Just because you’re not in Italy this winter, doesn’t mean you have to act like you’re not. In Auckland, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to exceptional Italian eateries with food, drink, and ambience that bring the laid-back yet convivial vibes of Il Bel Paese to life. Here, we round up three of our top spots to indulge in aperitivo, Italian eats, and a spritz or two to set the tone.
Bivacco
Make like you’re abroad and round off a long day at Bivacco, where aperitivo hour, running Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm, rivals anything on the Amalfi Coast. Settle in harbourside as the sky turns gold, and graze your way through the menu with a negroni or champagne in hand, tucking into the complimentary bites when the mood strikes. It’s Euro-chic, minus the currency conversion.
Non Solo Pizza
For those who like their pre-dinner ritual local, Parnell’s Non Solo Pizza presents a transformative journey where the Aperol flows, the Neapolitan-style pizzas are on point, and the energy rivals that of Capri in July. Here, an alluring aperitivo hour runs from 5pm to 8pm daily across the bar and osteria, with drinks specials on all of the best (Italian-approved) beverages, and complimentary bites to round out the experience. Gather la famiglia and make for NSP to live la dolce vita.
Amano
Celebrated for its impeccable day-to-night fare that never fails to send diners on their merry way suitably satisfied, Amano is a winter favourite for a reason. This season, gather a posse and settle into a cosy booth to sample the ever-changing (and always delicious) pastas, made fresh each day. From the simple but sublime pipe rigate cacio e pepe to the Auckland Islands scampi chitarra with tomato and chilli, this is comfort food at its finest. Bellissimo.
