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Aperitivo in Milan: the top 5 spots

The time-honored tradition of aperitivo is Italy’s greatest culinary invention. Okay, maybe it’s not pizza, but the ritual of this pre-dinner drink is a true Italian tradition. From the Italian word aprire, ‘to open’, the aperitivo is just that: a fresh, light drink to open your palate and appetite for the evening meal.

While many Italians consider Milan to be the birthplace of the aperitivo, the story of its origins is somewhat contested. Popular consensus has given the honor to Antonio Benedetto Carpano, the 18th century inventor of vermouth. Brewed in Turin, near Milan, the popularity of vermouth as an aperitivo grew with the introduction of bitters such as Campani, mixing the two together and creating early cocktails. Throughout the years, the trend of a pre-dinner drink has grown into a treasured cultural tradition. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the best aperitivi Milan has to offer.

HOW DOES APERITIVO WORK?

To warm up your stomach for dinner at around 9pm, aperitivo time usually starts around 7pm. Popular drinks include bitters like Campari and the artichoke-flavored Cynar, or a cocktail such as the classic Negroni. Drinks are always served with some snacks. These could be as simple as some olives and chips or as elaborate as a spread of bruschetta with cheeses and meats. At a restaurant, your selection may come with your drink, or it could be a buffet-style option. As with the Spanish tapas, the food is considered an accompaniment, and so is included in the price of your drink. Rather than a full meal, your aperitivo drink and snacks are simply to pique your appetite (though it’s increasingly common among younger people to treat it as a meal).

WHERE SHOULD I GO FOR APERITIVO IN MILAN?

In Milan, the birthplace of the aperitivo, you’re really spoiled for choice. The city is teeming with bars and restaurants all claiming to have the perfect combination of drinks and nibbles for that true Italian aperitivo experience. We’ve narrowed it down to our top five aperitivo spots in Milan. Choose your favorite, or try a different spot every night of your trip!

Cantine Isola

Operating from Milan’s Chinatown, this 100 year old establishment serves up some of the best Italian wine in the world! The floor-to-ceiling shelves of bottles are the picture-perfect backdrop to an evening spent chatting with friends and sipping from the vast selection. Quality nibbles and an unpretentious atmosphere have made Cantine Isola a Milano mainstay since 1896.