The French tradition of slowing down, gathering with friends, and enjoying simple food and drinks before dinner.
If there is one French tradition I wish everyone would adopt, it is l'apéro.
An apéro is an easy and enjoyable way to host. If you feel that inviting people over for a dinner party is too much commitment (or too intimidating) start here.
Its a pause at the end of the day to gather with friends or family over a drink, a few simple bites, and meaningful conversation before dinner. In France, particularly in the South of France where Le Chef and I lived in Nice, l'apéro is not reserved for special occasions. It is woven into everyday life.
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TL;DR
- What is it? Cocktail hour, French Style. A beautiful French tradition of slowing down, gathering, and savoring simple bites and drinks before dinner.
- How you'll make it? Arrange olives, tapenade, bread, cheese, or saucisson with chilled wine or cocktails. Keep it simple, relaxed, and elegant.
- Why you will love it? Effortless entertaining, meaningful conversation, and a little taste of the South of France at home.
- Gathering Time: 1-2 hours
- Total Time: Relaxed & leisurely
- Calories: Varies depending on bites and drinks served
- Serve Method: Small bites + chilled drinks before dinner
- Flavor & Atmosphere: Fresh, chic, relaxed, and convivial
- Difficulty: Easy. Simple French entertaining with minimal effort and maximum charm.
The beauty of an apéro is that it feels effortless. A bowl of olives, a chilled bottle of rosé, some tapenade, a few slices of saucisson, perhaps a little music playing in the background. Nothing complicated, yet somehow it always feels chic.
If you have ever wondered:
- What is an apéro?
- What do French people serve at apéro?
- What is the difference between an apéro and a cocktail party?
- How do you host a French apéro at home?
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
What Is an Apéro?
An apéro, short for apéritif, is the French ritual of gathering before dinner for drinks and light snacks. Think of it as the French version of cocktail hour, but more relaxed, more abundant, and far less formal.
Traditionally, an apéro takes place in the early evening, often between 5pm and 7pm, before a late French dinner.
Unlike an American happy hour, the goal of an apéro is not simply to drink. It is about lingering. Conversation is the centerpiece. Guests snack slowly while enjoying wine, cocktails, or an apéritif together.
In France, an apéro can happen:
- at home with friends
- at a café terrace
- on the beach
- before a dinner party
- after work
- with neighbors on a summer evening
Some apéros remain light and are followed by dinner. Others evolve into what the French call an apéro dînatoire or cocktail dînatoire, where the snacks become substantial enough to replace dinner entirely.
The French Philosophy Behind L'Apéro
What makes an apéro so special is not the food.
It is the atmosphere.
French entertaining is rarely about perfection. It is about making people feel welcome. An apéro creates a sense of ease because there is no pressure for a formal seated meal. Guests help themselves. People move around naturally. Conversation flows more easily.
When we lived in Nice, Le Chef and I hosted apéros frequently. On warm Riviera evenings, we would open a bottle of chilled rosé, put on some Bossa Nova music, and lay out little bowls of olives, tapenade, nuts, charcuterie, and cheeses while the sun set over the city.
Some of our favorite evenings started with "just an apéro" and ended hours later around the table, laughing with friends long after sunset.
That is the magic of l'apéro.
What Do You Serve at an Apéro?
One of the best things about a French apéro is that no cooking is required.
An apéro should feel abundant but effortless.
Typical Apéro Foods
Olives
A small bowl of olives is almost always present at a French apéro. Niçoise olives, garlic-stuffed olives, spicy olives, or marinated olives are all perfect choices. Go to the olive bar at your local Whole Foods or deli and have fun!
Tapenade
This Provençal olive spread is one of my favorite things to serve with toasted baguette.
Charcuterie
French cured meats such as:
- saucisson sec
- jambon de Bayonne
- pâté
- dry-cured salami
are classic apéro staples. I wrote a whole post on How to Make a French Charcuterie Board
Cheese
A simple cheese board with Comté, Brie, chèvre, or Roquefort always feels elegant and inviting. For more details check out How to Make a French Cheese Board
Nuts
Spiced nuts or roasted almonds pair beautifully with wine and cocktails.
Crudités
Fresh vegetables with hummus, tapenade, or yogurt dip add freshness and color to the table.
Chips or Crackers
The French are not above opening a beautiful bag of potato chips for apéro. In fact, it is very common.
What Do French People Drink at Apéro?
The drinks are just as important as the food.
The word apéritif originally referred to drinks served before a meal to stimulate the appetite.
Classic French Apéro Drinks
Rosé Wine
Particularly in the South of France, a crisp Provençal rosé is the quintessential apéro drink.
Kir Royale
A mixture of Champagne and crème de cassis, this sparkling cocktail always feels festive and elegant.
Pastis
This anise-flavored spirit is especially popular in the South of France and traditionally served diluted with water over ice.
Aperol Spritz
Although Italian, Aperol Spritz has become a beloved apéro drink throughout France.
Champagne
Perfect for celebrations or holiday apéros.
Vermouth or Lillet
Classic French apéritif options often served simply over ice.
Perrier
Simply a Perrier, or sparkling water, is a great non-alcoholic choice.
Jus de tomate
Tomato juice served with a little celery salt is a common Apéro choice.
What Is an Apéro Dînatoire?
An apéro dînatoire (also called a cocktail dînatoire) is essentially an apéro that becomes dinner.
Instead of serving a formal sit-down meal, guests enjoy a larger selection of substantial bites throughout the evening, often laid out on the coffee table or the balcony or backyard.
The atmosphere remains relaxed and conversational, but the food is hearty enough that no one leaves hungry. Add a few slices of pizza, a bowl of taboulé, quiche from the bakery and, voilà!, you have an apéro dînatoire.
This is honestly one of my favorite ways to entertain because:
- it is easier on the host
- guests mingle naturally
- there is very little last-minute cooking
- the evening feels effortless and chic
- kids love it!
If you want to learn more, I share all of my tips in my guide: "How to Host a Cocktail Dînatoire."
How to Host an Apéro at Home
The key to hosting a beautiful apéro is simplicity.
My Favorite Tips
Keep the menu simple
Choose mostly ready-to-serve items.
Focus on presentation
Little bowls, wooden boards, cloth napkins, and candlelight instantly elevate the table.
Prepare everything ahead
The beauty of an apéro is that the host should actually enjoy the evening too.
Don't overinvite
The best apéros are intimate enough that everyone can participate in the conversation.
Create atmosphere
Music matters.
Lighting matters.
A nice arrangement on the table matteres.
French entertaining is about ambiance as much as food.
The Beauty of the French Apéro
In many ways, l'apéro captures everything I love most about French culture.
It reminds us:
- to slow down
- to gather
- to enjoy simple pleasures
- to make ordinary evenings feel special
You do not need a complicated menu, a perfect home or culinary training.
A chilled bottle of wine, a few simple snacks, and people you love are more than enough.
And honestly?
Some of the most memorable evenings begin with:
"Come over for apéro."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
An apéro is one of the simplest and most beautiful French rituals, a pause at the end of the day to gather with loved ones over a drink, a few small bites, and conversation before dinner. It is about creating a moment of ease, connection, and everyday elegance.
A traditional French apéro is intentionally effortless: a bowl of olives, a little tapenade, sliced saucisson, cheese, crisps, or warm baguette paired with chilled rosé, Champagne, Pastis, or a simple cocktail. Light, unfussy, and meant to awaken the appetite gently.
An apéro dinatoire is the kind of evening where the apéro slowly stretches into dinner itself. Small plates, shared bites, and grazing boards replace a formal meal, creating a relaxed and convivial atmosphere that feels wonderfully French.
Unlike the fast pace of a typical happy hour, the French apéro is about slowing down. It is quieter, more intentional, and centered around conversation, laughter, and savoring the moment rather than rushing through it.
The secret is simplicity. A few beautiful ingredients, chilled drinks, soft music, and candlelight are often more than enough. In France, the charm of an apéro comes not from perfection, but from making everyone feel welcome and at ease.
Apéro recipes
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ALL ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (8 and 5) and I run a marketing firm and a non-profit in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this Washington Post Article. We were featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment below.
I share our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you!
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