On Saturday night in Lower Manhattan, bartenders at several Italian restaurants were fielding requests for the Sarti Spritz, a ruby-red cocktail that has moved quickly from European trend to local staple. The drink, built around the bitter Sarti liqueur, is being served over ice with prosecco and a slice of orange.
At Dante on MacDougal Street, a manager said they started offering the Sarti Spritz quietly last week, responding to repeated customer inquiries. The drink’s popularity has spiked in part due to social media videos circulating since early August, showing its preparation at Italian beach bars.
Unlike the well-known Aperol or Hugo spritzes, the Sarti version brings a more pronounced herbal bitterness. At $16 to $18 per glass, it aligns with the city’s current cocktail pricing. Staff at Eataly Flatiron confirmed they are considering adding the Sarti Spritz to their menu after several requests this weekend.
Liquor distributors in New York report that Sarti bottles are moving quickly, with some bars noting delays in restocking. The drink’s visibility is expected to increase as more venues look for fresh summer offerings. For now, the Sarti Spritz is shaping up as a new fixture at sidewalk tables across Manhattan and Brooklyn.