Between 6 and 8 p.m. each evening, bars and cafes across Italy buzz. For Italians, the tradition of aperitivo represents less a happy hour and more a state of mind. This golden hour that beautifully separates work from free time offers friends and family a chance to gather over cocktails and conversation. 

The word for aperitivo comes from the Latin aperire, which means to open, in reference to opening digestion before dinner. Its medicinal purpose dates back to ancient Rome, where wealthy families gathered to drink herb-infused wine meant to whet the appetite before evening meals. Today’s enjoyment of pre-dinner drinks is woven into Italian culture, boasting a rich history concentrated in Italy’s north.