Just like a cocktail hour

Hear ''aperitivo in Italy,'' and you might think ''happy hour''. That’s almost right. But it’s not the whole story. Yes, aperitivo is like a cocktail hour. But it’s one where the food tends to involve much more than the peanuts or potato chips you’d get back home. And, unlike American ''happy hours,'' it has nothing to do with discounts (there aren’t any) or getting drunk with coworkers (che brutta figura!). (For those reasons, if you ever see an aperitivo in Italy advertised as ''cocktail hour,'' run the other way. Those words mean it caters to tourists, not locals!).

Instead, for Italians, aperitivo is a glorious couple of hours, generally between 7 PM and 9 PM, when they can relax post-work over a glass of wine or Campari and some snacks. Since most people eat lunch around 1 PM or 2 PM, and dinner around 9 PM, it’s also a good way to re-start the old metabolism to work up an appetite for dinner. For visitors, hitting up an aperitivo can be just as useful. It’s a great way to experience local culture, to people-watch, to unwind with a drink after a long day of sightseeing ... and to ''take the edge off'' of hunger while waiting for that 9 PM meal! Want to enjoy an aperitivo in Italy? Here are some things you should know!

The food for an aperitivo is not supposed to replace your dinner

Seeing an aperitivo buffet, it can be very tempting, especially if you’re hungry, or on a budget, to load up a couple of plates and tuck in as if you’re at an early dinner. If you do, be prepared for some strange, or even dirty, looks! When faced with an aperitivo buffet, Italians will generally get a small plate of nibbles ... and then pick at them over the course of the next hour, sometimes even managing to leave a bit behind. Taking too much food, or tucking into it like it’s your last meal, is seen as somewhat rude and not really the point of aperitivo. Also, as a rule of thumb, one drink means one plate of food. If you want more food, buy another drink!

From: https://www.walksofitaly.com/