Practical as well as enjoyable, aperitivo helps Londoners abide by the golden rule: never drink on an empty stomach.

BBC: Aperitivo hour comes to London

British chef Theo Randall offers an authentic aperitivo menu at his namesake restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel on Park Lane.

BBC: Aperitivo hour comes to London

For a piece of aperitivo history, and a design-centric but friendly crowd, head to Bar Basso, just north of Porta Venezia.

BBC: Aperitivo time is Italy��s happiest hour

Popular all over Italy but particularly in Milan, aperitivo takes places in bars and restaurants between 6 and 9 pm on weekdays, when friends or colleagues gather to unwind and socialise.

BBC: Aperitivo hour comes to London

You may hand over a few more euros for a single glass of the good stuff, but with dinner and a bella figura floorshow thrown in, aperitivo is not only a not-to-be missed Italian tradition, it is an absolute bargain.

BBC: Aperitivo time is Italy��s happiest hour