Alto Cocktail Festival
Italy's highest festival of mixology and signature cuisine in Cervia
About Alto Cocktail Festival
A festival on the roof of Romagna
The Alto Cocktail Festival is the event that every year places Cervia, a pearl of the Romagna Riviera in the province of Ravenna, at the center of the Italian contemporary mixology scene. The stage is the panoramic terrace of ALTO Rooftop, the bar and restaurant that crowns the Villa del Mare Resort overlooking the Adriatic Sea: from here, at sunset, what the organizers like to call "Italy's highest festival" comes to life.
The event is conceived and directed by Niccolò Amadori, one of the most acclaimed bar managers on the national scene, and is one of the rare Italian festivals entirely conceived and produced by a single venue. This independent imprint is reflected in a curated, intimate, and sophisticated format, far from the logic of large industry fairs.
Cocktails, cuisine, and pizza in dialogue
The heart of the Alto Cocktail Festival is pairing: the idea that the drink, the dish, and the pizza are not separate worlds but chapters of a single gastronomic experience. Each evening brings together guest bartenders from Italian and international cocktail bars, Michelin-starred and emerging chefs, and signature pizza makers, called upon to create multi-hand pairing paths. Alongside tastings, the program includes talks and discussions on beverage trends, gastronomic pairing, and cocktail culture.
Cervia and the Riviera of Taste
The choice of Cervia is no coincidence: the town in Emilia-Romagna, famous for its salt pans and a food and wine tradition that blends sea and land, has always been a crossroads of flavors. The Alto Cocktail Festival picks up this heritage and projects it towards avant-garde mixology, attracting enthusiasts and industry professionals from all over Italy for a few evenings of high conviviality with a view of the Adriatic.
Why it's worth the trip
- A lineup of some of the most interesting bartenders, chefs, and pizza makers in Italy and Europe.
- Original pairings between cocktails, haute cuisine, and signature pizza.
- A panoramic terrace overlooking the sea at sunset, a unique atmosphere of the Romagna Riviera.
- An independent and curated format, with talks and insights for enthusiasts and professionals.
Alto Cocktail Festival — edition 2026
Fifth Edition: Mixology Meets Cuisine and Pizza
The 5th edition of the Alto Cocktail Festival brought over a thousand participants to Cervia for six evenings, from May 23 to 29, 2026, on the panoramic terrace of ALTO Rooftop overlooking the Villa del Mare Resort. The main theme was comprehensive pairing, with the slogan "where cocktails, cuisine, and pizza are no longer separate worlds."
Each evening began with an aperitivo with live cooking, then unfolded into two parallel paths: one pairing cuisine and cocktails at the restaurant, the other pairing drinks, signature pizza, and barbecue at the bar. Completing the program were three talks dedicated to gastronomic pairing, beverage trends, and the culture of pizza and cocktails.
Programme Alto Cocktail Festival 2026
Evening Format
- L'Aperitivo (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM) — Themed live cooking in "L'Aperitivo Italiano" style.
- Experience Restaurant (9:00 PM - 11:00 PM) — Eight-hand pairing dinner between signature cuisine and cocktails.
- Experience Bar (9:00 PM - 11:00 PM) — Pairing dinner with bartenders, BBQ specialists, and pizza chefs.
- Il Dopo Festival (from 11:00 PM) — Live pizza and themed drink list.
Guest Bartenders
- Giulia Caffiero (Geranium, Copenhagen)
- Martina Bonci (Gucci Giardino)
- Lucia Montanelli (Vesper Bar)
- Alessia Bellafante (Sali)
- Davide Patta and Fabio Tammariello (Ruggine, Bologna)
- Marco Masiero (Lubna, Milan)
- Jimmy Bertazzoli (Aguardiente, Marina di Ravenna)
Chefs and Pizza Makers
- Benedetta Romano (Geranium)
- Enrico Croatti (Moebius, Milan)
- Andrea Imperio (Elementi Fine Dining)
- Gennaro Pepe and Francesco Auriemma (I Vesuviani)
- Federico Sisti (Frangente)
Talks
Three sessions dedicated to gastronomic pairing, beverage trends, and the dialogue between pizza and cocktail culture.
Highlights Alto Cocktail Festival 2026
Prices Alto Cocktail Festival 2026
Practical information — Alto Cocktail Festival
Location
ALTO Rooftop, panoramic terrace of the Villa del Mare Resort, in Cervia (RA), along the coast of the Romagna Riviera.
Getting there
By car: from the A14 motorway, exit at Cesena or Cervia/Mirabilandia, then follow signs for the seafront. By train: Cervia-Milano Marittma station on the Ferrara-Ravenna-Rimini line. Nearest airports: Rimini and Bologna.
Access and reservations
The event includes limited seating experiences (pairing dinner at the restaurant and bar) and free access to the terrace. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made through the official website altorooftop.com.
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Where does it take place — Alto Cocktail Festival
ALTO Rooftop - Villa del Mare Resort
Lungomare Grazia Deledda 9, 48015 Cervia