The Art of Aperitivo
“Vuoi andare a prendere un aperitivo?” (=”Would you like to go for an happy hour?”), an invitation that we often hear among family, friends, and colleagues in Italy to meet and have a pre-meal drink, usually in the early evening time before dinner.
Aperitivo, an Italian happy hour lifestyle, is a cherished tradition of Italian culture. It's not just about enjoying drinks and snacks, it's a social ritual that brings people together to unwind, catch up, listen to some music, and enjoy each other's company. Aperitivo provides a moment to relax and connect with others after a long day at work or before a night out, in some places this is also the moment to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Aperitivo usually starts around 6 or 7 PM to “open” and stimulate the appetite in preparation for the evening meal. Many bars offer aperitivo specials where people buy a drink and get access to a food buffet of appetizers, an array of selection of finger snacks from the classics like peeled peanuts, green olives, and potato chips to a selection of small savory sandwiches, little margherita pizzas, roasted bread with a chunk of tomatoes, tuna or mozzarella, salty cakes with cheese, puff pastry with salmon or grilled vegetables, just simple plain focaccia, schiacciata, and many other food delicacies. At some bars, the variety of this delicious Italian food during aperitivo can be a dinner, a combination of snacks, and a dinner meal, and it’s called apericena.
The aperitivo and cena (= dinner in Italian), a great mix to have a more enjoyable evening, offering a free buffet complete with more food presentation for example some thin slices of roasted beef, cold cuts, soup, mixed salad, pizza, and pasta for the apericena. Aperitivo typically includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Popular alcoholic choices include Aperol Spritz the popular drink for the occassion, selection of wine, prosecco, and cocktails like Negroni, Campari, or Vermouth. Non-alcoholic options such as sparkling water, a selection of fruit juices, and soft drinks are also commonly available. The idea is to enjoy a refreshing drink of your choice while socializing, nibbling on appetizers, and stimulating the stomach to welcome food.
Aperitivo venues can be found throughout Italy, and each region in Italy may have its twist on the types of drinks and snacks offered during aperitivo. Some of the most famous cities in Italy known for organizing interesting aperitivo experiences includs Milan, since the late 19th century has been the place to go for refreshing spritz drinks and is considered one of the best cities for an aperitivo in Italy, where the bars have big excitement to prepare the selection of excellent both food and drinks. Turin, the capital of the Piedmont region, is a city where aperitivo is also part of the local lifestyle. People can enjoy aperitivo in historic cafes and trendy bars throughout the city with interesting selections of beverages and some typical local food: tartine or bread/toast with a combination of meats, eggs, cheese, or vegetables on top.
Florence presents a lively aperitivo scene, with many bars and cafes offering creative cocktails and savory biscuits, bruschetta (grilled bread often topped with small chunk tomatoes dressed with olive oil and basil, green olives, or sliced meats). In Venice, aperitivo can be enjoyed in picturesque settings bars along the canals, or in cozy bacari (traditional Venetian wine bars), where people can enjoy some cicchetti (typical small savory snacks) with the drinks. The Capital, Rome offers a diverse array of aperitivo experiences, from elegant rooftop bars with panoramic views to trattorias serving traditional Roman dishes alongside the selected drinks.
On the next trip to Italy, it’s a good idea to enter a nice bar for aperitivo, have some fresh spritz, raise your glass, and have a “cincin!” with the people around to be part of the Italian lifestyle.