In Italy, an aperitivo, is a beverage before a meal that is meant to stimulate the appetite. Beverages typically served at aperitivo time tend to be lighter in alcohol and heavier on bitter notes. This pairs well with salty snacks, holding you over until a late dinner, which most Italians favor. We’re hoping this roundup of some of NYC’s top Italian cocktail spots, will stimulate your hunger for planning your next aperitivo hour.
Bar Pisellino
This latest link in the golden chain of West Village Italian hotspots, which includes I Sodi and Via Carota was one of the most buzzed about openings of summer, before they even removed the butcher paper from the windows. You can order everything from a classic Aperol spritz to a pistachio cocktail made with gin, genepy, and green cardamom, paired with simple snacks like tramezzini sandwiches.
Dante
Dante is a Negroni-lovers lair, with a dozen options on the menu. The original version of Dante was a cafe that dates back to 1915. It was reborn a few years ago into a beautifully designed cocktail bar that ranks ninth on the list of Best Bars in the World. They also have a full dinner menu, but it’s always a great spot for an aperitivo with some small plates.
Vini e Fritti
Danny Meyer’s first foray into aperitivo culture, Vini e Fritti is a Roman-style aperitivo spot in Murray Hill. Along with their cocktail offerings, there’s a well-curated list of wines and salty snacks like craveworthy pork ribs in Calabrian chili honey, and zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies. They even offer a happy hour from 4-6pm.
Abraço
This long-standing East Village espresso bar, transforms on Tuesdays-Sundays into an all-night-aperitivo bar with a broad selection of vermouths, amari and small plates to pair with them.
Cecconi’s
Head to Cecconi’s Dumbo location, for not only killer Manhattan views but also their daily 3-6pm aperitivo happy hour with $4 beers, $9 Italian cocktails, and affordably-priced cicchetti (snacks) and pizzettas.
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Obica
Normally it’s a good idea to avoid chains when it comes to aperitivos, but this Italian mozzarella mecca has a hard to resist happy hour that includes $9 classic Italian cocktails and 5 varieties of snacks at $5 each.
Where will you be spending your next Aperitivo Hour?
