Aperitivo is everything that happy hour should be. While Americans are drinking what the Romans drink, we are not quite drinking as the Romans do.
Italian aperitifs have become increasingly popular in the United States in the past decade. Though Aperol and Campari are staples on our summer menus, we sip these drinks differently than our Italian counterparts. As Americans embrace Italy’s iconic cocktails, we fail to incorporate the culture surrounding them. Let’s talk about what makes aperitivo different than happy hour.
What is Aperitivo?
Aperitivo is the Italian tradition of having a pre-dinner drink to stimulate your appetite and get you ready for the meal ahead. Aperitivo is the experience, which
generally takes place between 6-8 PM. The aperitif is what you drink.
Typical Italian aperitifs include classics like Campari and Aperol. They can also include vermouths, wines or other refreshing drinks. These drinks are the key to transitioning from a long day of work into an evening of good food and company. Drinks are served with light bites such as meats, cheeses, chips, olives or nuts.
The key to aperitivo is not just the drinks (or accompanying snacks), but the atmosphere. If there is one thing that Italians have mastered, it is the art of leisure. There are a couple aspects of the standard Italian aperitivo that aid in creating the atmosphere of relaxation and refreshment.
How is this different than the American Happy Hour?
This first aspect of aperitivo is particularly fascinating to me as someone who loves to plan every second of my vacation.
You can have aperitivo almost anywhere that serves food and beverages. You can find cafes and restaurants that serve aperitifs on every corner since it is such a standard practice in most of Italy. Unlike happy hour in the US, there is no stress of finding a seat at one of the few participating restaurants in your city. No stress of coordinating exactly where to be at a particular time. This being said, some restaurants have capitalized on the growing popularity of aperitivo by specializing in serving exceptional drinks and snacks.
Another key difference between happy hour and aperitivo is that American restaurants or bars are generally pushing a drink deal. “Buy one get one free.” “$2 off house liquor.” So on and so forth. Additionally, there is normally a time restriction for happy hours. In Italy, aperitivo is not an occasion for cheap cocktails, nor a time to drink heavily.
This is meant to get you ready for a meal, not to go out on the town. The culture of binge drinking is not as prevalent in Italy as in the US. Therefore, aperitivo is not marketed as a way to pre-game your night. The drinks usually are not marked down. Plus, classic aperitifs are low ABV cocktails.
We Americans embrace Italian inspired cocktails during happy hour, but lack essential components of the cultural phenomenon that define aperitivo.
Italians have the ability to disconnect from their work-day mentality and welcome relaxation at the end of the day. Americans have adopted the drinks associated with this beloved tradition. Hopefully we will master this mentality next!
For more summer drink ideas, click here!
