Am existential question that every barfly should reflect on, especially after a few martinis, is: what are the essential components of a cocktail bar? Going back to the essentials is especially important in the present times of cocktail craze, where bars are often equipped with 15 kinds of glasses, 50 bitters of any taste and origin, etc etc. Now, I would dare to say that the very essential ingredients are: a counter where you can lean, a good set of cocktail gear, bottles and other ingredients, and especially a good bartender. I would add, but that is not strictly essential, some good background music and a couple of tables for intimate sipping. At the Corto Club in the very centre of Torino you get all of this, and nothing else: the whole room is occupied by a beautiful counter, on the side you have a very small and intimate room with a couple of tables (and a toilet, indeed also essential), and that’s it. This essentiality makes the important things emerge: the kindness and capacity of the bartender and the quality of the drinks. I had a classic martini, an eclectic smoked martini, and a lot of inspiring chats with Stefano, the passionated and super knowledgeable master of the place, and the experience was simply perfect. Probably the smallest and most essential bar I ever visited, and still one of the best ones! Classic Martini rate: 9.
The Martini Hour 