Italian aperitivo: all you ever wanted to know + how to make it at home

Standing at the bar (‘al banco’) is cheaper and more traditional. Turin is about quality; Milan is often about quantity. Milan’s ‘apericena’ is often a large, all-you-can-eat buffet where the food is the main attraction. Turin’s unique location, with access to Alpine herbs and quality Piedmontese wine, made it the perfect production center.

Aperitivi (plural for aperitivo or aperitivo bitters)—a type of bittersweet, herbal liqueurs—have existed for hundreds of years. Italy is home to many revered facets of art and culture—the Colosseum in Rome; iconic artists such as da Vinci and Raphael; and, widely appreciated in the last half decade, its aperitivo culture. To this day, the exact recipe for Campari remains a secret, a concoction created in 1860 by Gaspare Campari, whose tinkerings with herbs and bitters resulted in that secretive red-hued spirit (per The Manual).

So don’t be surprised to see a city full of people enjoying aperitivo at every corner since 11 am. Italians typically enjoy aperitivo starting around 6 or 7 pm until about 9 pm, as they tend to eat dinner later, around 8 to 9 pm. After all, that’s the original term for this custom and I assure you that any bar or restaurant will understand what you mean. This gives you a hint to the time of the day when aperitivo is mostly enjoyed, as well as the taste preferences. And that’s exactly what the intent of the aperitivo is to open and stimulate the appetite.

Aperitivo Meaning

Instead of drinking as a way to signal the end of a busy work day, aperitivo celebrates the start of the evening. Consider aperitivo the sophisticated cousin to happy hour, even though they both occur around the same early-evening time frame. This is the city’s oldest neighborhood, a tangle of narrow cobblestone streets buzzing with small, independent bars where locals actually go. In some simple, local bars you may just get a few peanuts, a couple of olives and some chips. At casual bars, pubs or very crowded spots, you may be asked to pay at the counter first, bring your receipt to the bar and then order your drink, fill up your plate at the buffet and then go choose a table. This is also known as apericena because they tend to be more substantial than your typical aperitivo, often including primi or first course dishes.

How To Order An Aperitivo

The word aperitivo itself is rooted in the Latin word aperitivus, which means "something that opens," specifically the stomach to get ready for a meal. But did you know that you could go have an aperitivo for your aperitivo during aperitivo? Our Italian spirits expert does a deep dive into the many aspects of the wildly popular aperitivo including its history and myriad meanings. Typical aperitivo fare includes crackers, olives, meats, cheeses, and bread. Accordingly, for centuries Italians have said cheers – cin cin – over drinks and appetizers in the early evening hours between work and dinner.

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Must-Try Italian Aperitivo Recipes to Impress Your Guests

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No Italian likes drinking on an empty stomach. (This may or may not be my favorite part of aperitivo.) Snacks, whether plentiful or small, are included with the price of your drink. Of course, one thing that a spritz is not is a white wine spritzer (that’s just a wine and soda) and strangely enough, it’s not that commonly ordered in Italy.

• It’s a light and refreshing way to begin any meal or enjoy during an aperitivo hour with friends.
• If you find yourself in Italy, you can head to one of the oldest cafes to enjoy an Italian spritz in true local style.

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• For instance, La Drogheria serves inventive cocktails with globally inspired bites, often featuring guest bartenders.

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• In this article I will cover exactly what an aperitivo is in Italy, how the Italians do it and what you can expect.

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• The word aperitivo itself is rooted in the Latin word aperitivus, which means "something that opens," specifically the stomach to get ready for a meal.

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• If you’re venturing into gin-based aperitivos, a bottle of Roku Gin and a quality tonic in a balloon glass create an elegant serve with minimal fuss.

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Is Food Is Served At Aperitivo?

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Smart casual dress is typical for an Italian aperitivo – think dresses, skirts, pants, button-downs, polos da bruno παλαιό φάληρο rather than gym clothes or shorts. Ask for recommendations – Tell the staff what flavors or styles you enjoy and have them suggest their favorite aperitivo cocktails and pairings to try. Split dishes – If in a group, get small plates of different items to share and sample rather than having to choose one. Arrive early – Places get packed during peak aperitivo time. Follow the number of your preferred taste to find your ideal Italian aperitivo drink. Select your preferred cocktail taste, and let the quiz guide you to the perfect Italian aperitivo that aligns with your palate.

The bar has a beautiful outdoor area with a view of Piazza San Pancrazio and the Marino Marini Museum. Bartender Fabiano Fabiani not only serves exquisitely mixed drinks but will take you on a journey through Italian aperitivo history! I’ve asked friends from around Italy where they like to go for aperitivo.

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The New Guard: Turin’s Best Modern & Craft Aperitivo Bars

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Other bars will have a more formal table service where you’ll order your drinks and then get the check at the end. When it comes to paying for your aperitivo, each bar has its own system. Here in Italy, we all have our favorite bars for that very reason, so you can have fun trying a few out! A simple aperitivo becomes an apericena (aperitif + dinner).

Whether you’re ordering an aperitivo in Italy or looking to host your taste of this iconic pre-dinner custom at home, read on to master the foundations. No matter the occasion or your culinary skill level, there’s always something delicious waiting for you to discover. Quick to prepare and visually stunning, they’re a perfect way to add a touch of indulgence to your Italian aperitivo spread. This dish highlights the natural sweetness of eggplant while offering a creamy, tangy filling. With their crunchy exterior and rich, savory center, arancini are a crowd-pleasing dish that perfectly embodies the comfort and indulgence of Italian cuisine. Its light, refreshing taste and minimal preparation make it ideal for warm evenings and casual gatherings.

While Italy may be famous for aperitivo, Spain has its own deeply ingrained tradition of pre-dinner drinks and snacks. Turin was particularly important as the birthplace of modern vermouth in the late 18th century, and later cities like Milan and Venice became hotspots. But reducing aperitivo to just a drink misses the point entirely. At its core, aperitivo comes from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open.” The idea is that a specific type of drink can stimulate the appetite before a meal. There’s a specific kind of magic that happens in the late afternoon, just as the workday melts away and the evening begins to stir. Though it has spread far beyond Turin, the ritual’s roots run deepest here, in the birthplace of vermouth and hub of café culture, as the city continues to lead the way in the art of aperitivo.

Antonio Benedetto Carpano, a wine & liquor owner shopkeeper from Turin, came up with the recipe for the first popular commercialized aperitivo/liquor. The use of bitter herbs to make pre-meal and post-meal drinks became more and more popular, so much so that these started being enjoyed as leisurely drinks rather than just prescriptions. One of the most famous physicians to do so was Hippocrates, who used to make his aperitivo and give it to his patients who were suffering from a lack of appetite. So don’t expect the aperitivo drinks or food to be always discounted.