Aperitivo Week returns to London for its second year from 14th to 20th September, to celebrate the Italian ritual with a city-wide line-up of exclusive cocktails and events. Santoni L’Aperitivo will take centre stage as some of London’s bars and restaurants showcase their own spins, creating one-off serves with the Tuscan aperitif – including everything from elevated classic serves to Mexican-inspired cocktails in Shoreditch and Italian-American serves in Tower Bridge.
Participating bars and restaurants have been encouraged to create interpretations that reflect their own style. Clarette captures a fresh French spirit in its Rosemarita, and Lavo infuses the essence of the Mediterranean coast into its Rose Fizz, Rosemary Bloom, and Santoni Boulevardier, while London rooftop hotspot Savage Garden adds a contemporary twist on its usual menu favourites to produce the Palomina, Ureshii, and Negroni Santoni Edition. There are nine bars to discover over the seven days, giving plenty of time to explore all the week has to offer.
The occasion comes as a time where drinking habits have notably shift away from quantity and more towards quality, balance, and experiences, with lower-ABV cocktails playing a significant part. Beyond the specially curated cocktails, Aperitivo Week will also feature bartender collaborations, dedicated social storytelling, launch events, activations, and wider consumer experiences across London. Following its inaugural edition, Santoni L’Aperitivo plans to establish the event as an annual fixture before taking Aperitivo Week to other international cities.
The aperitivo is created by Famiglia Santoni, a distillery with more than 60 years of heritage. Born in Florence, Santoni L’Aperitivo is made with 34 natural botanicals, with Chinese rhubarb at the heart of its aromatic profile. Its bitter-sweet flavour combines floral notes with fresh citrus, giving bartenders a versatile base for everything from spritzes and Negronis to more contemporary cocktails.
Participating locations include:
- Clarette, Marylebone, Chateau Margaux family’s chic wine bar (serving the Rosemarita).
- Lavo, Four Seasons Tower Bridge, glossy Italian-American restaurant and bar (serving the Rose Fizz, Rosemary Bloom, and Santoni Boulevardier).
- Porterhouse, Covent Garden, one of central London’s largest independent bars (serving the Rhubarb Margarita, Rosé Negroni, and Rhubarb & Ginger Spritz).
- Zapote, Shoreditch, East London Mexican favourite built around a live-fire kitchen (serving the Calvillo Martini and Santoni Zapote Spritz).
- Savage Garden, rooftop bar with 360-degree skyline views (serving the Palomina, Ureshii, and Negroni Santoni Edition).
- Doña, Stoke Newington, hot-pink mezcal and live-music bar (serving the Rebecca, Helen, and Sophia).
- Il Bistrotto, Chelsea, Ligurian Riviera-inspired cocktail bar on Hollywood Road (serving the San Tonic Spritz, Genova Calling, and Apple, Apparently).
- Stables Bar, The Milestone Hotel, Kensington hotel bar with an equestrian-inspired setting (serving the Pink Negroni Sbagliato and Ora d’Oro).
- Burro, Covent Garden, Conor Gadd’s produce-led Italian bistro in Floral Court, from the team behind Trullo.
Aperitivo Week takes place between 14th to 20th September You can find out more about Santoni L’Aperitivo right here.
