Italian culture is loved world-over. And, while we couldn't pick just one best thing about la dolce vita, aperitivo hour is pretty up there. If you're not entirely au fait with the concept, it's all about getting together with friends before an evening meal and enjoying a few classic cocktails and nibbles. In the likes of Venice and Florence, these small bites are provided by the restaurant around sunset, and at Kelu in Sheffied, the concept is the same.
While Sheffield isn't often noted as the Tuscany of the UK, stepping through the doors of Sardinian bar and lounge Kelu might just change your mind. The bar's name means golden hour, referring to that special time when aperitivo is enjoyed and true to form, Kelu serves anti pasti every evening on the house. If you fancy a little more than a nibble, though, there is a curated menu of small plates to order from, decked out with the likes of arancine ragu served with tomato sauce, calamaretti fritti and truffle fries with pecorino.
As expected the cocktail menu is serious stuff; starting with a history of aperitivo hour, it predictably offers a fantastic variety of drinks usually enjoyed at this time. If you want to embrace the concept with full force, choose between spritz' with aperol, capari or limoncello as a base. Then, there's also the classic bellini with peach puree, or perhaps a negroni or americano.
On the signatures list, you'll find concoctions dreamed up by the bar staff such as the squisito with Tito’s vodka, homemade strawberry and prosecco syrup, lillet blanc dry vermouth, absinthe and strawberry oil, or the cherry and hazelnut Manhatten with Woodford rye, carpano antica vermouth, frangelico, angostura bitters, walnut bitters and cherrywood smoke. And, if classics are more your thing, fear not, as there's everything on offer from a dark'n'stormy to bramble.