Excerpted from Cocktail Italiano The Definitive Guide to Aperitivo: Drinks, Nibbles, and Tales of the Italian Riviera by Annette Joseph. Copyright 2018 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
“Aperitivo” or “apero” is an integral part of Italian lifestyle―it is the daily ritual of meeting late afternoon or early evening for a cocktail and a few nibbles. Renowned food styling and entertaining expert, and one of The Salonniere’s 100 Best Party Hosts, Annette Joseph is an experienced, authentic guide to la dolce vita of Italy. In her book Cocktail Italiano, Annette shares chapters on twelve major cities along the Riviera, each featuring unique cocktail recipes and regional appetizers traditionally served together. Summery, beachy, and filled with beautiful photographs, Cocktail Italiano will excite readers who are drawn to the beauty and style of Italy, travel aficionados, cocktail lovers, photographers, and will offer the perfect inspiration to enjoy a bit of Italy at home (or, toss it in your bag and head to Milano!).
Levanto
This mostly overlooked hip town is also on the path to Cinque Terra. Levanto is a great place to spend a day or a weekend. The aperitivo culture is super casual, and you’ll find the best bars on the beach where the views are spectacular. Sip and watch the sea kayaks glide by.
Levanto is the sleepy little seaside Riviera town on the outskirts of the famed Cinque Terre. It is home to summer vacationers, surfers, and active young families. Making your way down winding roads into town, you’ll pass a luminous carpet of olive groves.
When you reach town “centro” (center), you’ll pass the train station that takes you to the famous Cinque Terra, and then you are funneled onto a beautiful, bustling, tree-lined main street that dead-ends at the beachfront.
The seaside boardwalk has large luscious gardens, with towering pine trees at one end and an expansive sandy beach at the other. A distinctive collection of small rowboats covered with blue and white striped tarps sit on the beachfront in a pleasing painterly pattern, and have become the unique visual trademark of Levanto.
After dinner, you can enjoy a passeggiata (a walk) along the curved boardwalk, and take in the many stately villas and the dreamy gardens.
This town holds a special place for me and for my family. Levanto was one of the first places our family rented a house to summer on the Italian Riviera. It has a great family vibe and became the perfect summer place for us for many years. We soon grew to love the town and its laid-back attitude . . . as well as its seaside aperitivi.
The sparkling waters attract snorkelers from all around the world. When the weather turns stormy and the sea is rough, surfers take over the town to ride the big waves.
Most Riviera towns have many family-owned and operated beach clubs, but Levanto has a large sandy beach with just one large beach club. It looks very different than other beachfront towns.
The four elevated beach shacks are a great place to enjoy apero in the late afternoon, a great time to sip a cocktail and watch the kayaks paddle along the shoreline. One of my favorite places is The Casino Beach club, with two Olympic-size pools, and a patch of sand with a great bar at ground level. Grab a seat and watch the action poolside with an Aperol Spritz Shakerato in hand.
Unlike other Riviera towns, Levanto’s lazy lifestyle reminds me of the energy of a California beach town. The difference of course is its distinctive and traditional Italian look. Levanto has a good share of tourists, but you never feel like it’s filled to the brim with vacationers. It’s my personal secret Riviera destination, and not to be missed on your Italian Riviera aperitivo tour.
Recipe: Aperol Spritz Shakerato
Serves 1
Shakerato simply means “shaken.” Shaken vigorously. The agitation of drinks forms a desired foam, and this technique is used in many classic drinks to add a little foam. Almost anything can be a shakerato—Campari, Vermouth, or, as in this recipe, the refreshing Italian spirit called Aperol.
3 ounces Aperol
2 ounces prosecco
1 ounce club soda
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, Aperol, prosecco, and soda.
Close and shake vigorously. Strain into a tall wine glass, and top with the foam.
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