Italians don’t simply sit down to eat dinner. They glide into it, through the lovely ritual of aperitivo. Literally meaning a pre-meal drink, the word also refers to a process of leaving the chores of the day for the pleasures of the table. So, there will be a drink. And there will be a nibble or two, perhaps as simple as olives and slices of salami. Aperitivo, this precious moment between work and play, gives you a chance to talk to your friends over small plates of antipasti and Peroni Nastro Azzurro Piccola. Crisp and lightly sparkling, Peroni Nastro Azzurro has a refreshing taste with a clean character. This makes it the ultimate complement to food, especially suited to the rich taste of cured meats or cheeses.
Five places for aperitivo in London
Five to try
Taking its name from a painting by renowned animal artist Kate Boxer (and not ‘I, Robot’, the dystopian sci-fi film), this new neighbourhood trattoria, a trot away from Green Park, has a warm atmosphere with top Italian credentials care of chef Michele Granziera and manager Aldo Berti. Stop for aperitivo and savour the flavours of the excellent selection of cheese and charcuterie.
Promising an ‘incontro siciliano’ (‘Sicilian encounter’), this relaxed South Ken-meets-Sicily café-wine bar-restaurant includes a sophisticated cocktail menu concocted with a starring cast of Italian drinks (Aperol, Campari, amaretto, prosecco, pistachio liqueur), as well as Peroni Nastro Azzurro Piccola, and antipasti including a 24 month-aged prosciutto and a sharing platter of Sicilian appetisers.