Aperitivo reimagined: MATTO brings Neapolitan ritual to Edinburgh’s Southside

Monday - Friday 4 pm-7 pm

In the heart of Edinburgh’s Newington district, a golden-hued pizza oven glows like a hearth at the centre of MATTO’s newest and most ambitious location. Known for its uncompromising approach to Neapolitan pizza, MATTO now invites diners to experience another cornerstone of Italian culinary culture: the aperitivo.

Aperitivo Hour at MATTO is not merely a happy hour—it’s a cultural interlude. Running Monday to Friday, from 4 pm to 7 pm, this offering draws inspiration from the spirited bars of Naples, where the hours before dinner are reserved for light drinks, small plates, and conversation.

The drinks list is a celebration of Italian bitters and citrus: Aperol, Campari, and Limoncello spritzes, each priced at £7, are served with finesse. Guests can also opt for a spritz and small bite pairing for £10, a thoughtful nod to the Italian tradition of balancing flavour and refreshment.

The accompanying menu is a showcase of regional ingredients and culinary restraint. Each dish is designed to complement the spritzes without overwhelming the palate:

• Bocconcini di Buffalo is dreamily creamy

• A mini charcuterie board brings together salame Napoli, Taleggio, and moreish crunchy bites of tarelli

• Mini Caprese skewers distill the essence of an Italian summer

• Mortadella with buffalo mozzarella - the mortadella is savoury and fragrant

• Pizzette fritte, three types of fried pizza!

• Last but not least, San Carlo crisps

• Antipasto boards

This is food designed not to fill, but to entice—to awaken the appetite and encourage lingering.

Opened in late 2023, the 66-seat restaurant features vintage-inspired interiors, with floral installations cascading from the ceiling, skylights that flood the space with natural light, and a gold mirrored pizza oven that anchors the open kitchen.

MATTO has earned a reputation for authentic Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven at 500°C, using naturally leavened dough and ingredients of impeccable provenance—San Marzano tomatoes, Fior di Latte Mozzarella DOP.

For food lovers, MATTO’s Aperitivo Hour is more than a promotion—it’s an invitation to slow down, to savour, and to engage with a tradition that values simplicity, quality, and connection.

Available exclusively at MATTO Newington. Reservations are recommended, though walk-ins are welcome.

📍 33 Newington Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1QR