Aperitivo is an Italian bar and restaurant at 158-160 Seabourne Road, in the middle of Southbourne. Both the name and the concept come from the Italian aperitivo tradition of drinks and small plates taken together in the early evening, and here a full restaurant menu has been built around that idea rather than bolted on as an extra.
What's on the menu
Risotto (seafood, 'nduja sausage, porcini mushroom) and pizza sit at one end of the menu, with pasta, salads and more substantial meat and fish courses at the other; a T-bone steak and a seafood linguine are among the heartier choices. True to the aperitivo concept, cocktails and a dedicated wine list run alongside the food, and a separate kids menu covers family visits. Dishes and prices move around, as at any restaurant, so look at the current menu on the website before heading over.
Who's behind it
The same small local group that owns Pulcinella in Ashley Cross and Via Roma in Boscombe runs Aperitivo. Both are established Italian restaurants elsewhere in the Bournemouth and Poole area, which says something about the kitchen's pedigree if this is your first visit.
Practical details
Opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 10pm, and Friday to Saturday, midday to 11pm; the restaurant is closed on Sundays. Online booking is available and worth using for weekend evenings, when the bar fills up. The rest of Southbourne's shops and cafés are a short walk away, and the restaurant pairs easily with a wander along the clifftop or down to the beach.
For other places to eat in the area, see our food & drink guide, or find out what else is happening locally in our things to do guide.