While getting a drink after work is a common habit in many parts of the world, for Italians, it’s a whole ritual. Called aperitivo, this is a precious moment to share a drink and a bite with friends at the end of the workday or before dinner; it’s sometimes even enjoyed at the office before colleagues head home to their families, or served on a beach at sundown as a perfect ending for a relaxing summer day.
Offered in many cafes and bars, aperitivo is also an easy way to get together large groups of friends, as people can come and go and mingle without the commitment of sitting at a table for a dinner. What also makes Italian-style aperitivo different is that quite often, dinner can be skipped altogether, as the food served can span from chips and olives to cheese and charcuterie boards, pasta dishes and salads.
Thanks to the wealth of authentic Italian restaurants (and nostalgic expats), the tradition is carried on in some New York hottest bars. Here are three spots in the city where one can wind down and experience the art of aperitivo, complete with savory nibbles.
A chic Roman-style bar by restaurant mogul Danny Meyer, Vini e Fritti is located in the Redbury Hotel in the NoMad neighborhood. The menu is centered on the compatibility of bubbles and “fritti”, savory Italian small dishes of fried food—a classic aperitivo combination in the Italian capital. The bar’s wide selection of new Champagne is completed with Italian wines, including sparkling Prosecco and Franciacorta, plus artisanal cocktails. Executive Chef Lena Ciardullo’s fried delicacies include baby artichokes, pork ribs, pizza dough with prosciutto and Parmigiano, and mixed seafood known as fritto misto. There is an equally mouthwatering “non fritti” category, with housemade stracciatella cheese with focaccia, beef tartare and a duck liver mousse. If that doesn’t suffice, just head up to Marta, the hotel’s full-service Roman’s pizza restaurant. Don’t miss Vini e Fritti’s daily happy hour, which runs from 4pm-6pm.
Vini e Fritti (ph Peter Garritano, also for the Cover above)
This tribute to classic Italian bars comes from chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams of Via Carota, I Sodi and Buvette. Located in the West Village, across the street from those acclaimed restaurants, Bar Pisellino is perfectly styled like an old school Italian café, complete with al fresco sidewalk tables for warm days. The stunning wooden bar has a curved white marble counter where one can enjoy an aperitivo standing up (or “al banco”), while s a glass window displays their stuffed panini and sweets, and bartenders are dressed in impeccable white uniforms. Aperol spritz is a crowd favorite, served with the classic olives and chips combination on small vintage-looking silver trays. Other cocktails include sgroppino, a mix of lemon sorbet, Prosecco and vodka, and a pistachio cocktail with gin, herbal liquor and lime juice. Bar Pisellino, as any classic Italian bar does, also serves espresso, iced coffee shakerato and sugary bombolini donuts.
Bar Pisellino (ph courtesy of Bar Pisellino)
**Dante
A recipient of multiple awards, including topping the list of World’s 50 Best Bars, Dante is a Greenwich Village institution that was successfully brought back to life by its new owners, Australian couple Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson. This trendy hangout opened in 1915 and was once frequented by Italian immigrants and celebs such as Ernest Hemingway, Al Pacino and Bob Dylan, whose photos with the former owners hang on the walls. Under creative direction of bartender Naren Young, Dante offers an extensive cocktail menu including their now-world- famous Negroni, along with a popular Chocolate version. While Dante offers a full dinner menu, it is a great spot to enjoy an aperitivo with shareable plates like flatbreads and Italian or Spanish charcuterie boards. A soon-to-open West Village location will feature a similar cozy atmosphere and a focus on spritz and martini cocktails.
Caffé Dante (ph courtesy of Dante)