Summer Is for Aperitivo Hour – Here’s How To Set the Table

Photo: Courtesy Of Alex And Trahanas

Soak up the sun with the Italian ritual. From a locally made aperitif to ceramic platters and chic cocktail picks, these essentials make for stylish sipping and snacking.

Words by Gitika Garg · Updated on 17 Feb 2026 · Published on 10 Feb 2026

In Italy, aperitivo hour is a pre-dinner ritual – the sweet spot between clocking off and easing into the evening ahead. Really, it’s an excuse to bring people together: relaxed, unfussy and undeniably chic when done right. If ever there’s a moment to do as the Italians do, it’s summer, when sun-drenched afternoons call for bitter drinks and everything on platters. That might mean mortadella party sticks, a simple tomato and basil salad, and beyond. Here’s what we’re setting out and serving.

Sophie Lou Jacobson Paris totem glass

$139

New York-based designer Sophie Lou Jacobson’s stemless glasses balance beautifully on geometric shapes. Bring a subtle postmodern touch to cocktails, spritzes and beyond.

Buy at Farfetch Buy at David Jones

Black Blaze Oasis serving platter

$189

A good aperitivo hour is also about the spread: fried olives, thinly sliced meats, focaccia served with whorls of butter. A local selection of cheese makes the perfect centrepiece, especially on a board as lush as Black Blaze’s burgundy marble design.

Buy at Black Blaze

Bed Threads La Fête placemats

$90

Bells, stars, love hearts, candelabras, Martini glasses – all the essentials for a great soiree – are painted in watercolour across these French flax linen placemats. Designed with Aussie artist Annie Everingham, they’re finished with a pink, burgundy and green trim.

Buy at Bed Threads

Fieldbar drinks box

$289

Ditch the esky. If you’re taking aperitivo to the park or the backyard, Fieldbar’s cooler makes things easy (and chic). The easy-to-carry box is finished with a tan leather handle and sleek gold details.

Buy at Aura Home

Saison Aperitif spring rhubarb

$60

Saison Aperitif’s locally made spring rhubarb vermouth by chef and aperitif obsessive Dave Verheul of Embla is a great place to start. Mix it into an Americano or Bramble and pour it into something special.

Buy at Saison Aperitif

Robert Gordon condiment bowls

$39.95

Set the table with olives and dips in these vintage-inspired ceramic bowls from Robert Gordon. Scatter them around or use them to dress up your cheese board.

Buy at Aura Home

Maison Balzac x Sonoma sourdough breadbasket

$89

Bread is an essential part of any good aperitivo. Hold your loaf of choice in these handwoven beauties by Maison Balzac and Sydney bakery Sonoma. Pick from an oval or round shape, depending on your spread.

Buy at Maison Balzac

Corey Ashford olive cocktail picks

$125

If not a simple spritz, let it be a Martini – garnished with plump olives lined up on one of Corey Ashford’s cocktail picks. Coming in a set of four, each stainless-steel pick is complete with a faux olive and leaves plenty of room for the real thing.

Buy at Corey Ashford

Goldi Extra Virgin Agrumato

$22

Aperitivo hour is as much about presentation as it is about what’s on the plate. Goldi’s premium extra-virgin olive oil comes from Victoria’s Goulburn Valley. It’s designed for precise, mess-free pouring. Drizzle this jalapeno-infused belnd over focaccia, summer salads, grilled vegetables and more for a little kick.

Buy at Goldi

Saarde Flow cheese knife

$39

A good cheese board selection balances textures: something soft and creamy, something semi-hard and mild, and something hard and aged. Slice into wheels with Saarde’s curved resin knife. It feels as good in your hand as it looks on the table.

Buy at Saarde

Marmoset Found platter

$149

Serve salads, fritters and more in this sculptural ceramic platter by Melbourne-based homewares label Marmoset Found. Its scalloped edges make for a table centrepiece.

Buy ay Aura Home

Citta Terra nesting bowls

$109

New Zealand furniture and homewares label Citta is known for adding texture and warmth to your space. These marble bowls are no different. Three bowls – a brown, forest green and grey – sit neatly inside each other. When they’re on the table, we suggest filling them with Bonilla a la Vista’s chips and other picky bits.

Buy at RJ Living

Alex and Trahanas Lido ceramic wine cooler

$220

A chilled bottle on standby is best kept cool in Alex and Trahanas’s ceramic cooler made in Puglia. Hand-painted stripes come in yellow, green and blue.

Buy at Alex and Trahanas

Maison Balzac Aperitif goblets

$99

These glass tumblers are made for Negronis. A faux orange slice sits pretty in the centre. It’s also great for levelling up sparkling water. Chin chin!

Buy at Aura Home

Kate and Kole caviar spoon

$1390

This one might be more of a special wedding gift for the couple who loves hosting. Fine jewellery label Kate and Kole’s new cocktail cutlery takes cues from jewellery. Spoon caviar into this polished and brushed silver, topped with a freshwater pearl.

Buy at Kate and Kole

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About the author

Gitika Garg is Broadsheet's assistant editor – art, design and style.