Perfecting the Art of the Italian Aperitivo (A How to Guide)

Last Updated on 27th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy this summer, then chances are you know a little about the Italian Aperitivo. This popular tradition typically sees friends and family gather pre dinner to share a drink, snacks, and simply enjoy a little bit of time together.

The truth is that the Aperitivo is not really about the type of drink/ food consumed but is more about coming together to enjoy each other’s company. Whenever I’m in Italy, it’s easily one of my favourite parts of the day to relax and unwind after a busy day of exploring.

Worth noting: the actual word ‘Aperitivo’ comes from the Latin “to open,” thanks to the fact that the snack/ drink is meant to ‘open your appetite’ pre-dinner. Here’s everything you need to know about the Italian Aperitivo.

Aperitivo or Aperitivi?

You should also note that while Aperitivo is the singular and refers to the entire ‘happy hour’ (French equivalent: the apéro), Aperitivi is the plural and refers to either a) several Aperitivo sessions or b) several kinds of cocktail drinks/ bitters/ liqueurs consumed at the Aperitivo hour.

What is a traditional Italian Aperitivo?

You can think of Aperitivo as a kind of happy hour, though there’s no direct equivalent in the Anglophone world. After all, the Aperitivo hour is not at all about the amount of alcohol you consume, nor do many businesses in Italy have certain times of the day where it’s cheaper to buy a drink or you can buy two drinks for the price of one.

Aperitivo hour typically lasts between 6 PM and 8 PM (though tends to err a little later in the summer months when people eat late and the sun sets later).

It’s a way of relaxing after a busy day and the kinds of drinks served are traditional bitter Italian liqueurs and finger foods (olives, nuts, small crackers, crisps etc).

Just before people first sip on their initial drink of the evening, they’ll typically cheers each other, just as we do in Anglophone countries and also in France.

Instead of saying ‘cheers,’ people will say ‘cin cin’ or ‘salute’, with the latter being a little more formal and something you would use for business drinks or at a dinner party.

What are good Aperitivi drinks and Aperitivi foods?

Spritzes

By far the most popular kind of drink served at an Aperitivo are Spritzes. These traditional Italian cocktails are the perfect way to combat the hot summer heat thanks to their mountains of ice.

In my opinion, the best kind of Spritzes come in huge glasses, which allows the ice to melt a little over time and lead to a less boozy drink as you sip on it. After all, you don’t want something too strong when the hot Mediterranean sun is up above you.

Aperol Spritz: The most popular Italian drink to have been exported from Italy to the rest of the world is undoubtedly the Aperol Spritz. Aperol is a kind of bitter orange-coloured liqueur that is made from gentian, rhubarb and cinchona, among other ingredients.

The liqueur is topped with ice, a piece of orange, soda, and Prosecco to make for one of the most popular summer drinks in the world.

Campari Spritz: The more bitter and slightly less famous cousin of Aperol Spritz is the Campari Spritz. This liqueur is more of a red hue in colour and is also made from a herb infusion (including chinotto and cascarilla) and this base is topped with ice, Prosecco, and soda to make a Campari Spritz.

Limoncello Spritz: A particularly Italian twist on the typical Spritz is the Limoncello Spritz. As you might have imagined, instead of a bitter liqueur, a shot of Limoncello is used as the basis for this light drink. Prosecco and soda is added, as well as heaps of ice and a twist of lemon to make for a surprisingly refreshing drink.

A bottle of white wine/ rosé wine

Italy is one of the greatest wine growing regions in the world and so it should come as no surprise that one of the most popular drinks to serve at an Aperitivo hour is a glass of wine.

However, you should note that this isn’t really common in comparison with ordering a cocktail! Rosé and white wine is typically served as red wine is often considered to be best when paired with food.

Non-alcoholic options

Of course, there are several non-alcoholic options when it comes to ordering an Aperitivo drink. Much like their alcoholic cocktail counterparts, they are often also a little bitter.

Chinotto: This is one of my personal favourite drinks in Italy. It tastes pretty similar to a Campari Spritz but without the alcohol and so I love having one at lunch or even at dinner if I don’t want to drink anything alcoholic. This carbonated beverage is made from bitter chinotto oranges and a popular brand that makes the drink in Italy is Lurisia.

Crodino: This is another great non-alcoholic option to order instead of an Aperol Spritz and is preferred by those who don’t love the bitterness of Chinotto. Much like Aperol, this carbonated drink is made with herbal extracts and quinine and can be purchased all over Italy.

Ask the bartender: If you would prefer something a little more bespoke, then you can always ask the bartender to make you something non-alcoholic.

This is especially fun if you’re at a cocktail bar. They’ll typically ask you if you want something more bitter and sweet and will create a drink for you based on what you say.

Light snacks served at an Aperitivo

The kinds of snacks served at an Aperitivo are often pretty light and won’t fill you up much. Remember, the Aperitivo is meant to open up the appetite, not satisfy it completely!

In many areas of Italy, you’ll automatically be served a small bowl of olives, nuts, or Taralli (a kind of small cracker from Puglia that can come in a variety of flavours). Other bars will charge you for the privilege of having a small snack, but this isn’t really common.