How to Host Cocktail Hour
Call it aperitivo, apéro, or l’apéritif, take a cue from the Europeans for a casually luxe get together.
by Erin Henderson
Having friends over for an end-of-day drink is my favourite way to entertain. I like cocktail hour even more than my beloved lunches, and certainly way better than dinner parties.
Apéro, as the French call it, aperitivo, as the Italians say, is a welcome respite from the day, a pause between the rigid working hours and the routine of dinner.
When people stop by after work before heading on to something else – home or dinner reservations or swimming lessons – there’s an air of exhalation, I can almost feel muscles loosening and racing minds slowing. A few hours of relaxed conversation are truly a luxury – and sadly, one that’s a rarity for many of us in North America.
After visiting Europe a few times over the years, I saw how, no matter what country you find yourself, locals of all ages interrupt to the flow of daily routine for a few drinks, a bite to eat, and a little conversation with friends and strangers. Except for them, cocktail hour is not an interruption – it’s a welcome and necessary scheduled part of the day.
The grace of apéro lies within its ease: a few hunks of cheese picked up from the store on the way home, a bowl of olives retrieved from the fridge, a loaf of bread grabbed from the next-door bakery. Throw a few bottles of wine on ice, and let people help themselves.
There’s a bohemian allure to this laid-back soirée. It’s simply the friends, the food, and the drinks, without the formality of a planned meal or scheduled timing.
Here’s how you do it:
Timing
Cocktail hour is exactly that – cocktail hour. Stretch it into two, if you would like, but really, it’s the stopgap between day and night. When inviting friends over, make sure you are specific about the time, which is usually a cinq et sept, or a five to seven kind of affair (and having a stated end time also makes it perfect for getting lingerers to leave.)
Guest List
When it comes to inviting people over, this really is a last-minute, casual thing. Unlike our rules for formal gatherings, where invites need to be sent out weeks, if not months, in advance, aperitivo is simply a call or a text to a few friends to stop by for a tipple.
Grab and Go
My favourite part about apéro is that literally everything can – and should – be purchased from good quality shops on the way home. Tailor your menu to the stores that are on your route – no need to go out of your way or make a special trip.
Usually, cocktail hours consist of some kind of combination of cheese, bread, charcuterie, a spread or two, and some olives, nuts or cornichons. It can have lots of elements or just a few.
I was once invited to a simple, but stunning, apéro when I was in France. The small offering was pâté en croute, a few slices of salami, and cold champagne. Sometimes less is more.
Ideas
Obviously, pick the items most appealing to you, but if you just can’t make another decision today, here are some of the apéro combinations I’ve served to great success.
- Mortadella, burrata, focaccia and pistachios paired with rosé
- Landjäeger, Comte, sour dough, and walnuts paired with gamay/Beaujolais
- Chateau de Bourgogne, prosciutto, salt and vinegar chips, and olives paired with brut sparkling wine
Drinks
It simply can’t get any easier than throwing a few bottles on ice and leaving it at that. However, if you would like to offer a welcome cocktail, I think that's fabulous. Make a pitcher of margaritas, daquiris, or gimlets so people can help themselves.
Set out enough glasses for everyone – don’t worry if it’s not a complete set, or if any match at all – a large pail of ice, a pitcher of cocktails, a few carafes of wine and water, and you’ve got yourself a party.
Décor
Leave the balloons, matchy-matchy napkins, and flower vases in the cupboard. Understated and easy is best for this setting.
In Europe, you see apéro hosted in parks and along riverbanks – even town squares. Locals frequently gather outdoors in nice weather, since very few live in homes large enough to entertain more than an additional person or two.
For Canadians living in condos with cozy balconies or spacious houses with sprawling yards – take advantage of it! Let your surrounding speak from themselves, whether it’s a sleek cityscape or suburban oasis.
Just make sure there’s enough seating, and if the evening cools down quickly when the sun sets, have a stack of blankets nearby, and either a fire pit or bunch of candles ready to go.
Music
I may be revealing my age here but shouting over the booming bass doesn’t make for a relaxed and casual cocktail hour.
I like soft music to fill in the quiet lulls in conversation, but the operative word is soft. I usually play jazz, classics like Chet Baker or Miles Davis are always sophisticated choices.