Among all the pizza, pasta and gelato in Venice is a drink … the most important drink in Venice … the Aperol spritz. It has a number of names – the Spritz Veneziano, the Venetian spritz, or just the spritz. I wasn’t familiar with Aperol prior to my visit. It’s a bitter-sweet neon orange liquor with an herbal accent. It’s loosely related to Campari, but less alcohol, less sugar, and less of a bite. The Aperol spritz is served on the rocks, and arrives with a orange slice and a big unpitted green olive sticking out of it on a long wooden skewer.

We were just a few winding streets away from the famed Rialto Bridge at 5pm – happy hour.  However, we noticed Venetians enjoying this drink morning, noon, and night. If you want to try this drink at home, it’s as easy as 1-2-3: 1 part soda water, 2 parts Aperol and 3 parts sparkling white wine, such as prosecco.

Bottom Line:

This drink is definitely an acquired taste, and the taste gets better.  And my bonus tip from Venice … delicious take out pasta from Dal Moro’s – Fresh Pasta to Go.  It was rated the number 1 restaurant in Venice on TripAdvisor. This is my chicken bolognese – hot, fresh and 6 Euros. Best enjoyed while standing on a bridge over any canal in Venice, watching the gondolas go by.