THE SPRITZ.
the sun’s out so it’s time to get out of work early and try the 5 best places to enjoy a spritz in london
● FRANK’S CAFE
PINK STAIRS & APEROL SKIES
If you haven’t had a Spritz on top of a multi-storey car park in Peckham, have you even lived? Frank’s is a South London rite of passage. The stairs are pink, the views are panoramic, and the Aperols are served by the gallon. It’s loud, it’s communal, and when the sun starts to dip behind the Shard, there is no better place on earth to have a cold, fizzy drink in your hand. Just get there early to beat the queue.
NO RES
Peckham
boldtendencies.com
photos from @frankspeckham
● 40 MALTBY STREET
LOW INTERVENTION, HIGH VIBES
Tucked into a railway arch where the trains rumble overhead, 40 Maltby Street is the ultimate insider wine bar. While they’re famous for their incredible seasonal small plates and Gergovie Wines, their Spritz is a masterclass in subtlety. No neon-orange syrups here, expect vermouth-heavy, botanical, and dangerously crisp pours that change with the weather. It’s rustic, it’s industrial, and it’s the best place in Bermondsey to spend a Saturday afternoon pretending you’re in a cool back-alley bar in Paris.
NO RES
Bermondsey
40maltbystreet.com
photos from @40maltbystreet
● VERMUTERIA
THE HOME OF THE BOTANICAL BUBBLE
Located in the heart of Coal Drops Yard, Vermuteria is a love letter to the café culture of Italy and France. As the name suggests, they are obsessed with vermouth, which makes their Spritz game top-tier. Expect a menu full of herbal, bitter, and beautifully balanced drinks that go way beyond your standard Aperol. It’s got a chic, European terrace vibe that makes you feel like you’re on holiday, even if you’re just waiting for a train at St Pancras.
King’s Cross
vermuteria.cc
photos from @vermuteria_london
● BAR TERMINI
TINY BAR, MASSIVE SPRITZ ENERGY
Stepping into Bar Termini is like being teleported to 1950s Rome. It’s tiny, it’s sleek, and it’s arguably the most efficient bar in London. While the Negronis get all the press, the Spritz Termini, with its rhubarb cordial and Aperol, is a floral, fizzing masterpiece. It’s the perfect aperitivo stop-off before a Soho dinner. Just remember to book ahead - with about 20 seats total, this place is prime real estate.
Soho
bar-termini-soho.com
photos from @terminisoho
THE LONDON 100 WINNER / BEST SPRITZ
● OMBRA
CANALSIDE COOL & VENETIAN SOUL
Perched on the corner of Regent’s Canal, Ombra is a Venetian-style bacaro that brings a slice of the Rialto to Hackney. This is arguably the most authentic Spritz in the city served with a proper olive and a side of their legendary cicchetti. Whether you’re sitting on the terrace watching the Lime bikes whiz by or tucked inside the bustling dining room, the vibes are immaculate. It’s effortlessly cool, consistently delicious, and the only way to do a Sunday in E2.
Bethnal Green
ombrabar.restaurant
photos from @ombrabar.restaurant