The aperitivo is a beverage enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Its history goes back to Roman times, when meals were usually preceded by honey-flavored wines, a custom dating back to ancient Greece. Throughout Italy, this has become a social ritual from the late afternoon into the early evening, with beverages accompanied by potato chips, olives, appetizers, focaccia and other finger foods.

These days, the aperitivo is a beloved and widespread social setting in Italy. Less demanding (economically and otherwise) than a dinner, it allows for time to spend with friends. Today, Italian bars from the north to the south see the aperitivo as a chance to sample wine, champagne, beer or cocktails along with appetizers that can be quite filling. Some places even offer what is called “apericena” (aperitivo + cena, dinner), during which beverages are enjoyed with an abundance of finger foods and canapés that can entirely replace dinner.

The habit of the aperitivo began in Italy in the 1800s at cafés, where a beverage (whether alcoholic or not) was consumed before meals along with potato chips and nuts. This practice has increasingly become a part of daily social life for Italians. Aperitivo time often expands into and even replaces dinner.