Bar Olo,Carlton
Bar Olo is certainly suave. But that doesn’t mean snacking here has to cost a small fortune. The Piedmont-inspired,barolo-specialising wine bar runs a daily aperitivo hour (or,more accurately,two hours),where your drink comes with a complimentary bite. That could mean a nugget of parmigiano reggiano or a zeppola,a deep-fried dough ball.
Aperitivo is Wednesday to Saturday 4pm-6pm;165 Nicholson Street,Carlton,barolocarlton.com.au
Enoteca Zingara,Fitzroy
Free snacks such as pizza fritta (fried pizza),potato-and-rosemary focaccia,and giardiniera (pickled Italian vegetables) aren’t the only reason for you to knock off early and make a beeline forEnoteca Zingara at aperitivo hour,from 4pm. The just-opened Brunswick Street wine bar from hatted trattoriaAlta,right around the corner,also has some wallet-friendly drinks specials to lure you in:$6 Peronis and $6 Camparis.
Aperitivo is Wednesday to Monday 4pm-5pm,334 Brunswick Street,Fitzroy,enotecazingara.com
Torino Aperitivo,CBD
Tucked down a little city laneway,this charming Italian-style bar takes aperitivo culture so seriously that’s it literally named after it. Take a trip toTorino Aperitivo and be rewarded with an on-the-house bite with your first round,as long as you’re there before 6pm. The drinks specials are a bonus:expect $6 schooners and house wines,$12 Venetian spritzes and $14 Negronis and espresso martinis. Bargains all round.
Aperitivo is Tuesday to Thursday 4pm-6pm and Friday-Saturday 3pm-6pm,
2 Driver Lane,Melbourne,torinoaperitivo.com.au
Neighbourhood Wine,Fitzroy North
Sip outside,snack for free. That’s the gist of Patio Aperitivo atNeighbourhood Wine,one of the northside’s ride-or-die wine bars. Every drink ordered on the (heated,umbrella-covered) patio gets you a fancy snack from head chef Almay Jordaan’s seasonally rotating menu – free of charge. Maybe it’ll be Black Opal wagyu and bone marrow on a sourdough cracker,or a spelt tart with smoked salmon roe,creme fraiche and bottarga.
Patio Aperitivo is daily 4pm-6pm,1 Reid Street,Fitzroy North,neighbourhoodwine.com
Ombra,CBD
Afternoons atOmbra – the classy Bourke Street salumi bar from leading Italian chef-restaurateur Guy Grossi – are all about cicchetti,or small Venetian-style snacks. The best part? They’re on the house. The offering usually includes some type of pizzette (small pizzas),tramezzini (triangular-cut sandwiches) and crostini (slices of crunchy grilled bread) topped with anything from pâté to pickles to parmigiano reggiano.
Aperitivo is Wednesday to Sunday 5pm-7pm,76 Bourke Street,Melbourneombrabar.com.au
Bianchetto,Kew
There are plenty of reasons Kew locals can’t get enough of Joe Vargetto’s recently
relocated Sicilian restaurantMister Bianco and new companion cocktail bar Bianchetto,in the next-door space. The latest isBianchetto’s three-nights-a-week aperitivo hour,which has just launched. Your drink – perhaps an Americano made tableside – will arrive alongside a complimentary platter of bite-sized snacks. There could be classics like arancini or bruschetta,or Vargetto’s Sicilian take on the humble sausage roll.
Aperitivo is Thursday to Saturday 5pm-6pm,26-28 Cotham Road,Kewmisterbianco.com.au/bianchetto
Rossi,Prahran
Where Ladro TAP once was on Greville Street,Rossi keeps the good times rolling,thanks to owner Good Company,also behind nearby party spots Electric and The Emerson. Pizza remains a massive drawcard at Rossi,but it’s worth timing your visit around the daily aperitivo special. The free snacks are simple yet satisfyingly salty – chips and olives,a classic aperitivo offering across Italy – and select cocktails are $9.
Aperitivo Hour runs every day until 6pm. Opening hours from 4pm Monday to Thursday,and from 12pm Friday - Sunday,162 Greville Street,Prahran,rossi.bar
Brunetti Classico,Carlton
Which sounds best? Potato croquettes,olive all’ascolana (stuffed with meat,then crumbed and fried),or fried ravioli? At Melbourne’s cult Italian cafeBrunetti Classico,$16 will get you a bite of your choice alongside a beer,wine or cocktail. But there are two important things to remember:the aperitivo special is available only at the Carlton location,and you need to download the Brunetti Classico app to redeem the offer.
Aperitivo is Thursday to Sunday 5pm-7pm,380 Lygon Street,Carlton,brunetticlassico.com.au