There was a time when savouring the distinctly Italian magic of aperitivo (a golden-hour Aperol Spritz with good friends around a table of moreish small plates), meant packing your bags and hopping on a plane to Italy. Such is its global appeal, you can now bring this joyous pastime to you. And with its reputation as a dining-out juggernaut, it’s no surprise that London offers some of the finest aperitivo experiences this side of the continent, a fact exemplified impeccably by Al Fresco – Aperol Spritzeria.
Located near Liverpool Street station in the vibrant heart of central London, this blissful open-air hideaway is making its grand return in time for summer, bringing authentic, Italian-style aperitivo to the capital.
Gourmands will be quick to tell you that the foodie phenomenon at the heart of an authentic aperitivo is ‘cicchetti’ – which means grazing a plethora of dainty finger food, instead of sitting down for a full-on sit-down meal – and the kitchen has given it pride of place on the menu. Think warm, salty focaccia; voluptuous mozzarella; and sweet aromatic bresaola paired with a zesty glass of Aperol Spritz (made by expert mixologists at the dedicated “Spritzeria”, of course), with pretty Mediterranean foliage providing the ideal backdrop.
Pair a plethora of finger food with your Aperol Spritz
All of this plays out in Eataly, the sprawling complex on Broadgate. As the name suggests, Eataly is a colossal 42,000 square foot temple devoted to Italian food. Whenever sunshine graces the capital with its presence, naturally you’ll want to be clinking glasses on its terrazza and nibbling on a pillowy pizza al padellino. But you should poke your head inside and check out the abundant marketplace offering 5,000 exceptional Italian and local food products.
There’s a dedicated butcher, a fishmonger and cured meat and cheese counters. For the sweet toothed there’s La Via del Dolce, which specialises in fresh-baked Italian cakes, pastry, cannoli and handmade gelato. You can also enjoy proper coffee from Gran Caffè illy, browse some 2,000 varieties of wine in London’s biggest cellar, or learn what to do with all those marvellous ingredients at the on-site cookery school.
If donning an apron isn’t your thing, though, there’s a clutch of upmarket in-house restaurants, like Terra, a wood-fired grill spot, and Pasta e Pizza, celebrating two of Italy’s most legendary cultural exports. However, when the sunshine is kind enough to smile on London, you’ll know where to find us, and we’ll be there with a tall glass of your favourite brightly-hued cocktail.
eataly.co.uk
Enjoy Aperol responsibly.
