Free nibbles with every glass of wine or cocktail ordered between 5pm and 7pm on Fridays… just like they do in Italy

Here’s some local trivia for you; for all it’s Irish appearance, Southend Hotel is actually owned by Italians. Gina our GM is Italian, and Greg (her husband) thinks of himself as an honorary Italian too. We love all things Italy… but especially the wine, the food, the wine, the food, and the wine some more. Oh… and the food. So here we are bringing a little bit of Italian culture to your evenings. 

Back in the 1800’s, in Turin Italy, the folks took to drinking something pre-dinner as a way of whetting their appetite. Traditionally, this was a dry vermouth (a wine derivative invented in Turin in 1796 by Antonio Carpano). We recommend something dry or bitter like a Campari or a Vermouth (or both at once as an Americano), but really anything will do. The point is you’ve finished your day, and you’re ready to relax.

You’ve heard of mindfulness, right? Aperitivo is mindful drinking. It’s bringing a sense of ritual to your afternoon tipple, involving all the senses of taste and texture and touch. It’s slowing things down. It’s gratitude and appreciation for a wine grown by fourth generation farmers in the McLaren Vale. A small batch G&T, and all those British colonialists that were saved by quinine. Tequila, and all those happy little Mexicans that make it. 

If we’ve done our job right, your first Aperitivo will have you wanting another. Your second will have you looking at our menu, and from there – well… our bistro is open until 8:30pm! Buon’appetito.