How to Host the Ultimate French Apéro Party at Home

With the Olympics in Paris currently underway, I thought it would be fun to share a few tips on how to host the ultimate Apéro party at home. Eating dinner quite late is a French tradition (it’s a Diamond family tradition to eat late as well). So when guests or the kids visit for the weekend, we always serve small bites before our sit-down dinner. It’s a great way to host a small party any time of the day or before a dinner party.

So, what exactly is a French apéro?

The word apéro does not exist in English, but French apértif means a drink and some light food served before a meal. It is a casual affair that can take place at home, indoors, or on the terrace (backyard patio or front porch) in the summer months. It is mostly considered the time before a meal is served, starting around 6 pm or even as late as 8 pm. The host may start with an apéro before the meal is served or before everyone leaves to dine together at a restaurant. 

An apéro is typically before dinner, but it could be before lunch on a weekend. Apéro time is anytime!

What drinks are served?

• Light white wine, lighter red wine, or beer is typically served. Champagne is sometimes combined with crème de cassis for a classic “Kir Royale.” ​
• Santé is the most common toast in French, and it translates to: to your health! It is a simple yet elegant way to raise a glass and wish good health. A lovely French tradition. ​
• Soda water or sparkling water.
• Nonalcoholic wine and beer is becoming more popular in recent years.

What type of food is served at an apéro? 

In traditional French culture, cheese is not served. The cheese course is served between dinner and dessert or instead of dessert. As an American, I am more accustomed to having cheese as an appetizer before dinner, but when in France…or when having a French party, we shall skip the cheese.

Here’s what’s on the table

• Radishes in salt
• Cantaloupe, prosciutto, basil, shallot salad with olive oil and sherry vinegar
• Olive tapenade
• Olives
• Cornichons
• Paté
• Bread
• Flatbread
• Butter

What about the decor for a French apéro party

Simple is best. A linen tablecloth on the dining table or a beautiful linen tea towel spread out on a coffee table with delicious food, a small jar of fresh flowers (not too fancy), and good company are all you need. You can also use some small plates, napkins, wine glasses, or Picardie tumblers.

How do you serve apéro like the French do?

Use a mix of bowls, Apilco porcelain dishes, plates, and trays. Panino baskets from Uashmama are perfect for crackers and bread. Good food in small bowls and on small plates with a few extra touches is all it takes to make it beautiful and appealing. In the summer, when the garden is full of flowers, cherry tomatoes, radishes, and fresh herbs, it’s nice to add herbs like thyme on the plate of paté, rosemary on the tapenade, and fresh lemon zest to the little dish of olives. 

Don’t forget the French Music.

Spotify makes it so easy to find the perfect playlist for your French dinner party or apéro. There’s French Café Lounge, French Riviera Summer Vibes, Café de Paris, French Songs that Everyone Knows, French Cooking Music…and so many more playlists! Please share if you have one that you love!

More Sunday Favorites:

The Blake Shirt from Alex Mill

The Blake Shirt from Alex Mill is one of my favorite shirts and was just featured in the WSJ. They call it “The Ruffle Oxford,” and it’s one of Alex Mill’s top three pieces. It comes in blue and white. And can you ever have too many white shirts?

A book I loved: The Paris Library

The Paris Library is Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris; this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together.

I’m unsure how I found this book, but I could not put it down the minute I started. Actually, I listened to it on Audible. I listened while folding laundry, in the car, and at the gym. I always enjoy listening to books, especially when the subject is about France. I love listening to the pronunciation.

Hot House Sticks & Flyaway Sticks

Transform your outdoor space with earthy-scented Hot House Sticks and Flyaway Sticks from Terrain. When I first bought them, it was for purely practical reasons: to keep the bugs away. Later, I realized how lovely they are, scented with peony, cocoa, and lychee.

I now use both and stick them in planters spaced along the patio in the grass and a planter filled with sand. Even in the daytime, we use them to keep the flies away from the porch. They make a wonderful host gift in the summer. Once you use them, you won’t want to spend time outdoors without them!

L’AVANT Laundry Detergent

I recently discovered this concentrated laundry detergent. It’s better for the planet and for your clothes. In this recent post, I wrote about how I care for linen using L’AVANT detergent. I prefer unscented laundry detergent, but they do offer a scented laundry detergent called Fresh Linen if you prefer a light scent.

Let’s see what Mary Ann and Cindy found this week!

Classic Casual Home

Cindy Hattersley Design

Don’t forget to enter my favorite French finds Giveaway! Make sure you are following me on Instagram and sign up for my Sunday emails.

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