How to Host the Perfect French Apéro
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Photo credit: Richard Brendon
Few traditions embody the French joie de vivre quite like the evening apéro. More than just a pre-dinner drink, it’s a moment to gather friends and family to sip, snack, and socialize.
Having attended plenty over the years (and even hosting a few myself), I’ve learned what makes for an authentic apéro in France. In this guide, I share everything you need to know to host the perfect French apéro at home: what to serve, how to set the mood and the unspoken rules of apéro etiquette.
Alors, on prend l'apéro ?
What is Apéro?
Apéro, short for apéritif, is a relaxed pre-dinner gathering with friends or family that’s common in France. Typically enjoyed around 6 or 7 p.m., it’s a time to sip wine, champagne, beer, or a spritz while nibbling on light snacks. It’s all about unwinding, savoring the moment, and enjoying good company.
Unlike American happy hours, the French apéro is later in the evening and isn’t focused on scoring drink deals at the bar (although Frenchies love a good happy hour too!).
It can be planned or impromptu, at home or out. And in true French fashion, it’s effortless, so you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen preparing fancy cocktails or appetizers. A quick stop at the market and a text to friends is all it takes to bring people together.
Sometimes, apéro stretches into an apéro dînatoire with enough food and drink for a full meal. I think of it as a very casual dinner party, usually with slightly fancier fare and dessert.
Where to Host an Apéro
An apéro can take place just about anywhere: at home, in your backyard, on a terrace or patio, at a park for a picnic, or even on the banks of the Seine (if you happen to be in Paris).
If you're hosting at home, the apéro usually takes place in the living room or around the kitchen counter rather than at the dining table.
Ultimately, where you host your apéro is less important than the ambiance you create, which is what we’ll get into next.
How to Set Up for an Apéro
A French apéro is meant to be a casual affair, so there is no need for a fancy setup. For an at-home apéro, a simple tablecloth is more than enough. Small plates are optional unless you’re serving a generous spread, like for an apéro dînatoire. Most snacks are meant to be eaten with your hands, so just napkins and optionally some toothpicks will do.
You’ll also need enough glasses to match your drink selection—wine, champagne, or whatever you’re pouring. Serving boards, large plates, and a few small bowls also come in handy for arranging your snacks beautifully.
Apéros can be as casual or as refined as you like. I’ve seen some hosts go all out with table linens and fine china, but your average apéro is way more laidback. Paper napkins and your everyday dishware are perfectly acceptable (and based on my experiences, far more common!).
You don’t need any decor, but if you feel the urge to spruce up your space, a simple bouquet of fresh flowers and a candle or two will do the trick.
Lastly, a little background music is a nice touch, just make sure it doesn’t overpower the conversation. French jazz and bossa nova are my go-to picks to set the mood.
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What to Drink at an Apéro
No French apéro is complete without something to sip on. Classic apéro drinks tend to be light, low in alcohol and slightly dry to whet your appetite before dinner, but ultimately, it’s all about what you and your guests enjoy drinking.
Wine and Beer
Wine is always a good idea for a French apéritif, and beer works just as well. I would have both on hand since most people enjoy at least one or the other. If you're new to French wine, I have an entire beginner’s guide that takes you through the basics from regions to pairings.
Dry white wine: Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, Riesling, Chardonnay Sancerre, Graves, or Touraine. Make sure to serve it cold.
Rosé: Perfect for summer, especially a chilled Provence rosé.
Light red wine: If you must go red, opt for something not too powerful or tannic like Pinot Noir, Gamay, Merlot, Cinsault or Beaujolais.
Champagne: Always a festive favorite. If you don’t want to splurge on your bottle of bubbly, try Prosecco (“Italian champagne”) or crémant, which is made the same way as champagne, but produced in other regions of France like Alsace, Bourgogne, Jura and Savoie.
Beer: Something French or Belgian. Although France is famous for its wine, many Frenchies prefer beer (including my partner!).
Apértifs
Elaborate cocktails are not necessary, but if you feel like getting fancy, these traditional apéritifs are easy to concoct.
Kir: Dry white wine with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur). Use champagne to make it a Kir Royale.
Aperol or Hugo Spritz: Italian favorites that are just as popular in France.
Lillet Blanc or Rosé: Serve it chilled with a slice of citrus or frozen berries. The Lillet Spritz is one of my favorite apéritifs.
Gin & Tonic: The French make some excellent gins, so this one’s a great choice for something refreshing.
Suze Tonic: A French twist on the classic G&T with a bitter, herbal flavor.
Pastis: The signature drink of the South of France. Served with ice and water, it turns a cloudy milky color when mixed. Ricard is the top pick for fans of this anise-flavored drink.
Non-Alcoholic Options
Be sure to have some alcohol-free options available. A pitcher of water and some sparkling water is also a good idea, even if all of your guests are drinking.
Juice or soda: Fresh fruit juice, kombucha, iced tea, lemonade or ginger beer.
Sirop: A favorite in France, especially for kids. Add a splash of sirop (syrup) to still or sparkling water for a simple mocktail. Bacanha is the brand that does them best.
Non-alcoholic apértifs: Nowadays, there’s no shortage of alcohol alternatives. In France, brands like Jardins, OSCO, and JNPR Spirits are redefining the art of apéritifs with flavorful, sophisticated options. In the U.S., Ghia makes the best non-alcoholic apértif that I’ve tried.
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What to Eat at an Apéro
When it comes to French apéritif food, keep it simple with bite-sized snacks that don’t require plates or cutlery. The goal is to make things mess-free (and stress-free) before the main meal.
For a casual gathering, a few staples will do the trick: potato chips, pretzels, nuts, olives, cornichons and crudité like baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, and radishes. Perfect accompaniments to the veggies are dips like hummus, tzatziki, and tapenade.
In France, you can find a variety of savory snacks (gâteaux apéro) at the French supermarket: sablés salés (savory biscuit crackers), mini foccacias and palmiers, crêpes dentelles (lace crêpes), and flûtes (crispy baguette sticks) are all popular picks for an apéro spread. Luckily, many of these snacks are available in the U.S. too, and I’ve linked where to find them below.
To take your spread up a notch, add a selection of cheeses and charcuterie. For the fromage, you’ll want a mix of softer cheeses like brie, camembert and chèvre alongside harder varieties like Comté, Beaufort and Mimolette. There are also a lot of spreadable cheeses that are popular in France like Boursin, St Môret and Madame Loïk (my personal favorite).
You don’t have to serve only French cheese either—Gouda, Gruyère, Mozzarella (particularly the mini balls) and Cheddar are all perfect choices that are enjoyed in France.
When I’m in the U.S., Trader Joe’s continues to be my go-to spot for French cheese. I also recently discovered that Whole Foods has a clearance cheese section where you can buy pieces of cheese for less than $5 in smaller quantities, perfect for having a varied selection at your apéro hour.
Complement the cheeses with an assortment of charcuterie. Cured meats like saucisson, prosciutto, and thinly sliced ham as well as French delicacies like terrine, rillettes, pâté, and foie gras are all sure to delight your guests. Just make sure to serve everything with a fresh baguette and some salted butter. Miam !
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French Apéro Recipes
If you’re looking to elevate your spread or perhaps hosting an apéro dinatoire, here’s a selection of French apéro recipes that are easy to whip up. Note that some of these recipes are in French.
Mini Cheese Pastry Croissants from Manon Lagrève, French baker and author of Et Voilà! and Chez Manon
Gougères from French-born Monégasque chef Alain Ducasse
Truffle Deviled Eggs (FR) from French food influencer Loulou Kitchen
Hummus with Preserved Lemon and Coriander (FR) from plant-based French chef Eva Gaillot
Caviar Croque Monsieur Bites from French caviar brand, Petrossian
Savory Cake from French food blogger Géraldine Leverd
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto from David Lebovitz, American pastry chef living in Paris and author of Drinking French and My Paris Kitchen
Whatever the occasion, the French apéritif is all about people getting together to eat, drink and be merry. Santé !
Have any tips for hosting a French apéro? Let me know in the comments below.
