{"id":19755,"date":"2022-01-21T07:59:32","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T07:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/?p=19755"},"modified":"2022-03-07T17:38:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T17:38:08","slug":"aperitivo-florence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Places for Aperitivo in Florence (& How to Do It Like a Fiorentino!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes travel introduces you to flavor. Sometimes it\u2019s history. And sometimes, in the case of Italy\u2019s beloved <\/span>aperitivo<\/span><\/i>, it\u2019s a little bit of both.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Reddish
Florence’s own Negroni: the perfect aperitivo<\/em> drink. Photo credit: Patrick Langwallner<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dining in Italy is almost always an experience above and beyond the meal, and aperitivo<\/em> is no exception. Aperitivo<\/em> is about unwinding after work, having a light snack and a drink to tide you over for (while not spoiling) dinner. In Florence, as is the case elsewhere in Italy, aperitivo<\/em> is part of many a local\u2019s daily rituals\u2014and it\u2019s an easy one for visitors to enjoy, too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before we get into the specifics of great aperitivo<\/em> spots in Florence, however, it\u2019s useful to have a little bit of context\u2014particularly about Italy\u2019s formative role in the modern tradition of aperitivo<\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Aperitivo Is in Florence \u2014 & (Perhaps More Importantly) Isn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s relatively easy to conflate aperitivo<\/em> with the popular US \u201chappy hour,\u201d but, at best, they\u2019re distant cousins.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whereas happy hour is typically characterized by cheap well drinks and (sometimes) heavily discounted small meals, drinks during aperitivo<\/em> are notably more costly than usual. Snacks from the often-sumptuous buffet, on the other hand, are free.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Italy, aperitivo<\/em> is meant simply to whet your appetite for dinner, which Italians eat later in the evening. (It should come as no surprise that \u201caperitivo<\/em>\u201d and \u201cappetizer\u201d are branches on the same etymological family tree.) The goal is not to overindulge, but rather to spend a little time socializing with friends at the end of the workday.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t to say that turning <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>into a meal is forbidden or impossible. Making a tour of several <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>bars is a sophisticated alternative to a pub crawl, and the people-watching can be fabulous. Just remember that you\u2019ll be buying a (possibly overpriced) drink at each stop, and that piling food on multiple plates with your one beverage is frowned upon.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Italian
A typical tagliere<\/em> served at aperitivo<\/em>, piled with Italian cured meats and cheeses.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Italy\u2019s Aperitivo Resume Dates Back to Ancient Rome<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

It went by another name then, but consuming certain foods and beverages specifically to stimulate one\u2019s appetite was an Ancient Roman practice (which they adopted from Ancient Greece). Spiced wine was served along with breads, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables\u2014a spread that wouldn\u2019t look out of place today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the advent of modern <\/span>aperitivo<\/span><\/i>, though, we need to head north to Italy\u2019s first capital.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>In 1786, spiced wine went from being a luxury good to something every Italian could afford, thanks to a distiller in Turin. Antonio Benedetto Carpano\u2019s blend of sweet white wine with a secret combination of herbs and spices was an immediate success called \u201cvermouth.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The word comes from the German word for \u201cwormwood,\u201d a common medicinal herb at the time that was part of Carpano\u2019s secret blend\u2014and the recipe for Carpano\u2019s \u201c<\/span>Antica Formula<\/span><\/a>\u201d is unchanged to this day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Close
Vermouth, the original aperitivo<\/em> drink, is still an excellent choice to this day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Historically, <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>drinks are herbal and light on the alcohol (remember, the point is not to get drunk), though modern options run the gamut from wine to fancy cocktails<\/a>. And, of course, non-alcoholic drinks are available, too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that <\/span>aperitivo<\/span><\/i>\u2019s northern roots mean that northern Italian cities tend to have more plentiful aperitivo<\/em> options than cities in the south (Milan, Turin, and Venice are especially good <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>destinations). But Florence has an important role to play in Italy\u2019s <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>history, too\u2014it\u2019s where the Negroni, a staple on any good aperitivo<\/em> drinks menu, was born.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to Go for Aperitivo in Florence<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are dozens of places around Florence where you can enjoy <\/span>aperitivo<\/span><\/i>. Here are a few of our favorites.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Caff\u00e8 Gilli<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

While the bar that birthed the Negroni is consigned to history, a visit to <\/span>Caff\u00e8 Gilli<\/span><\/a> is arguably the next best thing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the <\/span>oldest cafe in the city<\/span> (founded in 1733) and the <\/span>man at the helm of the bar<\/span><\/a> is the author of <\/span>the <\/span><\/i>definitive history of Florence\u2019s signature drink. The current location on Piazza della Repubblica was opened in 1917. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit midday for coffee<\/a> and something from the ever-so-tempting pastry case, and return in the evening for a Negroni.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Outdoor
Caff\u00e8 Gilli’s dreamy outdoor terrace. Photo credit: Jeienne<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Caff\u00e8 Sant\u2019Ambrogio<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Located on Piazza Sant\u2019Ambrogio (the square and bar are named for the 10th-century church overlooking both), Caff\u00e8 Sant\u2019Ambrogio (<\/span>Piazza Sant’Ambrogio, 7r<\/span><\/i>) is an <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>hotspot year-round. When the weather is nice, however, the lovely view of the church means outdoor seating is especially in demand.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because this square isn\u2019t as well-known as others in Florence, the crowd is more likely to be made up of locals. There isn\u2019t the biggest variety of food options, but the extensive wine list more than makes up for that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Close
Aperitivo<\/em> is the perfect opportunity to sample Italy’s best wines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Procacci 1885<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Procacci (<\/span>Via de\u2019 Tornabuoni, 64r<\/span><\/i>) has two things going for it as an <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>destination. First, it\u2019s a wine bar, so the selection of wines (including plenty of sparkling options) is exceptionally good. And second, many of the tasty panini are made with truffles<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As an added bonus, Procacci is also a purveyor of a variety of <\/span>truffle products<\/span> (along with other Italian gourmet goodies) you can savor at home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Exterior
From its excellent wine selection to its tasty truffle dishes, Procacci is a gourmand’s dream come true. Photo credit: remster_9<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Golden View Open Bar<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

When the view from your table is one of Florence\u2019s top tourist attractions, you know the price tag will skyrocket accordingly. Such is the case with Golden View Open Bar, from which patrons can see the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aperitivo <\/span><\/i>snacks are made in the <\/span>Golden View restaurant<\/span><\/a>, so if you aren\u2019t up for a dinner splurge on site you can at least sample some of the flavors that way<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Rivoire<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve got a sweet tooth, you probably already have <\/span>Rivoire<\/span><\/a> on your culinary radar. The beautiful cafe, which boasts an enviable view of the Palazzo Vecchio, is famous for its distinctive chocolates.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When the <\/span>aperitivo <\/span><\/i>hour rolls around, however, <\/span>Rivoire serves up gorgeous cocktails and small bites<\/span>. Another claim to fame: Rivoire is among the first places where the Negroni was served after its invention.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Outdoor
Rivoire’s famous terrace right on Piazza della Signoria. Photo credit: Freepenguin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. SE\u00b7STO on Arno<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

A <\/span>rooftop bar<\/span><\/a> is nearly always a nice idea in the summer\u2014and when the views overlook a city like Florence, it\u2019s an even better idea.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SE\u00b7STO<\/span> on Arno<\/span><\/a>, the rooftop restaurant and bar on the Westin Excelsior, is just as elegant as you\u2019d expect from a luxury hotel. The \u201cbar snacks\u201d are high-end, the wine list is long, and the bartenders expertly pour traditional and signature cocktails alike.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Brown
SE\u00b7STO on Arno is home to fantastic drinks and unforgettable views. Photo credit: SE\u00b7STO on Arno<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Ditta Artigianale<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The daytime draw of any of <\/span>Ditta Artigianale<\/span><\/a>\u2019s locations is coffee\u2014they\u2019re passionate about the stuff. But when <\/span>it comes to aperitivo<\/em>, that same kind of passion gets applied to gin<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose from more than 150 different gins, including one distilled just for them near Florence using botanicals found in the region, plus a dozen different tonics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Interior
Ditta is the perfect stop at any time of day. Photo credit: Ditta Artigianale<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Join us for\u00a0aperitivo<\/em> on our evening food tour<\/a> in Florence! There’s no better way to discover the city’s incredible food and drink scene than by eating your way around the vibrant Oltrarno neighborhood in the company of fellow foodies.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes travel introduces you to flavor. Sometimes it\u2019s history. And sometimes, in the case of Italy\u2019s beloved aperitivo, it\u2019s a little bit of both.\u00a0 Dining in Italy is almost always an experience above and beyond the meal, and aperitivo is no exception. Aperitivo is about unwinding after work, having a light snack and a drink […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":19765,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[2071,2072],"tags":[1522,211],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDevour Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Top Places for Aperitivo in Florence - Devour Tours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We've got everything you need to know about aperitivo in Florence: where it comes from, what to order, and how to do it like a local.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"dev.devourtours.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19755\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Devour Tours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DevourToursCo\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-01-21T07:59:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-03-07T17:38:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sesto-on-arno-cocktail.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jessica Spiegel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@devourtours\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@devourtours\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jessica Spiegel\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/\",\"name\":\"7 Top Places for Aperitivo in Florence - Devour Tours\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-21T07:59:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-03-07T17:38:08+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f28814f21a62a827e7c3087ec65527b9\"},\"description\":\"We've got everything you need to know about aperitivo in Florence: where it comes from, what to order, and how to do it like a local.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/aperitivo-florence\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"7 Places for Aperitivo in Florence (& How to Do It Like a Fiorentino!)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/\",\"name\":\"Devour Tours\",\"description\":\"Food & Drink Tours In Europe & USA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f28814f21a62a827e7c3087ec65527b9\",\"name\":\"Jessica Spiegel\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/avatar\/11d51fec6a4fdd6e513725e1c75be127?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/1.gravatar.com\/avatar\/11d51fec6a4fdd6e513725e1c75be127?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jessica Spiegel\"},\"description\":\"Jessica fell in love with Italy on her first visit and has been channeling that affection into Italy travel guides for more than 15 years. 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