This autumn, we’ve teamed up with Aperol and some of our cities’ most convivial dining spots to celebrate the sheer joy of sharing meals and moments with friends—with an Aperol Spritz in hand.
To prove just how universal and transeasonal an Aperols Spritz is, we’ve created a list of Sydney restaurants and bars you can hit up for not only enjoying a well-deserved post-work sip but some fine aperitivo food pairings as well.
Here are 10 unmissable aperitivo dishes around Sydney to pair with an Aperol Spritz.
Bar Copains
The latest creation from chefs Nathan Sasi and Morgan McGlone (of Leigh Street Wine Room, NOMAD, and Belle’s Hot Chicken fame), is Bar Copains. The venue sits in a cosy corner in Surry Hills, quietly boasting an impressive menu of cocktails, wines, and aperitivos. There are also plenty of small bites on offer, including their BBQ Beef Tongue and Anchovy Puff Pastry to keep your senses fully engaged. Copains is actually the French word for friends, so it really would be rude not to share the fun with some mates and a cheeky Aperol Spritz.
Ragazzi Wine and Pasta
Ragazzi Wine and Pasta is a must-see if you’ve been on the hunt for simple Italian cuisine done extraordinarily well. The venue’s rotating menu features an ever-changing roster of seasonal produce, which has been paired with one of Ragazzi’s famous fresh and handmade pasta. Located in the heart of the city, Ragazzi’s offers an atmosphere that feels reminiscent of the informal eateries in Italy. Our go-to? Kick-start aperitivo hour with an Aperol Spritz and their beloved burrata, corn, currants, habanero, and smoked almonds.
Long Chim
If there’s one thing that’s a must when it comes to aperitivo, it’s delectable dishes that burst with flavour and are best served shared. And at Long Chim, which translates to ‘come and try’, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an item on the menu that doesn’t fit the bill. Whether you opt for the smoky chargrilled chicken satay or the fragrant mashed prawn yellow curry, a refreshing sip of an Aperol Spritz in between spice-laden bites is the best way to go when it comes to picking a pairing.
Lana
Serving up Italian-inspired food on the Quay, Lana is a sustainability-focused venue that offers a sophisticated and modern menu while remaining as close to zero waste as possible. There’s a keen focus on sustainable seafood at Lana, with Asian and Mediterranean influences that provide a refreshing take on Italian classics, all of which are rotated pending what’s in season. The set menu features seasonal snacks to start like spanner crab, wasabi leaf and smoked roe—paired perfectly with an Aperol Spritz.
Pepito’s
Pepito’s, Marrickville’s resident Peruvian haunt, has become an institution in the area thanks to its take on South American food, drink, and culture. The venue is closely fashioned after the Peruvian taberna, a welcoming space that’s often family-owned and centuries old, where you can eat and drink amongst friends as if you were at home. The menu is firey, fun and made for sharing, and includes our exclusive Aperol Aperitivo Pairing featuring cured blue mountain trout with escabeche mussels and Amarillo Leche de Tigre, washed down with two Aperol Spritz for just $35.
Ursula's
From succulent grilled meats and fresh seafood to vibrant salads and hearty vegetarian options, there really is something for everyone at Ursula's in Paddington. The menu offers a taste of modern Australia, with surprising flourishes from anywhere between the Mediterranean and Japan to keep you guessing. A meal at Ursula’s is the kind that’s best shared with family or friends. We recommend starting with an aperitivo and Aperol Spritz, like a plate of freshly-shucked oysters or salmon roe and egg sandwiches.
Rocker
Darren Robertson, of Three Blue Ducks fame, opened Rocker with the intention of it being an all-day venue. Step in for a breakfast pastry before work (or a bottomless brunch if you’ve got a few hours to spare) or settle yourself inside for a long lunch or dinner with some good company and great drinks. The beauty of Rocker is that there’s something here for everyone, no matter what time of day, which makes it one of the best, and one of the most convenient, places to catch up with friends and unwind after (or during) a long week. When it comes to aperitivo, we love teaming an Aperol Spritz with the smoked Parroo Farms kangaroo tartare, blueberry and fried curry leaf.
XOPP
Named after the famous pipis with XO sauce from the much-loved Chinese institution Golden Century, Haymarket’s XOPP is the more polished and sophisticated new venue from the team behind GC. Seeing as they’re worth naming a restaurant after, these pippies are not to be messed with—they’re cooked for no more than a couple minutes before being glazed in a silky homemade XO sauce, and were once praised as ‘the best in the world’ by David Chang. Pippies aside, XOPP boasts a modern Cantonese menu with an Australian flair that’s bursting with flavour and creativity. To kick-start the evening on the right foot, we recommend teaming an Aperol Spritz with a plate (or two) of steamed pork sui mai dumplings.
Palazzo Salato
Love Tilly Group, the same team behind Ragazzi, Fabbrica, Dear Sainte Eloise, and La Salut, have unveiled their latest project, Palazzo Salato. The venue is the team's biggest yet—a double-story 120-seat restaurant and bar which sits in one of the CBD’s heritage-listed buildings. With more space to work with, Palazzo Salato will be able to create even more intricate and exciting handmade pasta, plus a healthy selection of grilled mains and exciting small bites to choose from, like the stracciatella di buffala, Cantabrian anchovies and pangrattato and Palazzo ham, colatura hot sauce, focaccia.
Cicerone Cucina Romana
Inspired by the vibrant street culture of Rome, Cicerone Cucina Romana co-owners Isabella Daniali and Roman-born head chef Stefano De Caro, have set out to create a slice of home in Sydney. There are plenty of antipasti, pasta, and pizza options to share across the table, plus a lengthy list of Italian wines and Romanised cocktails to choose from. But there really is only one way to kick off your evening right if you’re looking to enjoy life the Italian way at Cicerone’s, and that’s with an Aperol Spritz with a side of frito mistico (fried calamari, Australian prawn and espresso mayo) or—for the more adventurous—trippa alla Romana: slow braised tripe, mint, pecorino and tomato.
While an Aperol Spritz is the perfect summer sip, it's our go-to no matter what the season. To uncover more about our exclusive Aperol Aperitivo Passport pairings, click here.
Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with Aperol. Thank you for supporting the partners who make The Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.