Not far from Porta Palazzo lies a district of Turin that feels like its second center, made up of winding streets and small squares that twist and intersect repeatedly. We’re talking about a historic area of Turin located within district 1, which effectively represents the western part of the city’s historic center. It’s a lively and vibrant part of town where it’s easy to stop for a drink: for this reason, today we’re talking about the best aperitif spots in Turin’s Quadrilatero.
At Meeters, we have proven experience in creating events and in seeking out the best opportunities to allow people to experience something that improves the quality of their free time. From sharing tapas with friends to exploring mountain trails, we at Meeters strive to create occasions that let people make new friends; having an aperitif in this case is just another piece of this practice that we joyfully carry forward.
With this premise and our mission explained, let’s discover the best places to enjoy an aperitif in Turin.
What Is Turin’s Quadrilatero Romano?
What makes this district special? First of all, it’s particularly rich in historic works, churches, and monuments (Church of Santa Chiara, Church of San Domenico, City Palace Square, Church of the Holy...). One of the former highlights was Hafa Café: a Moroccan bar/restaurant that allowed anyone to imagine themselves sitting for a while in a little bar on the other side of the Mediterranean.
Cushions on the floor, colorful mosaics on the walls, large silver plates, and low tables: today Hafa Café no longer exists, replaced by Nurah, which offers an equally interesting selection of drinks and cocktails.
Several mojito variations are offered, just as there are many varieties of drinks to pair with aperitifs. The Moroccan aperitif, available here until 10 PM, includes a drink, cereals, vegetables, hummus, spiced potatoes, Arabic bread, olives, tabbouleh, and many typical overseas sauces.
The drinks, beyond the usual big names, also include twists on classics with a touch of the exotic. We’re talking about special combinations of gin with Indian tonic waters, mixes of vodka, orange juice, and amaretti: everything needed to leave you positively satisfied. Nurah Café is located at Via Sant’Agostino 23/C!
Conserveria del Pastis
In Spain, the concept of aperitif is expressed with the amusing word pica pica; those at Conserveria del Pastis try to recreate that atmosphere within Turin’s Quadrilatero. Upon entering, you’re immediately struck by the huge number of canned goods containing the ingredients that will make up the aperitif.
Suitable both for pre-dinner and post-dinner, Conserveria del Pastis has an excellent selection of vermouths—white, red, and sparkling; its fridge is never without Spanish bottled beers or Italian craft beers. Liquor enthusiasts will also find a rich selection of bitters, perfect for finishing a meal or ending an evening in style.
Very interesting are the alcoholic offerings with various original cocktails based on gin, mezcal, aguardiente, pisco, and more: originality seems to be right at home here.
Midnight Orange
All the venues we’ve seen so far aim to follow the ethic of good drinking, valuing quality products instead of focusing on quantity that you might regret the next morning.
Midnight Orange is a place that cares about this idea, offering a rich menu from aperitif to late night with an outdoor seating area on Piazza Emanuele Filiberto.