Gran Caffè Gambrinus on Piazza Trieste e Trento in Naples (1860) is the city's most-storied cafe-bar with a marble counter aperitivo, Aperol spritz and the cioccolata calda the winter ritual.
Food program: Sweet pastries, light savouries
Tip: Standing counter prices are one-third of the seated terrace. The terrace gets the Piazza del Plebiscito view.
Address: Via Chiaia 1/2, 80132 Napoli, Naples
L'Ebbrezza di Noe in Naples' Chiaia pours natural wines from 400 Italian and Campanian growers plus a modest cocktail list, the city's strongest cellar for Falanghina-base spritz.
Signature drink: Aperol spritz with Falanghina base
Food: Cheese, charcuterie, Campanian small plates
Tip: Closed Sunday. Book a fortnight ahead for the cellar room; cheese boards run 16 euros.
Scaturchio in Naples' Piazza San Domenico Maggiore runs the morning espresso bar and the early-evening aperitivo, with the ministeriale and the rum babà the standout buys.
Signature drink: Ministeriale chocolate-rum disc, espresso
Food: Sfogliatella, babà, daily pasticcini
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 21:00. Aperitivo from 18:00 with Aperol spritz at 8 euros plus pasticcini.
Mario Avallone's La Stanza del Gusto in Naples runs the wine-led aperitivo from 19:30 with a daily-changing tasting menu, the city's most-told modern wine destination since 1995.
Signature drink: Greco di Tufo by the glass
Food: Tasting plates from the kitchen
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book a week ahead. The Campania flight is 22 euros for four pours.
Barril in Naples' Chiaia is the cocktail-and-wine bar with a daily-changing small-plates carte and an Aperol-cetriolo spritz as house signature, the city's modern aperitivo destination.
Signature drink: Aperol-cetriolo spritz, mezcal negroni
Food: Modern small plates, salumi
Tip: Open daily; the late-night kitchen runs to 01:00. Cocktails 12 euros, wine by the glass from 6 euros.
