London has no shortage of after-work drinks, but a proper aperitivo hour asks for a little more patience.
At The Bloomsbury Club Bar, the ritual has been given a discreet central London setting, with cocktails, spritzes and Italian sharing plates served on a secluded terrace beneath The Bloomsbury Hotel.
Running Tuesday to Thursday from 5pm to 9pm, it’s pitched neatly between the end of the workday and the start of dinner.
At a glance
- The Bloomsbury Club Bar has launched an Italian aperitivo hour in central London from Tuesday to Thursday.
- The menu includes signature aperitivo cocktails, Italian spritzes and a platter with charcuterie, focaccia, gherkins and pan con tomate.
- Spritzes and cocktails start at £13, while the full aperitivo experience is priced at £18.
A Milanese ritual in Bloomsbury
The new aperitivo hour is led by Bar Manager Antonio Paperiello, recently named a World Aperitivo Ambassador at the Aperitivo Festival 2026 in Milan.
The distinction, awarded by the Italian Trade & Investment Agency, recognises figures helping to carry Italian aperitivo culture into international cities.
That context matters here, because aperitivo is less about one drink and more about tempo.
It’s the pause before dinner, when bitter, bright and aromatic drinks are matched with small plates, conversation and the subtle permission to slow down.
The cocktails lean bitter, citrusy and Italian
The Bloomsbury Club Bar has built the offer around three signature aperitivo cocktails, each with a clear nod to Italian drinking culture.
Prima Sera, meaning early evening, combines Rinomato Bitter Scuro, Mancino Vermouth Amaranto, Akashi Tai Umeshu, an Italian amaro blend and pink grapefruit soda.
The Garibaldi keeps things classic with Campari and fresh orange juice, a simple pairing that relies on freshness and balance.
Sottosole, or under the sun, brings together Tanqueray Gin, Mancino Vermouth Amaranto, lavender bitters, Campari and lemon foam.
For those who prefer the lighter lift of a spritz, the list includes Aperol, Campari, Hugo, Beesou and Pomelle, each priced at £13.
The full aperitivo experience is £18 and includes a cocktail alongside a platter of Italian charcuterie, gherkins, focaccia and pan con tomate.
A hidden terrace near Tottenham Court Road
The setting is a major part of the appeal.
Although The Bloomsbury Club Bar sits close to Tottenham Court Road, its terrace is designed to feel removed from the surrounding pace of central London.
Trailing greenery, weaving branches and cushioned banquettes give the space a tucked-away quality, while lanterns, candlelight and fairy lights make it especially atmospheric after dark.
From July, live music joins the programme, adding another layer to the terrace without turning the evening into a full performance.
It makes sense for post-office drinks, a summer date, or the kind of catch-up that doesn’t need to be rushed into a formal dinner reservation.
When to go and what to book
Aperitivo hour runs from 5pm to 9pm every Tuesday to Thursday at The Bloomsbury Club Bar.
Reservations are recommended, particularly for the terrace on warmer evenings.
Guests can book through the venue’s website or visit from 5pm on participating evenings.
For a central London bar, the appeal is refreshingly specific: well-made bitter drinks, a proper pre-dinner platter and a terrace that manages to feel private despite its West End address.
