Becoming Truly Italiana: A Personal Drinking Journey .
That's right—I'm talking about myself. The woman utterly captivated by Italy. Although I carry Italian blood and hold dual citizenship, I won't pretend I've fully mastered the Italiana way of living; still, it's always been woven into who I am.
As a child, I was convinced every household included an Italian grandmother—someone whose living room showcased Frank Sinatra portraits above the piano and whose kitchen was filled with the aroma of cucumbers mingling with a simmering pot of marinara. I found it almost too charming that the peninsula resembled a boot—how could anyone resist falling for that? Not to mention the staggering count of legendary artists, thinkers, and trailblazers (Amerigo, sound familiar?) who emerged from this slender land.
This explains why, following six journeys to Italy over the last ten years, I've moved here temporarily to soak up every ounce of my passion. If anything, that strategy has blown up in my face; the fibers of la dolce vita dig in deeply, and I have no clue how I'll manage to untangle them and head back to America (aside from perhaps retrieving our pups).
One certainty remains, though: regardless of any move, I can preserve Italy's spirit in my glass.
Should you assume it's purely espresso and vino here, you'd be partially accurate—and partially off. Italians possess a unique cadence around drinking that I find utterly charming yet slightly daunting. To map this out for myself and fellow Italy devotees, cin cin.
Consider this my (broadly generalized, far from exhaustive) field manual for you:
Living Italiana: A Guide to Drinking Like the Italians
MORNING HOURS
Buongiorno! Heading to the office? Italy's bars cater perfectly to the working crowd. Disposable cups aren't really a thing locally, so carve out a few moments to sip your caffè (also called espresso or caffè normale) standing at the bar somewhere between the relaxed window of 7 and 9 AM.
Tough evening? Opt for a doppio. Pressed for minutes? Pick a ristretto—a tighter espresso shot delivering a punchier, more intense flavor. On the flip side, consider a lungo, an extended shot with extra caffeine and added water. While it's not exactly an americano (which involves pouring hot water into the cup post-shot), it'll still give you that effect.
[A quick note: Yes, you can absolutely order an americano—just mind the hour. Anywhere from mid-afternoon into early evening, requesting an americano delivers a completely different beverage: club soda, Campari, and sweet vermouth combined.]
Craving dairy? Order your cappuccino before 10 AM—that much milk later in the day is rough on your stomach. Prefer something lighter and foamier? Choose a macchiato (espresso topped with foam) or a macchiatone (a bigger espresso with foam) when you're torn between the two.
Every one of these drinks arrives with a sugar packet and sometimes a side of sparkling water. Should a cornetto or brioche be available, snag one. Rising early earns you that treat, no question.
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MIDDAY HOURS
As with most things Italian, midday drinking habits shift based on the region, but generally speaking, by 11 AM you're cleared to order a spritz.
Pre-lunch spritzes usually mean Prosecco or a white wine, though you could choose a spritz Aperol for added sweetness or a spritz Campari for a more bitter kick. When settling in for lunch, typically from noon to 2 PM, expect a house red or white to appear on the table.* This wine tends to be a touch lighter than what you might buy elsewhere, so a glass won't hit hard—neither on your budget nor your post-meal productivity.
Pair it with acqua frizzante and wrap up the meal with a fresh caffè. Half the day is in the books.
*Pizza changes the rules. The timeless combo is pizza and una birra.
EVENING HOURS
"Fancy grabbing an aperitivo?"
That ranks among my all-time favorite questions. Lately I've been hearing it constantly, and I always jump at the chance to reply with an enthusiastic, "Certo!"—which instantly outs me as American, in case my accent hadn't already done the job.
Generally kicking off around 4 PM and wrapping up near 8 PM, aperitivo fills the comfortable space between lunch and dinner with a fresh spritz plus light bites. Once more, your spritz might just be bubbly wine or Prosecco—anything with bollicine (fizzy goodness)—or you could mix in Aperol, Campari, or Cynar, a bitter aperitif built around artichokes. A bowl of potato chips is the bare minimum, but to truly impress, find a venue offering extras: crostini-style topped toasts, mini pizzas, or tramezzini—those pillowy triangle sandwiches with the crusts trimmed off. (Tramezzini carry a weirdly sentimental pull for me, and I'm utterly hooked.)
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Dinner brings another glass of red or white, again paired with the food. (And again, and again, and again—you catching the pattern? It's all about the meal.) Post-dinner calls for yet another caffè—but here's the twist—that caffè gets a bit more elaborate.
An Italian dinner feels incomplete without a digestivo, typically an amaro, grappa, or limoncello, to ease digestion. This is sometimes called ammazzacaffè, literally the coffee slayer. Pour amaro or grappa into your caffè beforehand (skip this with limoncello) and you've got a caffè corretto. If you'd rather enjoy your caffè straight and chase it with a sip of grappa, Venetians dub that the rasentin (or rasentino in local dialect)—a sort of palate cleansing. Caffè so good, you'd happily have it twice.
Only after all that, mind you, is it cocktail hour.
A Quick Reminder: This might look like an excessive amount of alcohol, but in my experience, consuming all of this in a single day is uncommon. Think of it instead as a snapshot of what's culturally acceptable at any hour. Alcohol in Italian culture centers on connection and togetherness, not intoxication or oblivion. Everything is paced and unhurried to better appreciate the meal and the company. Of course, exceptions happen—so if you partake, please do so responsibly.
What draws you to Italy most?
Images via Kayla Mendez
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