Aperitif at Home: 7 Tips for Drinks, Snacks and a Lovely Evening

A few glasses on the table. Citrus zest between your fingers. The doorbell rings.

You don’t need a big home bar for an aperitif at home. One carefully chosen drink, a few small bites and a little preparation are enough to begin with. Here are seven tips that turn an invitation into an evening with your own style. What actually makes an aperitif, we explain in our article “What Is an Aperitif?”

What do you need for an aperitif at home?

First decide whether dinner will follow. That determines how much you prepare. Before a meal, a small selection is enough. If the shared table is to replace dinner, plan some more filling dishes as well.

To start with, we recommend a manageable set-up:

• One drink you enjoy serving.
• An alcohol-free alternative and water.
• Three different small bites to share.
• Glasses, small plates, napkins and suitable serving cutlery.

Ask your guests beforehand about intolerances and preferences. That way, you can tailor your selection.

Which drink works for an aperitif at home?

A spritz can be made right in the glass. For our version, we use LOLA. You can choose between Orange, Lemon and Lime.

LOLA Orange combines sweet and bitter notes. Lemon stands for sweetness and acidity. Lime brings a fresh, tart profile. Choose one variety for your first set-up. That keeps shopping and preparation simple. Find out which direction suits you in “Sweet, Bitter or Sour: Which Aperitif Suits You?”

For one LOLA Spritz you need:

• 6 cl (60 ml) LOLA Orange, Lemon or Lime
• 4 cl (40 ml) prosecco
• A splash of soda
• Ice cubes
• A slice of orange, lemon or lime to match the variety
• Optional: fresh mint or rosemary

Fill a large wine glass generously with ice. Add LOLA and prosecco. Top up with a splash of soda and stir gently. Garnish the drink with the matching citrus fruit.

The amounts are for one glass and follow our LOLA recipe. You’ll find the LOLA Spritz recipe here.

Set out water and an alcohol-free option with just as much care – chilled mineral water with lemon and mint, for example. A beautiful glass belongs to it, too.

An aperitif isn’t a time of day. It’s an attitude.

Which snacks go with an aperitif?

For an uncomplicated start, we suggest three different textures: something crunchy, something creamy and something fresh. That makes a small selection everyone can combine as they like.

Our suggestion: grissini, a mild dip and cucumber or pepper sticks. If you’d like more choice, add olives in a bowl of their own.

You can easily vary this selection. Bread can replace the grissini, a plant-based spread the dairy dip. Set out nuts or other ingredients that not everyone can eat separately.

Start with familiar flavours. If you want to highlight a particular pairing with your drink, try the combination yourself beforehand. Taste remains personal.

How do you plan quantities for four people?

For four adults who will have dinner afterwards, you can start with the following shopping list. It is our planning suggestion, not a fixed portion rule:

Adjust the selection to appetite, length of the evening and the meal that follows. If the aperitif becomes the main meal, add a savoury tart or a filling salad, for example.

Serve part of the food first. Keep the rest ready for topping up, and chill it where needed.

Which glasses and tools do you really need?

A large wine glass with room for ice and garnish works well for the LOLA Spritz. A small measuring cup with a millilitre scale helps with dosing: 6 cl equals 60 ml, 4 cl equals 40 ml.

Also have a long spoon, a knife, a chopping board and ice tongs ready. You don’t need a shaker for this drink.

Run through the process once in your head: Where does the glass go? Where is the citrus fruit? Where does the opened bottle go? A small tray for mixing helps keep everything within reach.

How do you make the aperitif table feel right with just a few details?

Start with what’s already there. A light table surface, ceramic bowls and clear glasses can create a calm setting. Add one accent of colour, for example with a fabric napkin or a piece of citrus fruit.

For a table inspired by LOLA Lemon, cream and yellow work well. The inspiration comes from the Amalfi Coast. You can bring it in through light, colour and material – without building a holiday backdrop.

Leave space between the bowls for glasses and hands. Low decoration keeps the view of the person opposite free. Check the lighting from where you sit: it should feel pleasant and still let you see the table clearly.

What can you prepare before your guests arrive?

Split the preparation into three small stages. The order helps you have only a few things left to do when your guests arrive.

The day before: Check your shopping, the glasses and your ice supply. Make room for chilling.

Before the visit: Chill the drinks. Prepare the dip and the vegetables and keep both chilled until serving. Set out crockery and tools.

Just before serving: Arrange the snacks and cut the garnish. Add ice, prosecco and soda to the glasses only when you mix the drinks. Topped crisp bites are also best finished at the very last moment.

Now everything has its place. Including you.

Which citrus note will be on your table? Discover more serves in the LOLA recipes.