History of the Italian aperitif: Florence's customs and restaurants not to be missed

An Italian rite that has become a way of experiencing the city

The Italian aperitif is not just a drink before dinner. It is a social ritual, a break at the end of the day, a time when drinking and light eating become an opportunity for encounter. The same word refers to the idea of “opening” the appetite, and in Italian culture this gesture has transformed over time into a true urban habit, especially between late afternoon and early evening. The modern form of aperitif has consolidated between Northern Italy and large cities, thanks to the spread of bitters, vermouths, and dedicated venues, but today it is a common language from Milan to Venice, from Turin to Florence.

A decisive stage in its history came in the nineteenth century with the birth of the great Italian bitters. In 1860, Gaspare Campari created his own red aperitif; in 1915, he opened a bar in Milan that became one of the symbols of the city's aperitif; in 1919, Aperol was born, the result of seven years of experimentation by the Barbieri brothers. In parallel, Florence itself enters the legend of the international aperitif with the Negroni, which tradition gave rise to in 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni asked to reinforce his Americano with a splash of gin, instead of soda.

What you usually drink during an Italian aperitif

Over time, the ritual has evolved, but some drink families remain central. The first big block is that of the bitter aperitifsSpritz, Americano, Negroni, and contemporary variations continue to dominate because they combine ease of drinking, a bitter-sweet taste, and a strong Italian identity.

Spritz is now widely distributed, but remains tied to the idea of a light, convivial, and visually recognizable aperitif; Negroni, on the other hand, has a more assertive profile and is particularly important in Florence precisely because of its historical connection to the city. Alongside cocktails, the tradition of the wine by the glass, especially in the most wine-producing establishments, wine bars and addresses where the aperitif is built around cured meats, cheeses and small dishes.

In terms of style, today the Italian aperitif is divided into at least three major worlds. There's the classic cocktail bar aperitif, more focused on the drink and a few well-made appetizers. There is the more wine-shop-like one, where the protagonist is wine, often accompanied by cutting boards and croutons. And then there is the most abundant formula, close to the’aperitif, which in many cities has expanded the time for aperitifs to almost replace dinner. All three of these souls coexist in Florence, and this very variety makes the city scene particularly interesting.

What you usually eat: from appetizers to Florentine flavors

On the food side, the Italian aperitif often starts with a simple base: olives, chips, dried fruit, small fried foods, focaccia, croutons, and finger food. But when the ritual takes root in a specific city, it begins to take on the flavor of the territory. In Florence this means that, alongside the most classic snacks, they come on stage crushed, cured meat and cheese boards, black croutons, fennel, pecorino cheese and small samples linked to Tuscan cuisine. In some addresses, the level rises toward more sophisticated offerings; in others, everything remains played out with a few very Florentine and highly recognizable combinations.

One of the clearest examples of this local identity is the small but intense sandwich, served with characterful ingredients and designed to accompany a glass of wine or a dry cocktail. In other cases, Florence prefers aperitifs from the square, from the counter, from a glass and chatter, with faster service and immediate flavors. This is also the beauty of the city: the aperitif doesn't have a single form, but changes neighborhood by neighborhood, from the historic and impeccable address to the rooftop with a view, to the most contemporary and creative venue.

Florence's must-see aperitif spots

If you want to start from the more historical and city side, the first name to mark is Procacci 1885. Founded in 1885 on Via de’ Tornabuoni, it remains a Florentine institution for its sandwiches, truffle-related specialties, and the selection of wines also served by the glass. It's the right place for those looking for an elegant, quick, central, and very Florentine aperitif, more focused on the quality of the pairing than on abundance.

Always in the most classic center, Gilli Coffee It's one of the addresses not to be missed if you love aperitifs in the style of a large historic café. Its current identity focuses on cocktail bars, mixology, and appetizers designed to accompany the drink, within an atmosphere that continues to recall the Florence of salons and important squares. It is an ideal choice for those who want a more refined aperitif, to be done at a leisurely pace, in the monumental heart of the city.

A few steps further on, Paszkowski Coffee adds a strong musical and stage component to the aperitif ritual. Today, it presents itself as a place where coffee culture, dining, mixology, and music coexist in the same space; furthermore, it brings with it a long history in the city, also as a reference point for music and cabaret in the twentieth century. It is perfect for those who love the most theatrical, classic, square and evening light aperitif.

If you want the more contemporary and creative side, Florence Local It is one of the strongest addresses in the city. His philosophy puts local products, seasonality, modern techniques and respect for the great classics of blended drinking at its centre. It's not a place for a buffet or a distracted aperitif: here, the cocktail, the aromatic exploration, and the atmosphere matter a lot. It is a stop to mark especially if you are looking for a more mixology-driven and less touristy Florence.

For those who consider sight an essential part of the aperitif, one of the most important names remains The Terrace, now hosted at the 701 Rooftop Bar on the seventh floor of the Gallery Hotel Art. The formula is clear: same iconic view of the monuments of Florence, but in a new location that makes it an elegant and highly panoramic evening address. It's one of the places to choose when the drink has to accompany you to a memorable glimpse of the city.

Always on the rooftop front, Cosimo Rooftop Restaurant & Bar it is one of the strongest new features of the current scene. It presents itself with a 360-degree view, very scenic sunsets, a Tuscan signature in the proposal and specific attention to aperitifs and signature mixology. If you want an aperitif with skyline, Arno, hills and a more cosmopolitan cut, it is one of the addresses to put on the list.

More relaxed and much loved for the position is the Roof Bar Logo of Palazzo Guadagni, overlooking Santo Spirito and the surrounding hills. The terrace is also explicitly designed for aperitifs, with a more romantic and less formal atmosphere than other hotel rooftops, and with daily opening until 10 pm. It is an excellent choice for those who want to stay in the Oltrarno without giving up their sight.

On the Lungarno, Empyrean deserves attention for its rooftop overlooking the city, open since 2014 and designed for both guests and Florentines. Here the aperitif is very much linked to the idea of a panoramic terrace and summer atmosphere, with a strong visual cut and a strategic position towards sunset. It's one of those places that works especially when you want to make the frame weigh almost as much as the glass.

If you want a more local, less built and more lived-in neighborhood aperitif, Sant'Ambrogio Coffee remains a very interesting address. His own presentation insists on the convivial spirit of the place, combined with the quality and a certain desire to experiment with flavours and aromas. Furthermore, the square of Sant'Ambrogio has its own character, more authentic and less glossy, which makes the aperitif particularly pleasant, especially for those who love a more everyday Florence.

Finally, for a younger and more contemporary Florence, The Social Hub Florence Lavagnini offers a rooftop bar with a pool, views of the Duomo, signature cocktails, menus of Italian classics and a programming that also includes DJs and live bands. It's a different formula from the great historic cafés and traditional wine bars: more international, more dynamic, closer to the idea of an aperitif as a broader urban sociability.

Florence, the perfect city to truly understand aperitifs

The reason why Florence it's an ideal city to tell the story of l’Italian aperitif it's simple: the history of the Negroni, the charm of historic cafes, the elegance of the central streets, the taste of the Oltrarno and a very strong rooftop scene. In just a few streets you can go from a glass with a truffle sandwich to a signature cocktail, from a 19th-century square to a panoramic terrace, from a traditional aperitif to a more contemporary formula. It is this stratification that makes the city so interesting for those who like to drink well before dinner.