Cocktails Archives - Europe Up Close

A Guide to Italian Pre-Dinner Drinks

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Mattie Bamman This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

The pre-dinner drink in Italy is one of my favorite diversions. I’m usually tired from a full day of activities—whether hiking or visiting art museums—and having a unique drink at a quiet table allows me to reflect on all I’ve done. My father once said, “When traveling, your mind is three days behind your body.” I’ve found that this is often the case, but that an hour-long rest at a ... Read Full Article

German Appetizers and Cocktails

Published/Revised June 14, 2014 By Jen Westmoreland Bouchard This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Feierabend and Appetitanreger in Germany As is the case with most German cuisine, German appetizers tend to be a bit heavier than their neighbors’ to the west and south. That’s OK, they also have plenty of refreshing beers, light wines, and German cocktails to lighten your stomach’s load (at least it’s easy to tell yourself that!). Many German beer hauses and bars offer great happy ... Read Full Article

European Appetizers and Cocktails: Greece

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Jen Westmoreland Bouchard This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.

This is one in a series of culinary posts focusing on some of the tastiest ways to start a meal while traveling throughout Europe. Stay tuned for more tasty appetizers and beverages from a variety of European destinations. Mezethes in Greece The tradition of eating mezethes (meze in the singular) dates back to Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks thought it unwise to consume alcohol on ... Read Full Article