Ama
885 New Jersey Ave., SE
This Navy Yard Northern Italian spot offers a daily happy hour (3 to 6 PM) with $10 Hugo spritzes and orange-scented Ama Spritzes, plus free snacks like Ligurian olives and breadsticks. On the regular menu, find sparkling Bellinis and Sbagliatos, a blood-orange-accented sorbetto spritz, and two zero-proof options.
Aventino
4747 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda
The Red Hen/All-Purpose team’s Italian hotspot in downtown Bethesda has a couple sparkly specials at its round bar. At its daily apertivo hour (4 to 6:30 PM), find $8 Aperol and Hugo spritzes; for $22, you can pair an Aperol spritz with one of four pastas (we’re fans of the lumache all’Amatriciana). And there are even more spritzes ($16) on the regular cocktail menu, including one with gin, elderflower, and limoncello, and another with grapefruit and Licor 43.
Barbouzard
1700 K St., NW
During this Riviera-inspired restaurant’s hooky-friendly happy hour (2:30 to 7 PM Tuesday through Thursday; 11 AM to 7 PM on Friday), there are four $10 spritzes inspired by French cities. The Menton mixes cassis, white wine, and soda; the Cannes is a richer blend of Cynar, allspice dram, red wine, and soda; the Saint Tropez is laced with Lillet Rose and vodka; and the Nice features gin, elderflower liqueur, sparkling wine, and juniper berries.
Barca
2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria
Grab drinks with a waterfront view at this Spanish-inspired Old Town bar, which sits on a pier in the Potomac River. Bring friends for the large format spritzes, which include Aperol/blood orange ($39); peach/fino sherry ($32); and a minty mix of cucumber vodka, elderflower, and sparkling wine ($36). You can also order single-serve versions.
Capitano
975 Seventh St., SW
This Italian newcomer at the Wharf’s Canopy by Hilton hotel offers a daily apertivo hour (4 to 6 PM) with two spritzes ($12 each): classic Aperol, or a Neapolitan-inspired refresher with limoncello and elderflower liqueur.
Centrolina
974 Palmer Alley, NW
At Amy Brandwein’s Italian dining room in CityCenterDC, you can design your own spritz ($16) with any apertivo from behind the bar, including Aperol, Campari, Limoncello, Italicus, Avene, and more.
Grazie Nonna
1100 15th St., NW
This red sauce joint/downtown hotspot offers Aperol spritzes ($14), bubbly elderflower-and-amaro cocktails ($15), and a Negroni-inspired Sbagliato spritz ($15).
L’Ardente
200 Massachusetts Ave., NW
At this swanky Italian spot, try an extra-citrussy Glam Spritz ($16) with orange gin, grapefruit, bergamot, Aperol, and prosecco, or a spirit-free Secco Spritz ($14). Craving a dessert-like drink? Go for the brunch menu’s sorbetto spritz ($17). Its current seasonal sorbet flavor is melon/ basil, and while the drink is off-menu at night, word on the street is that you can also order it at dinner.
Osteria Morini
301 Water St., SE
This Navy Yard Italian standby’s bar offers some of the most affordable cocktails in town at its happy hour (Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 PM). Its Hugo spritz, along with a few martinis and a spicy margarita, is just $7. Later, try a strawberry-scented Aperol crush ($16).
Osteria Mozza
3276 M St., NW
Nancy Silverton and Stephen Starr’s buzzy Georgetown osteria offers a daily happy hour (3 to 5 PM in the dining room, 3 to 6 at the bar) with a couple of simple $10 spritzes (prosecco and soda water blended with either Cinzano Rosso vermouth or caramelly Meletti amaro). On the regular menu, there’s a grapefruit-forward Rosa spritz ($16), and the Mozza Royale ($17), which mixes prosecco with Japanese vodka, crème de cassis, and lemon.
River Club
3000 K St., NW
This chic Georgetown Mediterranean restaurant is serving up spritzes flavored with strawberry arak and basil eau de vie ($20) or with tequila, white vermouth, arak, mint, and cucumber ($17). During happy hour (Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM), the latter drink is just $10.
Silver Lyan
900 F St., NW
The glammest Jell-O shots in town have always been served at this subterranean cocktail destination in Penn Quarter’s Riggs hotel. This summer, knock back Aperol spritz and elderflower-scented Hugo spritz versions. Each is $11 and served with a champagne chaser.
Tari Trattoria
300 Morse St., NE
Tari—the seafood-focused Union Market trattoria from local amaro-maker Francesco Amodeo—is serving up two spritzes right now. Its Tari Spritz ($15) is spiked with the herbal ambrosia aperitif from Amodeo’s Don Ciccio & Figli, and there’s also a summery strawberry-flavored refresher.
