Aperitivo Reopens in Sanlitun Soho in Wake of Bar Street Renovations

Aperitivo sadly shut its doors early last month, ending more than a decade-long run of attracting patrons with its breezy shrub enclosed terrace, potent wine based cocktails, and chewy bruschetta. It was yet another long-running Dirty Bar Street business to bite the dust in the wake of extensive chai-ing in April. Although those renovations directly affected businesses on the opposite side of the street from Aperitivo, the reverberations didn't exactly make it a prime F&B destination anymore.

READ: Hangover Cure: Sanlitun "Dirty Bar Street" Has Been Demolished

After all that, Sanlitun Soho looks downright stable and comparatively appealing. Yes, Aperitivo owner Stefano Fin chose that complex as the new location for his bar and bistro, unveiling the new digs on the first floor of the southwest building (close to B Active, next to Doner Kebab) with a small party this past Thursday and opening the kitchen for regular business over the weekend.

The interior of Aperitivo 2.0 is smaller than its predecessor, but it does also have a more polished, modern vibe that amounts to a considerable upgrade. A handful of outdoor tables and chairs are all well and good, but unfortunately pale in comparison to the leafy patio that was one of the original Aperitivo's prime attractions.

The food and drinks have made the move relatively untouched. For now, the new Aperitivo is still in soft opening, so the only eats available are simple salads, paninis, and bruschetta. We tried the salami, parmesan, and mozzarella topped bruschetta (RMB 50; there are four varieties in total including a veggie version and another with olive and anchovies, all for the same price). It was a straightforward delight with thick, cushy bread, and mouthwateringly salty salami. Best of all is its generous portioning, its eight pieces reminiscent of a small pizza that can be shared by two or three patrons.

The paninis are also RMB 50 each, and come in salami mozzarella and gorgonzola, Mortadella ham and Emmental cheese, parma ham and blue cheese, and chicken bacon and mozzarella varieties. An even bigger draw will likely be the astoundingly affordable wine list. It features sparkling red and rose Zonin Prosecco Brut (RMB 45 per glass/RMB 220 for a bottle), Gavioli Lambrusco (RMB 40/220), and Pierre Chainier 1749 (RMB 45/22). Better still are the house whites like Terroirs Riesling (RMB 45/220), Terroir Sauvignon Blanc (also RMB 45/220), and Margaret River Chardonnay (RMB 40/200); and there's also a few house reds like Terroirs Sangiovese (RMB 45/220), Terroirs Pinot Noise (priced the same), and a West Australia Shiraz (RMB 40/200).

That all makes the new Aperitivo a solid spot to start off your snacking and day drinking on a warm June weekend afternoon. After the recent tumultuous closures on Dirty Bar Street and other long popular alleys, it's nice to see well-established businesses like this survive and find new spots to keep the party going. We look forward to stopping by again soon after the soft menu is done and their full menu is unveiled, in order to raise a glass to Aperitivo's longevity.

Aperitivo
Daily 10am-2am. G/F, Bldg 6, Sanlitun Soho (next to Doner Kebab), Chaoyang District (6417 7793)
朝阳区三里屯Soho6号商场6115号

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Photos: Kyle Mullin

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Yup.. Waiting for their full disclosure, will surely pay a visit there.

~~“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ~~.

Glad to see them back on their feet again!