Is there anything better than aperitivo hour? The pre-meal drink Italians ritualised between work and dinner, usually sipped and paired with delicious snacks and friends and family. It’s a ritual that’s becoming more and more popular in Australia, and we’re here for it. But what’s the traditional way to indulge in aperitivo?
“Italians eat lunch at about 2pm and then dinner after 8pm,” says Luigi Esposito, Italian chef-owner of Sydney’s 170 Grammi. “Aperitivo is the time before dinner when you meet your friends for a light drink and a few dishes.”
You can call having a spritz, Negroni, Bellini or wine before a meal an aperitivo. Italian chef-owner Nicola Ronconi of Sydney’s Nico says wine is more common when you’re having aperitivo at home. In his family growing up, it was a cherished tradition.
“We often gathered in our 600-year-old underground wine cellar which holds around 1000 bottles,” Ronconi says. “Wine was central to our social gatherings. But it’s like a dance — you don’t want to be without a drink but there’s no need to overindulge. It was about enjoying the wine, food and company in a relaxed setting.”
Aperitivo is consumed slowly with a focus on savouring the drink and company. Andrew Massoli, Italian chef at Brisbane’s Firma, says Italians are bubbly by nature which means that after a couple drinks at aperitivo, they can become best friends with those at the next table. In Massoli’s household, prosecco and spritz would never run out.
“I remember having the best time on a Sunday late afternoon at home with my family listening to some good playlist and having a glass or two of spritz,” he says. “It wouldn’t take long before we would get a phone call from our family friends asking us to join.”
Where in Melbourne can you find the most authentic versions of the aperitivo experience? Here are a few of the most top-rated locations.
Enoteca Zingara
Fitzroy wine bar Enoteca Zingara has a daily 4-6pm aperitivo hour. Drinks include spritzes and martinis. For food, it’s got cicchetti, small snacks served at bars and restaurants. Among those are focaccia, chicken liver paté and pizzette bianco.
Neighbourhood Wine
In summer Neighbourhood Wine in North Fitzroy runs Patio Aperitivo sessions daily 4-6pm. Grab a seat on the terrace and you’ll get a free snack when you order wine, beer or a cocktail. Last summer it served oysters, wagyu on a cracker and melon with ham.
Rossi
Rossi in Prahan off Chapel Street has daily aperitivo hour 4-6pm. Wash down oysters, salumi or antipasti with a spritz, wine or beer. Stay on after aperitivo hour for a pizza or pasta dinner. It has live music on Wednesdays.
Brunetti Classico
I mentioned Brunetti Classico in Carlton in a piece on maritozzi, an Italian dessert that like aperitivo is steeped in tradition. The restaurant serves both, maritozzi and aperitivo. From Thursdays to Sundays 5-6pm it offers a $16 drink and snack deal.
Sig. Enzo Aperitivo Bar
Sig. Enzo Aperitivo Bar is a small bar in Brunswick that opens 3pm Saturdays and 5pm on Wednesdays to Fridays so you can aperitivo before dinner at home or elsewhere. While the bar doesn’t have special aperitivo prices, it compensates with a generous selection of drinks and snacks like meatballs, crostini, and arancini.
Related: Australian Restaurants Are Saying Benvenuta to This Italian Dessert
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