Top 5: Places to Enjoy an Aperol Spritz in LondonBy Angelica Malin
Is there anything better than an Aperol Spritz in the sun? Probably not. If you can’t quite make it to the Amalfi Coast this week, then re-create the Italian Riviera in the comfort of your own hometown. Here’s five places in London you simply must visit for an Aperol Spritz this week:
1. For All the Aperol: Aperol Terrace x Bird of Smithfield
Price: Aperol Spritz (£7.50)
The Lowdown: Aperol Spritz has unveiled a new brand home in the City this summer: the Aperol Spritz Terrazza. The rooftop bar, located atop of Bird Of Smithfield, is open for Aperol Spritz lovers to enjoy six days a week, until the end of August.
Food and Drink: Aperol Spritz, obviously. The serve is made by mixing Aperol with Prosecco and a splash of soda in a wine glass full of ice and a slice of orange. Light, sparkling and refreshing, it’s the ideal drink for starting the evening and for any social occasion. Small Italian plates are also available to keep the hunger pangs at bay.
Gimme More: There’s a GIF photo booth, so get snap happy with the gals.
Where: Bird of Smithfield, 26 Smithfield, London EC1A 9LB
2. For an Aperol with a View: Frank’s Cafe
Price: Aperol Spritz (£7.50)
The Lowdown: When it’s hot, half of London make the pilgrimage south of the river to their mecca; Frank’s Cafe. Located on top of a multi-storey carpark (how very trendy), Frank’s fast became a Peckham institution when it opened back in 2008. Fast Forward to today and the rooftop bar still attracts the crowds, and the double denim crew.
Food and Drink: Think bar snacks and light bites – hummus with Scotch bonnet oil and pitta, tomatoes on toast and daily changing veg, meat and fish dishes. Cocktails stick to the classics, with the team creating a dazzling Negroni and a pretty stella Bloody Mary.
Gimme More: On the weekends, they roll out their brunch from 11am. It’s proper hearty dishes, and will soothe your sore heads from the piss-warm pints of cider you were drinking from the night before.
Where: Peckham Multi Story Carpark, 133 Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST
3. For an Aperol with Dinner: POLPO
Price: Aperol Spritz (£7)
The Lowdown: POLPO takes its inspiration from the bacaros of Venice. A bacaro is a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young local wines. The team offer tasty small plates, Prosecco and Spritz in a setting that reflects the gloriously faded elegance of Venice, and the charms of its backstreet wine bar.
Food and Drink: Alongside their European food selection, the cocktail menu is a drinkers paradise. You can’t go wrong with the Elderflower Martini – a glorious combination of vodka, elderflower, vermouth extra dry and lime juice. For the traditionalists, try the bellini, Aperol Spritz or the Negroni. For something different – try the Aperol Sour with lemon juice and Maraschino.
Gimme More: We say, visit either the restaurants in Soho, Covent Garden or Smithfield as they all have a separate bar area which are a great drinking destination in their own right.
Where: Locations here
4. For an Aperol Alfresco: The Pavilion at Dinerama
Price: Aperol Spritz (£9)
The Lowdown: Street Feast are fulling embracing the warmer climes with their special summer pop-up. They’ve ditched the roof at their Dinerama outlet and have launched three new bars to celebrate, along with a snazzy Shoreditch lawn. The Pavilion Bar is big on sharing cocktails (think Magaluf 2k13 with massive fish bowls, but classier), Dick’s Magic Tiki Bar for desert island drinks, and the Funkenpumper bar for high energy alcoholic concoctions.
Food and Drink: Smokestak. For less than a tenner, feast on their beef brisket sandwich for a stomach busting good time. There’s also Breddos Tacos for mini sliders and all round solid street food eats, and Birdbox for their chicken box with rosemary potatoes. Pork buns from Yum Bun are a highlight too. We could go on.
Gimme More: Fungi Pizza. Order their anchovies, capers and olives pizza and thank us later.
Where: 19 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EJ
5. For an After-Work Aperol: Vivo Taste
Price: Aperol Spritz (£6.95)
The Lowdown: Heavily influenced by the Aperitivo trend that’s taken off across Italy, VIVO maintains a focus on food but sets a very casual, and distinctly Milanese, atmosphere. Look around and you’ll see and plenty of glasses containing Spritzes, negronis and wines from their exclusively Italian list dotted around the chic rooftop and the long, communal table.
Food and Drink: Sharing seems to be the operative word at VIVO. The cosiness of the place encourages some friendly mingling, whether you’re tucking into slices of velvety-rich Buffalo mozzarella and juicy Sicilian tomatoes from the salad Caprese, or tackling a antipasti platter with generous layers of prosciutto and mortadella tucked inside a plethora of creamy Italian cheeses and hearty green olives.
Gimme More: If you’re not hungry, just head straight to their roof terraces for a range of cocktails, wines and beers. They serve an apple strudel cocktail with apple liqueur, Crème de Cassis, double cream, caramel, cinnamon and star anise, and by gosh, it’s good.
Where: 57/58 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0NY
