The 10 Best Spots Around the World for Aperol Spritzes
Ah, summer. School's out, work's slow, summer Fridays have kicked in, and the days are blissfully long and warm. It's never too early for a drink, and it absolutely must be al fresco. While some might have declared summer the official season of rosé, we beg to differ: summertime is the season of the Aperol Spritz.
The iconic orange libation has its origins in Padua, a region outside Venice, Italy. Its main ingredient Aperol, the Italian aperitif made with gentian, rhubarb, cinchona, and other ingredients, happens to be celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Back in the '30s, the Aperol Spritz started becoming popular as an alternative to the classic Venetian mix of white wine and soda. In recent years, the drink-a longtime mainstay in Europe-has caught on with Americans, first because it's a good drink (not an alcoholic Capri Sun, despite what some might say) and also in part thanks to some aggressive marketing by Campari, Aperol's parent company.
Popularity is a good thing, because wherever you find yourself this summer, there will be a refreshing, effervescent Aperol Spritz waiting for you. Here are ten of our favorite boîtes around the world to satiate all of your spritz cravings.
Via Carota, New York
No one in New York has mastered homey Italian cuisine quite like Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, the duo behind this all-day restaurant that's so popular it's nearly impossible to get a table for dinner before 10pm on any given night. There's a good reason for it-those sidewalk tables, especially, are a prime location for European-style people watching while sampling the delicious menu of grilled artichokes, Sicilian meatballs, and their famous svizzerina (hand-chopped steak). These all pair well with the Bicicletta, Via Carota's version of the Aperol Spritz (they substitute Prosecco with white wine). And come autumn, you can swap this out for a Cynar Spritz, made with Aperol's broodier, more herbaceous cousin. Those daunted by the long waits can now hang out at their newly opened bar across the street, Bar Pisellino, where Aperol Spritzes are so popular they have it on tap.
Dante, New York
A New York institution since 1915, this cozy SoHo restaurant has welcomed a slew of celebrities and New York personalities, from Ernest Hemingway to Patti Smith. It's also been on the World's Best Bars list for the past several years, climbing up to the #9 spot in 2018. While Negronis (a drink that is also celebrating a 100th birthday this year) are the stars of Dante's cocktail offerings-there are thirteen different iterations on the menu-so are the spritzes. Aperol Spritz is offered on tap, here, and there are nine other creative spritz concoctions, like Il Peperino, which includes mezcal and red bell pepper, or A Stroll Through Provence, which ups the ante with vodka, herbes de provence, and lavender soda.
Langosteria Paraggi, Portofino
Two years ago, the Milan restaurant opened an outpost on the glittering Italian Riviera. Nestled in a bay between Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure, Langosteria Paraggi is literally right on the beach, or pieds dan l'eau as they call it. Indulge in Ligurian-style salted cod and Violet King Prawns, paired with a few Aperol Spritzes (the orange drink goes particularly well with the restaurant's color scheme). Afterwards, set yourself up on one of those sun beds for a well-deserved food coma nap.
Le Sirenuse, Positano
What could be a more iconic symbol of the Amalfi Coast than Le Sirenuse? The colorful hotel is a must stop on any jetsetter's itinerary. Family-owned since it opened in 1951, visiting Le Sirenuse is like stepping into someone's stylish home-and that's because the Sersale family literally turned their summer house into a hotel. There are no bad views from anywhere on this property so pick a nook, whether it's at the whimsical Champagne & Oyster Bar, fashionable Franco's (pictured above), or at candlelit La Sponda, and start sipping.
Lo Scoglio Da Tommaso, Amalfi Coast
A post shared by David Geffen (@davidgeffen) on Jul 21, 2018 at 6:37am PDT
It's like clockwork. Come summer every year, music mogul and billionaire David Geffen goes on a severely FOMO-inducing Instagram spree documenting his sails around the Mediterranean on his yacht, Rising Sun. Making it worse is the who's who roster of celebrities, models, socialites, and fellow titans of industry who accompany him. Last summer, the crew included Karlie Kloss, Joshua Kushner, Paul McCartney, Oprah, Bruce Springsteen, Dasha Zhukova, Diane Sawyer, Barry Diller, and Diane Von Furstenberg, to name just a few. They tend to stop for lunch at Lo Scoglio-go for the drinks, but stay for the people watching.
Belmond La Residencia, Mallorca
Of all the charming villages and hamlets on Mallorca, Deià is one of the most chic. It has boutiques, fantastic restaurants, A-list connections (Richard Branson owns a house here and it was where the poet Robert Graves lived), and the Belmond La Residencia, which is perfectly located underneath the Tramuntana mountains and surrounded by lush olive and citrus groves. The 72-room hotel commands sweeping views of the idyllic landscape: "Perfect tranquility reigns," Graves wrote. Make dinner reservations at El Olivo, possibly the most romantic restaurant on the island, where you'll satiate your appetite with an Aperol Spritz as you admire the clusters of old stone houses in the distance.
The Gritti Palace, Venice
There are plenty of opulent, grande dame hotels in Venice, but none can boast having the views that the Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, does. The outdoor Riva Lounge, decked out to look like a Riva Yacht, has spectacular views of the Grand Canal and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, one of the most defining landmarks of the Venetian landscape. Our advice? Linger over an Aperol Spritz (or two) because you're not gonna want to miss that sunset.
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito
As we reported back in April, Santa Barbara County added to its list of luxury hotels with the opening of the Rosewood Miramar Beach in the celebrity haven town of Montecito. The 124-room and 37-suite property has plenty of places to indulge in an Aperol Spritz, whether it's from one of its seven restaurants or by one of its two pools (the design for one of them was inspired by the Monaco Beach Club). This being California, though, something beachside is always preferred, especially since those glorious West Coast sunsets will be perfectly color-coordinated to your drink.
Leo's Oyster Bar, San Francisco
This tropical paradise of a restaurant is the perfect escape from San Francisco's famously brisk summers. Ken Fulk, the interior designer behind some of the world's most glamorous homes and productions (he masterminded Sean and Alexandra Parker's Big Sur wedding in 2013, which reportedly cost between $5 and $10 million), is responsible for Leo's Oyster Bar's Instagrammable aesthetic, with its custom botanical print wallpaper and rattan furniture. "It's as if Don Draper and Betsy Bloomingdale had a baby," he explained at the time of its opening, in 2016. Pair your aperitif with oysters (obviously) and a lobster roll.
The Berkeley, London
For summer 2019, the posh London hotel's rooftop pool has been transformed into a Capri fantasy playground, aptly named La Dolce Vita. Think lemon trees, poolside limoncello sorbet, and free-flowing Aperol Spritzes. The sweet life, though, doesn't come free. You have to book your spot, at £75, which includes four hours of access to the pool and garden, plus an Aperol Spritz. If you're feeling more indulgent, you can add in a spa treatment for £125 more and come out smelling like Capri, too.
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