Gorging on the Best Aperitivo in Florence

Published by Blending Magazine and Trazzler

On my way to my first Kitsch aperitivo, I was less than enthusiastic. I had tried aperitivo at a few places in Florence before—Ganzo, Moyo, La Dolce Vita—and though they were all delicious, all began to taste the same after awhile. Each place featured an Asian rice dish, pasta, polenta, bruscetta, etc. I was ready for something new.

Fortunately, Kitsch was one of those places that lived up to its hype. When I first laid eyes on the huge platter of roasted vegetables, my mouth dropped. Orange carrots, yellow bell peppers and green zucchini were all arranged on the plate like a multi-colored flower. This was how every aperitivo should be.

At first, I was so overwhelmed by the two-table spread that I couldn’t find the plates. When I finally located them, I didn’t know where to start.


I first saw juicy pieces of hot dog, chopped up like Mom used to do, surrounded by
seasoned cubed potatoes. A huge tureen of creamy cauliflower and broccoli, roasted brown, sat on a shelf above them. Fresh green beans in savory potato sauce, peas with onion, and couscous with veggies (the only typical aperitivo dish) lined up along the table. I couldn’t even resist the brussel sprouts; trying the vegetable for the first time, I was greeted by a creamy, though slightly bitter, taste. A good aperitivo will make a picky eater adventurous, which is how I knew Kitsch was one of the best.

Despite wanting to try new foods, I would usually prefer to know what exactly I am about to eat, but aperitivo provides a bit of risk in that department. I was pleasantly surprised when I bit into a casserole I took for chicken and tasted broccoli and potatoes. Yet when I tried another potato dish with tomato sauce, I got a mouthful of something fishy. I suppose I missed the obvious signal of baby octopus thrown in with the tubers.

For 8 Euro, I definitely got a good amount of delicious food. With the outside eating area lit pink and blue from below and a hip, old-meets-new interior, the atmosphere was just right for students.