It's 5:30 pm in Rome and the bars are already crowded. In Florence, they have been filling up for the last hour. Throughout Italy, Italians seek out the best spots for aperitivo, the before dinner drinks accompanied by food that is the finest of all Italian traditions.

Some claim aperitivo started during the glamour years of the 1950s and 60s when fashionistas, intellectuals and movie stars would sip cocktails and people-watch in Milan's stylish bars. Others say that the tradition began in the 18th century when monks concocted magical elixirs with claims of healing properties and has evolved over time. 

Aperitivo is an important part of Italian life as a way of socializing and winding down after a day of work. Yet aperitivo is much more than the happy hour cocktails we know and love; bars throughout Italy display an array of foods with the hopes of attracting drinkers who want to get an early start on the night. The best part, the food is entirely free and seemingly endless, that is, if you buy a drink.

Please join us for aperitivo Friday through Sunday from 4-6pm.