If you’re looking for aperitivo Shanghai-style, the Hilton City Center has one of the best-value deals in the city. I’m a big fan of aperitivo — the Italian pre-dinner tradition where people enjoy drinks and light snacks before the main meal. The word comes from aprire, meaning “to open,” as in opening the appetite. It’s a concept that fits perfectly with the Shanghai food and drink scene, where there’s no shortage of places to ease into the evening. The key difference from a typical happy hour is the inclusion of light food, something I fully support.
Where to Find the Best Aperitivo Shanghai Has to Offer
The Hilton City Center Shanghai (formerly Nikko Hotel) near my home has an Italian restaurant — rather oddly called Osteria Twelve 16. There are plenty of great Italian options to choose from in Shanghai, so I hadn’t eaten here before. My interest was immediately piqued, though, when I saw they were running an aperitivo deal for 108 RMB.
It runs Monday to Sunday, weekends included. For 108 RMB you get unlimited pours of red wine, white wine, Prosecco, and beer — plus you can help yourself to light snacks such as ham, cheese, panini, fruit and desserts.
What to Expect
Although this is billed as a pre-dinner event and is a light eater by nature, both my wife and I treated this as an early dinner on our last visit. For the price, it’s a steal. The ambiance may not be exceptional, but for anyone watching their budget, this aperitivo Shanghai deal is hard to beat.
A few tips:
- Start with the Prosecco — it goes fast
- The ham and cheese board is the best of the snacks
- Weekdays are quieter if you prefer a relaxed atmosphere
How to Book
The deal can be found on Dianping, though I’m sure you can also arrange it on-site if needed. It was a monthly offer that expired 31st August 2025 — but it has been extended until 30th April 2026, and in fact seems to be perpetually extended each month, so there’s plenty of time to try it.
If you love aperitivo in Shanghai, you can explore more Italian options as well as food from other parts of the world.
Hilton City Center, 488 Yan’an Road West, Changning District, Shanghai, 200050
长宁区延安西路488号
Phone: 021-3211 9999
Have you tried Aperitivo at the Hilton City Center? What did you think? Let me know by leaving a comment below.