Settle Your Pre-Dinner Snack Cravings With This Iconic Venue’s Cracker Aperitivo Hour

There are few better ways to start a night out than aperitivo hour. A snack plate paired with a well-made drink is a simple formula – even more so when it comes with ocean views.

To mark the occasion, Broadsheet has teamed up with Red Rock Deli and The Espy for a weekend-long aperitivo hour at the St Kilda venue, built around considered cracker and cocktail pairings. Food and drink matching can often feel overly complex – the kind of menu moment that leads to a safe order rather than a confident one. This format strips it back. From Thursday May 14 to Sunday May 17, the offering focuses on combinations that are easy to approach but still feel thought through, designed to ease you into the evening rather than overcomplicate it.

Four flavours of Deli Style Crackers by Red Rock Deli and cocktail pairings will be available each evening from 5pm till late upstairs at The Espy’s stylish Ghost of Alfred Felton cocktail bar. Each is served as part of a larger aperitivo plate with other snacks to share among a group, but the flavour profiles are where things really get interesting.

Aperitivo plates are designed to warm your tastebuds, and Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream crackers set the tone with a balance of heat and tang. They’re paired with a Tropical Pina Mojito, featuring white rum and pineapple tepache (a fermented Indigenous Mexican drink), for a bright start to the evening.

Honey Soy Chicken crackers lean slightly sweeter, matched with a punchy Candy Lychee Martini with caramelised lychee.

Meanwhile, Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar crackers are paired with the Ol’ Smoky Margarita, which features mezcal for a subtle twist that complements the salt and vinegar.

For something richer, Cheddar & Parmesan crackers are served with a Butter Old Fashioned, featuring brown butter and balsamic bitters for a more savoury finish.

When it comes to aperitivo, Italians may set the standard, but Melbourne has long made the ritual its own. Grab your friends, grab a sharing platter and expand your palate at one of St Kilda’s favourite cocktail bars.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Red Rock Deli.