leave you feeling happy and pleased you chose to frequent the bar. The next time in Bologna, there’s no question I will be going back to Nu Lounge Bar – if for no other reason, there are dozens of more drinks that I need to try, as their cocktail menu is endless!
Don’t miss out on some amazing Tiki cocktails the next time you’re in Bologna, and when you do, don’t forget to tell them Lisa sent you!
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