A bar lounge is the ideal spot to take part in this European ritual and many of our chic local establishments are embracing the apéritivo trend.
A classic spritz is the order of the day, though most of these lounges and tasting rooms offer signature spritz interpretations you won’t want to miss.
PIATTI MILL VALLEY
Take your spritz out on the patio over Richardson Bay and watch as the sun slips behind the wisps of summer fog coming in around Mt. Tam. Piatti leans heavily into its Italian roots with its daily dedication to the apéritivo tradition, serving up the Piatti spritz, Italian cocktails and spuntini (appetizers) of arancini, cauliflower fritto and eggplant-Parmesan fries.
3–6pm every day, MillValley.Piatti.com
EL DORADO KITCHEN SONOMA
The newly renovated lounge at the south end of this beloved Sonoma Plaza hotel and restaurant will play host to select apéritivo makers this summer in a series of special events. In the meantime, it’s offering the ideal workweek wind down—a selection of low-ABV spritzes and light bites highlighting the seasonal flavors of this cozy Wine Country town.
2:30–5pm, Monday through Thursday, ElDoradoSonoma.com
VOYAGE BAR SAN ANSELMO
The wood-paneled, sun-speckled Voyage Bar is like Marin in its ’70s heyday. But it’s thoughtfully curated selection of wines and apéritifs is like nothing you could find back then. Though they’ve applied for a liquor license that’s sure to change their menu, Voyage’s daily Apero hour focuses on no- and low-proof wine-based cocktails offered alongside small plates of olives, Marcona almonds, tinned fish with crackers and a selection of local cheeses.
noon–5pm every day, VoyageBar.com
PIAZZA D’ANGELO MILL VALLEY
When Luigi Petrone took the helm of his family’s 44-year-old Mill Valley restaurant last year, he gave some attention to their bar program. Piazza d’Angelo’s aperitivo menu comprises just the spritzes and bar bites one might find in Italy—including discounted cocktails and an array of reasonably priced appetizers ranging of Italian meatballs to pizette to fried calamari.
4–6pm, Monday through Friday, PiazzadAngelo.com
THE CORNER BAR MILL VALLEY
At this Mill Valley hot spot, sidewalk spritzes are “best enjoyed in the sun,” or just after the sun slips behind the majestic Mount Tamalpais. Bartender extraordinaire Jason Sims offers a menu of elevated spritzes with his own fresh-forward rifs on Aperol, Hugo and Negroni Spritzes along with others crafted with limoncello and Rosé, plus a host of zero ABV offerings.
Mondays – Thursdays, 4pm–11pm; Fridays & Saturdays, 4pm–midnight CornerBarMV.com
L’APERO LE TROIS WINTERS
If you can allow your search for apéritivo (and sublime apéritifs) to take you a little farther afield, visit the Berryessa Gap Vineyards Tasting Room in historic downtown Winters, just over the hill from the Napa/Yolo County line. It pours L’ Apero les Trois‘ award-winning French Farmhouse style aperitifs in six remarkable versions – Meyer Lemon, Blenheim Apricot, Homestead Quince, Rosemary Orange, Mission Fig, and Green Walnut. Ask, and they might even make you a wine-based cocktail! Small food bites and grab-and-go snacks available.
