Sydney’s Tastiest Aperitivo Spots for a Pre-Dinner Tipple
Indulge in a little pre-gaming before dinner with Aperitvo hour; drinks, snacks and good times aplenty!
While Sydneysiders might be a little late to the aperitivo party (Italians have been doing it for centuries), that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to whet our appetites right with delicious spritzes and snacks. The act of aperitivo was born in Italy and has filtered through the rest of Europe. It essentially means enjoying a pre-dinner drink, snack and a catch-up, before the main event.
Europeans famously are night owls when it comes to dinner time, with 9pm considered a reasonable hour to gather for dinner. Hence the introduction of aperitivo hour. Think of it as your pre-dinner warm-up! Here are the best spots in Sydney to enjoy a tasty and social prelude to an evening’s meal, Italian style.
Mode Kitchen & Bar
Are you in the mode for an authentic aperitivo experience like no other? Mode Kitchen & Bar in Sydney's CBD know how to transport you to the heart of Milan with their generous offering.
For just $30 per person (Monday-Friday, 4pm-6pm) you'll enjoy a drink plus a mouth-watering selection from the antipasto buffet, tasting some of Chef Francesco Mannelli’s favourite Italian street food. From wood-fired pizzas and house-made focaccias to an assortment of cheeses, salumi, olives and salads highlighting the flavours of Italy. We'll cheers to that! Sitchu tip: bookings are encouraged due to popularity.
Ground Floor, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, 199 George Street, Sydney
Matteo Downtown
Inspired by the lively, all-day dining haunts of Milan and Rome, Matteo Downtown dishes up pastries in the morning, an express lunch for busy bees, before segueing into aperitivo hour, dinner and drinks.
Their legendary aperitivo hour, Monday-Friday between 3pm - 5:30pm, allows revellers to have their cocktail and eat it too – with complimentary snacks served up with every drink. Now that’s what we call European hospitality.
20 Bond Street, Sydney
Giuls
At Giuls, pasta is their love language and to encourage their deep passion for amazing Italian fare, every day from 4pm until 6pm they hold a two-hour aperitivo sitting.
You can enjoy house wines, beers and cocktails at a discounted price while grazing on an antipasto plate. And just try and not stay for dinner! It's impossible. Taking inspiration from the Tuscany region, start with house-made focaccia and arancini, before moving onto market fish crudo or eye fillet steak tartare with truffle aioli before digging into conchiglie with vodka, pancetta and taleggio or squid ink fettuccine with crab cherry tomatoes and chilli. End the night with their generous serving of tiramisu.
515 Crows Street, Surry Hills
Continental Deli
A firm favourite with Negroni fans, this quirky deli-cum-cocktail bar serves some of the best Italian cocktails this side of Venice. Not only are their Campari infusions dangerously delicious, they come served in their own kitsch retro cans, for that added wow factor.
The menu at Continental Deli isn’t strictly Italian, there are some French and Spanish entries too, but that doesn’t detract from the glorious selection of Italian cured meats and cheeses on offer – think mortadella, prosciutto, tallegio and tangy Parmigiano-reggiano. Work your way through their Italian amaros, vermouths and aperitifs for a truly authentic aperitivo experience.
Locations in Phillip Street and Newtown
Corretto Dee Why
Sitting pretty on Dee Why's The Strand, Corretto is the beachside cocktail bar-slash-eatery the Northern Beaches has been waiting for. The amazing cocktails pair perfectly with the shared-style menu – an aperitivo haven.
Pop in for a cheeky drink during their snack menu hours (3pm-5pm, daily) and you can work your way through their aperitif drinks menu while snacking on their mozzarella bruschetta, baked parmesan scallops and spiced squid.
24 The Strand, Dee Why
Busta
Whether you’re popping in for a drink, staying on for an aperitif, or settling in for the evening, Busta caters to your every need. This vibey Manly eatery is all about snacks, pasta and vino, with a strong focus on simple, good quality food, that's been made with love.
10 Pittwater Road, Manly
Bar Topa
Tucked away on Pailings Lane, Merivale's Bar Topa is a Spanish-style tapas bar. Inspired by the social experience of tapas-style dining, Bar Topa is as authentic as they come – from the vibrant atmosphere to the traditional flavours. Popular with the 9 to 5 set, Bar Topa's selection of small bites and dishes cooked on 'la plancha' are perfect for an after-work aperitivo.
4 Palings Lane, Sydney
Molo Bar
An idyllic spot to sip Sicilian wine paired with burrata con caviale at the water’s edge. Molo Bar is possibly one of the chicest aperitivo hangouts in Sydney, and boasts a fabulous menu of classic cocktails and fine Italian fare. Add the stunning harbour views and you’re all set.
6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
Bar Conte
Attention all negroni lovers! Surry Hills hotspot Bar Conte serves up over 20 versions of the classic cocktail. This trendy hangout, which has set up shop in a bottle-green, brass-accented corner property in Surry Hills, has the noble goal of bringing Italian aperitivo culture to Sydney.
The menu, from co-owner and former Apollo sous-chef Steve De Vecchi, includes Appellation oysters with negroni dressing, rosemary focaccia and Sicilian classics like gnocchi Sorrentino and marinated eggplant caprino.
340 Riley Street, Surry Hills
Aperitivo
With a name like that, you’d better believe the appetisers are bang on at Aperitivo. Located on Leichhardt’s Norton Street (a.k.a. Little Italy), the rustic restaurant-slash-pizzeria serves a curated selection of aperitivo dishes to accompany their boutique wine selection. Zucchini flowers filled with fresh ricotta, classic antipasti, sautéed mussels, and deep-fried calamari are ready to whet your appetite.
163 Norton Street, Leichhardt
Has all this talk about spritzes and snacks made you even hungrier? We get it! Take a look at our edit of Sydney's best BYO restaurants for your next group dinner. Or maybe you're in the mood for sushi? Have a look at our edit of Sydney's best sushi trains.
