Aperitivo Tour of Florence:
Experiencing Italy’s favorite culinary drink ritual
“An extraordinary way to drink your way through the history of Florentine cocktails”- CN Traveler
Aperitivo is considered the "Italian happy hour" but you'll learn on this Florence Aperitivo tour that it means much more! It is the Italian way to pre-dinner, i.e. specific beverages ranging from bubbles to appetite-stimulating cocktails served with something to “sgranocchiare” nibble on!
Soak up Italy's tradition of Aperitivo on Curious Appetite’s premium food tour in Florence (paired with traditional aperitivo beverages) in like-minded company with fellow curious, culture enthusiasts led by an Italian food & drink expert.
We partake in this Aperitivo tour at a leisurely pace (like the Italians), getting to know Florence’s iconic spots where locals with taste dwell while spending time with seasoned bartender professionals to learn the nitty gritty of Italy’s most unique cocktails, their spirits, amari and bitters.
This is Florence’s original Aperitivo-themed food tour and has been recommended by Conde’ Nast Traveler, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet. This unique food tour in Florence visits both soulful, historic and eclectic lounges all paired with some of the best local food and wine in Florence.
What this tour will not do: Herd you around in big groups of 10+ sticking out like tourists that claim to be small groups, take you to obvious places you could find on your own, make you stand in the street eating dinky bruschetta with bag in box wine, quantity over quality hit & go bucket list pub crawls (no no, we have standards), mediocre free-poured drinks of hangover-inducing subpar quality, stale snacks and pedestrian flavors.
Pick between joining others on a small group (no more than 8) format or booking out a private slot for you and your travel companions. Whether shared or private, this tour is a quality-driven experience that covers the history of every sip and bite.
Get to know Italian aperitivo culture with a fun, engaging local connoisseur (sommeliers, culinary professors, Italian historians, etc). We indulge in sommelier-selected Italian wines paired with gourmet delicacies like truffle slathered panini, peak season tomato bruschette with Tuscan olive oil, slow cured Tuscan meats and flavorful aged cheeses. Our 3-hour aperitivo tour includes an unforgettable immersion with Florence’s famed Negroni, meeting the pros who craft them and chef-prepared bites to match.
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• Fun, quality-driven cultural Italian food & drink tasting tour with a local sommelier guide
• Small group (no more than 8) to not stick out like a tourist group, while allowing visits to unique hidden gems spots
• Recommended by Lonely Planet and Conde Nast Traveler, developed by published writer & sommelier Coral Sisk
• Leisurely 3 sit-down food & drink stops (sparkling wine from sparkling Franciacorta, still Tuscan wine flight, Italian craft aperitif cocktails like Negroni)
• Break from the crowds with exclusive behind-the-scenes visits (e.g. underground Renaissance dining rooms & secluded tastings in wine cellars)
• Gain invaluable knowledge from local experts you’d not be able to meet on your own- the value extends beyond just consuming food & drinks or being rushed around to multiple overdiscovered bucket list bars
• Experience the culture of local pre-dinner night life off Florence’s buzzing boulevards and hidden corners
• Every drink flight paired with high quality bites & small plates walking in between stops to take in the sights (i.e. mini truffle panini, cured meats & local cheeses and seasonal appetizers)
• Get a lay of the city's food & drink scene with your friendly, knowledgable guide
• Taste iconic Italian craft cocktails like the Negroni and creative variations
• Meet award-winning professional bartenders & mixologists (another perk of the exclusive small-group format)
• Informative lesson on key Italian alcoholic products ranging from aperitivo bitters, Medieval elixirs, Italian gin from local distilleries, digestive amari and their history
Duration: 3 hours
Inclusions: All drinks, food pairings and personable, bilingual guide.
Premium sparkling wine (Franciacorta) kick-off, 1 stop for a sommelier-guided wine tasting and 1 craft cocktail stop, 3 stops total all with traditional Italian pairings (i.e. cured meats & cheeses, nuts, crostini, truffle bites, etc).
Pricing will display once correct # of guests have been selected. If you selected a PRIVATE tour, please make a note in your booking if you’d like to focus on more cocktails (spritz, Negroni, amari, etc) or more interested in wine tasting.
Optional add-ons: (for a fee) Hands-on cocktail lesson with one of the mixologists.
If you are in a group of larger than 8, please contact us for custom quote options.
Not included: Travel insurance, transport, additional tastings and trip cancellation insurance.
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PRIVATE TOUR Cost: 1-2 adults: $375 pp, 3 adults: $245 pp, 4 guests = $195 pp, 5-6 guests = $165, 7-8 guests = $145 pp
*Optional artist designed tote-bag add-on at check-out: $30 (delivery method: in-person on tour)
If you have a group larger than 8, please contact for a custom quote via “Request Additional Info” button
PRIVATE TOUR Day/time: Start time: 5:30pm (flexible upon request), Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays
If you’d like to arrange a private tour on an evening in which a small group tour is scheduled, we require a buy-out of the time slot (8 ticket total, regardless of group size)
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SMALL GROUP TOUR Cost: $130 per guest, 8 guests maximum
*Optional artist designed tote-bag add-on at check-out: $30 (delivery method: in-person on tour)
SMALL GROUP TOUR Day/time: Mondays & Fridays at 5:30pm
Highlights: Visit to bakeries, tasting of truffle delicacies, sparkling wine and charcuterie parings and craft Negroni experience at an exclusive lounge
If you’d like a different day, please select the PRIVATE option and you’ll have the undivided attention of the guide, flexibility throughout the experience to go at your pace and exclusive access to where we stop to imbibe.
Besides delighting in the best Aperitivo in Florence, we’ll saunter through the Renaissance pearl’s buzzing backstreets before stopping in at stunning spots during aperitivo hour on this curated culinary drink tour in Florence.
Thanks to the small group format, you’ll experience how neighborhoods feel by exploring Florence’s fashion districts, the artistic Oltrarno and catching sunset along the river in between Italian wine & craft cocktail tasting stops.
If you’re an Italian amaro or bitter cocktail enthusiast- this tour is a must for you. Prepare your appetite to discover storied liqueurs like Alchermes, craft versions of Campari bitters from special producers hard-to-find outside Italy and creative interpretations of the Negroni with over a century of history.
You’ll leave this tour with a better understanding Italian craft cocktail culture, filter out the mediocre traps and meet charming spots locals love to mingle at. We also introduce you to tucked away gems away from the crowds where accolade-winning bartending pros toil ardently crafting their own elixirs putting free poured mixed drinks to rest.
Join in on one of our favorite Italian culinary drink rituals as we explore the colorful backstreets and cotton candy sunsets which are feast for the eyes. Taste the culture of Italian "Aperitivo" on this leisurely, food and drink tour with style.
*Please note all pricing is in USD$
Curious for a memento of Florence’s iconic flavors to take home?
Add one of our artist designed tote bags to your experience tickets at check-out!
Additional notes:
We can accommodate virtually any food lifestyle. Just let us know how we can help. If you would like to start later or earlier than the times listed OR have a party larger than 8, please send us an inquiry via REQUEST INFO.
