"Milan's Atmosphere"
Aperitivo Culture Emerges in Cologne
Cologne, known for its traditional beer culture and local brew, Kölsch, is starting to embrace a new social drinking tradition - the Aperitivo. Although the Aperitivo culture in Cologne is not as prominent as in cities like Milan or Berlin, several modern bars and restaurants are introducing this Italian ritual to the city.
The Oté, Suderman, and Off-Bar are some of the urban establishments in Cologne that are offering a taste of Aperitivo. While Raffaela Hampf, one of the five people running the Off-Bar, doesn't want to label her bar as Italian, many Italian classics can be found on the menu. The Off-Bar's signature drink, the Negroni Sbagliato, is a testament to this.
The Off-Bar aims to capture the vibrant Aperitivo experience of Milan, rather than being associated with Italy. Last Wednesday evening, the Off-Bar was packed, reflecting the growing interest in Aperitivo among Cologne's young crowd.
L'assagio da Rocco, an aperitivo bar in the South City of Cologne, offers tapas-like "assaggi" or "tastings" that can be ordered individually or in combination with a drink and a typical Italian "tagliere". The snacks at L'assagio da Rocco have unique names like "Remember Me" and "Exquisite Tension", aptly named to pique the curiosity of its patrons.
It's unclear if these Cologne bars and restaurants offer Aperitivo specifically, but the onboard bistro on German Railways' ICE 1156 does promote aperitivo on the small screen. This suggests that Aperitivo is now catching on in Cologne, Germany.
The area around Chlodwig Square has been known for its Italian restaurants for a while, and more bars and restaurants are now offering classic aperitivo drinks and snacks. The pandemic has made people appreciate being able to go out more, according to Raffaela Hampf, and this could be a contributing factor to the growing Aperitivo culture in Cologne.
As for whether Germany is becoming an Aperitivo country, that remains to be seen. However, with the growing number of establishments offering Aperitivo-style drinks and snacks, it's clear that Cologne is at least taking a step in that direction. The quality of the drinks and food at places like the Off-Bar and L'assagio da Rocco is good, which bodes well for the future of Aperitivo in Cologne.
- As Cologne's bars and restaurants, such as The Off-Bar and L'assagio da Rocco, begin to offer Italian-inspired Aperitivo, the city's lifestyle is experiencing a shift towards food-and-drink trends more associated with Italy.
- The growing interest in Aperitivo among Cologne's young crowd can be seen in the increasing number of home-and-garden transformations, as more people create outdoor spaces to enjoy their favorite Aperitivo drinks.
