Saska Kępa
Aperitivo in Saska Kępa: the Italian ritual at ul. Francuska 24
Saska Kępa
For Italian aperitivo in Saska Kępa, come to Bottegas at ul. Francuska 24. The bar is open daily from 12:00: Negroni della Bottegas made with Sicilian Amaro Amara, Mandaretto & Prosecco, wine by the glass from 24 zł, Italian beer, and alcohol-free classics — Crodino and Sanbittèr served with Taggiasca olives.
The word aperitivo comes from the Latin “aperire” — to open. The idea is to open the appetite before dinner. In Italy it's the moment between work and food, usually early in the evening: something bitter in a glass, lots of ice, a slice of orange and something small to nibble. You stand at the bar or sit for a while with friends. Nobody rushes.
For us, aperitivo is about the taste and the hour, not the alcohol content. That's why the list starts with Italian classics that have none, and we treat cocktails as a continuation of the same ritual. On Francuska the bar is open from midday, so aperitivo can start right after lunch and end at dinner.
The bar is part of our Italian restaurant in Saska Kępa — you can order pizza from the oven with your aperitivo.
Crodino comes from Piedmont and has been around in Italy since 1965; Sanbittèr since 1963. You'll find them in every Italian bar. We serve them the way they do there: a small glass, lots of ice, a slice of orange, and Taggiasca olives on the side. Crodino, Crodino Rosso and Sanbittèr are 24 zł each.
If you'd rather have a cocktail, there are four Italian classics in zero versions at 35 zł: Spritz Zero, Negroni Zero, Hugo Zero and Bellini Zero — the last one a classic from Harry's Bar in Venice. There are also Sicilian citrus sodas at 24 zł: Chinotto BIO, Aranciata Rossa BIO made from IGP blood oranges, and Mandarino Verde. And if your aperitivo falls on a warm day, try a Caffè Leccese: espresso over ice with almond milk, a Salento classic.
A classic Negroni is gin, red vermouth and bitter in equal parts. We change the third part. Instead of the bitter there's Amaro Amara — a Sicilian liqueur made from IGP blood oranges and Etna herbs. The gin is Aqualuce V.I.C.E., the vermouth Bucci Vermouth Rosso.
The result is a Negroni that's more orange than bitter, rounded, with a herbal finish. It's 55 zł. If you're looking for a Negroni in Warsaw that tastes familiar but not the same as everywhere else, start with this one.
Mandaretto Topazio is made from Tardivo di Ciaculli mandarins. “Tardivo” means “late” in Italian — it's a variety protected by a Slow Food Presidium. The fruit comes from the Limònio estate in Partinico, near Palermo. We pair the Mandaretto with prosecco: lighter than a spritz and clearly Sicilian, for 46 zł.
The list also has Aperol Spritz (35 zł) and Garibaldi (35 zł) — the two simplest Italian aperitivi. Amara Spritz (46 zł) is a spritz built on the same Sicilian amaro as our Negroni. The Gin & Tonic is made with Italian Malfy gin (38 zł). Meditazione (48 zł) is for a slower evening, and the Limoncello Sour (52 zł) is made with Limoncello Giada from Femminello lemons.
The house wines are 24 zł a glass: a Chardonnay or a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Frentana. For 34–36 zł we pour Eughenès Zibibbo from Sicily, Chianti Classico Villa Trasqua, Gavi di Gavi „Fossili” San Silvestro and Primitivo di Manduria Naldini 1958. Prosecco cuvée is 26 zł a glass or 119 zł a bottle.
For a table of several there are bottles: Le Manzane Conegliano DOCG, Franciacorta Bellavista „Teatro alla Scala” (279 zł), Donnafugata Frappato, Vernaccia di Oristano Contini, Greco di Tufo Villa Raiano and Brunello di Montalcino Bartoli Giusti (259 zł). From Lombardy and the Veneto to Sicily and Sardinia — a short list, but every bottle comes from a different corner of Italy.
Plenty of guests prefer beer with pizza, and we understand. We have Italian Theresianer in three styles — Pale Ale, Strong Ale and Unfiltered Lager — at 28 zł. From Poland: Żywiec on tap (22 zł), plus Grodziskie (29 zł) and Pan IPAni (32 zł) from Trzech Kumpli.
Aperitivo without food is just a drink. Every seated guest gets a small piece of hot, tall focaccia with a drop of olive oil, on us. If you want more, order the Focaccia della Casa (16 zł). Among the antipasti, the best fits are Sfizi di Mozzarella (29 zł), Alici in Verde with Cantabrian anchovies (32 zł) and Arancini della Bottegas filled with our 4-hour ragù (32 zł for three). For two, the Tagliere Bottegas: Italian cured meats and cheeses, Taggiasca olives and focaccia (79 zł).
Aperitivo easily turns into dinner. A Margherita (39 zł) cut up in the middle of the table is the simplest snack there is, and the Mortadella pizza bianca with pistachios (55 zł) goes well with bubbles. The full food and drinks list is in the Bottegas Saska Kępa menu.
In Italy dinner ends with a small glass of something to help it settle. Ours are Limoncello Giada, Mandaretto, Amaro Amara, Bucci Vermouth and Grappa Riserva Castagner, aged 18 months in cherry-wood casks. A small glass, no hurry.
The bar in Saska Kępa is part of the restaurant, not a separate place: you sit at a table or on the terrace, and staff take your order. There's more about the venue on the Bottegas Saska Kępa page, and about what an Italian restaurant in Warsaw means to us on a page of its own.
The bar at ul. Francuska 24 is open daily from 12:00 to 22:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 23:00. In Italy aperitivo is the time before dinner, but here you can start whenever you like.
Yes. Crodino, Crodino Rosso and Sanbittèr (24 zł) come with ice, orange and Taggiasca olives. There are also Spritz Zero, Negroni Zero, Hugo Zero and Bellini Zero (35 zł).
House wines from 24 zł, the other wines by the glass 34–36 zł, prosecco cuvée 26 zł.
For aperitivo usually not, but for dinner it's worth it. Book online or on +48 780 465 194.
Yes, dogs are welcome — inside and on the terrace.
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