Where to have the best aperitif in Turin – for a truly unique Turinese experience
In a post some time ago (read it here), I told you about how the habit of having an aperitif in Turin was born and how Vermouth, together with the city, was the protagonist in this invention. If you are in Turin as a tourist, a student or simply if you live nearby, I’m sure you will want to try the best aperitif in Turin and after that, you will want to experience as many aperitifs as you can!
Table of Contents
Here for you a list of the best places to have an aperitif (call it aperitivo to sound Italian) or an apericena (aperitif+dinner) in Turin:
Gran Bar
In summer the outdoor seating in the square of the Gran Bar is a super cool place. The aperitif is served at the table, but the real reason to choose the Gran Bar is that you can choose between the traditional aperitif or the sushi aperitif: certainly, a very original idea and that is really appreciated. Often it happens that you want a bit of sushi but not a whole Japanese dinner and the Gran Bar is the first place in Turin that had this idea and still the best place where satisfies this desire!
Gran Bar
Piazza Gran Madre di Dio, 2, 10131 Turin TO
+39 011 1892 1901
Sun-Thu: 7am–1:30am
Fri: 7am–2am
Sat: 7am–3am
Bar Zucca
Bar Zucca it’s the bar of a historical Italian brand, which tells us the story of Rabarbaro Zucca, a liquor invented in 1919 in Milan. From the ’20s till the year 2000, Caffé Zucca was in Via Roma (where now you’ll find a Zara Home shop) and it was very popular among the local Turinese who would go there for a coffee, a snack or an aperitif. In 2013, it was reopened in Via Gramsci. Here you’ll want to try the historical cocktails (green: non-alcoholic and red: alcoholic) and taste a delicious aperitif served at your table -obviously!- in a chic, elegant place full of classy people.
Bar Zucca
Via Antonio Gramsci, 10, 10123 Turin TO
+39 011 562 1249
Tue-Fri: 8am–10pm
Sat: 8am–11pm
Sun: 9am–10pm
Mon: closed
Caffé Rossini
Caffé Rossini it has been one of the main focal points of the Turinese nightlife for the past 30 years, and you can breathe the success story of this place is in the air. The Rossini is a guarantee: you’ll always feel good there. The aperitif is cheap and nice, served at the table. The people there are diverse: you’ll find everyone from the forty-years-old businessman still with his tie, having just left the office to the dishevelled student who doesn’t feel like cooking dinner. The bartenders behind the counter are very friendly and passionate: they give suggestions for the beers and prepare mojitos that you shouldn’t miss!
Caffé Rossini
Corso Regina Margherita, 80/e, 10153 Torino TO
+39 011 521 4105
Sun-Wed: 4pm–2am
Thu-Sat: 4pm–3am
DDR
DDR is in a position a bit hidden in San Salvario, therefore the people there are those who really want to go. From the first step inside you’ll be flying directly to East Berlin, old sofas and scratched walls, all perfectly reproduced to create an original and comfy scene! The cocktails here are superb (mojito is nr.1) and you can really feel the alternative environment. Go there if you do not like places with posh people.
DDR
Via Claudio Luigi Berthollet, 9, 10125 Turin TO
+39 0110360383
Tue-Sun: 6pm-2am
Mon: closed
Piolino
Piolino is an historic place located in Via Monferrato, the trendiest street of Turin (see here). They serve quality wines, and even if the place inside is pretty small, they have a very large outdoor area and so there is always plenty of people. The aperitif here is not very rich, so if you are a bit hungry, you’d better choose another place.
Piolino – Vini Caffè
Via Monferrato, 23, 10131 Turin TO
+39 011 839 9080
Mon-Sat: 8am–9:30pm
Sun: closed
John Toast
At John Toast the aperitif is aperitoast, of course! I find this aperitif an original idea: it’s made up of little toasted canapes with different toppings, delicious and tasteful. The nice part is that you’ll enjoy your aperitif in front of the paramount and spectacular Mole Antonelliana: to do once in a lifetime, at least!
John Toast
Via Montebello, 9, 10124 Turin TO
+39 011 1990 4772
Sun-Fri: 11am–10pm
Sat: 11am–12am
Trapizzino
At Trapizzino your aperitif is a different way to have a snack before dinner. This place is in a terrific location. The Turinese call it Piazza Carlina, based on the old 18th-century name, Piazza Carolina. Back then it was common to use the name of a square as a possessive, in this case, Charles Emmanuel II’s square, but history went in a different direction and instead the monument in the centre represents Count Camillo Benso from Cavour. The Turinese like this aesthetically beautiful square very much, as it’s a little paradise downtown, for spending the spring and summer nights.
Trapizzino | Piazza Carlina
Piazza Carlo Emanuele II, 17, 10123 Turin TO
+39 011 1875 5933
Sun-Thu: 11am–1am
Fri-Sat: 11am–2am
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