Owned by husband and wife team Guillaume and Chloé Dupérier, Apéro has gained a loyal fan base since opening in 2014. This Aoyama wine bar and restaurant is adored for its family recipes, which are lovingly prepared with locally sourced organic produce.
Apéro caters to families, couples and solo diners alike in its bright and relaxed space with azure blue accents. The menu features hearty dishes like homemade pumpkin gnocchi with butter basil paste (¥1,800) and wild duck from Hokkaido with figs and rosemary (¥4,800), as well as nibbles like french fries with homemade mayonnaise (¥990) and charcuterie boards (half ¥1,900, whole ¥3,400) for picking at alongside a glass of wine.
Speaking of wine, all of the dishes here come with their own suggested pairing – a lively glass of the pink 'Whistler Skeleton in a Tutu' for the signature soufflé made with Valrhona chocolate, for instance. The selection changes seasonally and is curated by Apéro's Simon Bianco, who's in charge of sourcing labels exclusively from passionate winemakers in France.
As if the venue couldn’t be more charming, Apéro hosts a monthly collaboration event with Atelier Floralies, where you can enjoy wine tasting at an ikebana flower arranging class. Participation costs ¥6,400 per person and bookings can be made via Instagram DM.
(If you're keen on stocking up your home collection, it's worth checking out Apero's sister shop in Kyojima called Apero Wine Shop. You can get wine tastings at ¥300 a glass, but they are are free if you buy a bottle on the same day – now that's a deal.)