Aperitivo

Aperitivo opened in 2020 inside the turn-of-the-century Pritzlaff Building at 311 N. Plankinton Ave., a partnership between building owner Kendall Breunig and restaurant-industry veteran Richard Kerhin. The room leans fully into the Italian aperitivo tradition — wine, amari, vermouth and European aperitifs paired with sandwiches, salads, pasta and hand-tossed pizza — served Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a happy hour running afternoons midweek.

The non-alcoholic offering here is a genuine named menu rather than an afterthought. Managing partner Richard Kerhin and his team developed a set of zero-proof cocktails infused with juniper berries, ginseng, orange zest, cardamom, chili pepper and coriander, inspired in part by Milwaukee's own Great Lakes Distillery and its non-alcoholic botanical spirit, Junipre. The list has featured a Dry Spritz (cranberry, club soda, lime and rosemary), an N/A Mule (Junipre, Top Note ginger beer, lemon and lime), an N/A Tom Collins (Junipre, sour, club soda, lime and cherry) and the Teetotal Toddy (Junipre, chamomile tea, honey and lemon), described as the bar's most popular mocktail in the winter months. Zero-proof drinks run roughly $6 to $10.

Beyond the printed list, Aperitivo will make an off-menu Lavender Espresso Martini that OnMilwaukee highlighted in its Milwaukee mocktails coverage. The venue remains active in 2026, with current posted hours, recent Yelp reviews and Instagram activity through late June 2026, making it a reliable downtown stop for a well-made drink with or without alcohol.