When I first saw the theme for this issue, I wasn’t sure what I could contribute. Weed is illegal in France, and without a trip to Amsterdam under my belt, I have no funny stories or observations to share. I briefly considered writing about Europe’s smoking culture, but there are only so many ways to say that the French smoke a lot of cigarettes and vape at every hour and every age.
Then I decided to think more broadly about weed and its purpose. Why do people smoke? A quick brainstorm left me with two main reasons: to relax and to socialize. I’m very familiar with these two activities in France—but here, there’s a different catalyst for combining them: l’apéritif.
Loyal readers know that un apéritif, colloquially called un apéro, often precedes a dinner party, but it’s not just reserved for special occasions. Any night of the week, you’ll find Parisiens enjoying an after-work, pre-dinner drink and snack on terraces throughout the city. Like smoking in the United States, it’s a way to unwind and connect with friends. L’apéro is a staple of French culture, and with the right ingredients, anyone can enjoy this symbol of work-life balance.
As someone who weighs the “vibes” of a restaurant and food quality equally in my Beli reviews, it should come as no surprise that I believe location is one of the most important elements of l’apéro. If you’re going to spend an hour relaxing with friends, you want to do so in the right spot. The ideal setting is a lively terrace on a street corner—few cars, many pedestrians. If the conversation ever lulls, you can always rely on people-watching for entertainment, and there’s something energizing about being surrounded by others enjoying the evening. For a more economical option, a park or the banks of a river also make perfect backdrops for a bottle of wine split among friends. Like the Charles River for Harvard’s smokers, Parisians flock to the Seine at dusk with wine and cheese in tow.
Being outdoors is by no means a requirement for a great apéro, but when the weather is nice, it feels almost criminal to be inside (also see my earlier point: people-watching is much better outdoors). And in Paris, outdoor spaces abound; nearly every street is lined with tables and chairs. The ambiance of a terrace filled with laughter and the hum of Paris makes any evening feel a little more magical.
Location aside, another essential part of l’apéro is the refreshments—truly the foundation of the ritual. First, the drinks. Just like smokers with their bowls, joints, and edibles, enjoyers of l’apéro have lots of drink options. With heures heureuses (happy hour prices), blonde beers are the cheapest and most popular choice. A close second: a glass of white wine or rosé. For those opting for a mixed drink, it’s almost always a spritz—the quintessential apéro cocktail. The classic Apérol spritz gets its name from l’apéro, but the St-Germain spritz takes the cake with its French flair. It swaps Apérol for elderflower liqueur to create a light, floral refreshment. And if you’re going alcohol-free, a Coke Zero always hits the spot. No matter the choice of drink, sipping on something helps you unwind, an important part of l’apero and smoking alike.
Although l’apéro may not conjure up the munchies, it still benefits from adding food to the table since a drink or two can make you a little peckish. After ordering a drink, many cafés will bring out a small snack—olives, chips, or popcorn—but if that’s not enough, you can usually find small appetizers on the menu. Charcuterie or oeufs mimosa (French deviled eggs) are reliable options to hold you over until dinner.
Even at the worst bar with the weakest drinks, any apéro can be saved by one thing: good company. The people you choose to share the moment with are the most essential part of the experience. Like smoking, it’s a social ritual, a way to bond and get closer to people. With busy class schedules, I’ve found that apéros are one of the best and most consistent ways to see my friends during the week. By 5 or 6 p.m., we’re all done with class, and with our only time constraint being the return for host family dinners, the vibe is notably more relaxed. For the hour or so we spend on a terrace, we’re not thinking about school or homework—we’re simply enjoying each other’s company. And that’s exactly what l’apéro is about.
But good company doesn’t always have to mean a group of friends. Sometimes, the best companion for un apéro is a good book, a journal, or even just your thoughts. L’apero can be the perfect moment to spend some quality time with yourself in an enjoyable way. Alone time is often spent only working, but there’s something beautiful about the stillness of solitude without pressure to produce anything.
In life—and especially at Harvard—work time and rest time tend to blur together. L’apéro serves as a built-in pause to prevent that. For those in the working world, it marks a definitive end to the workday and allows a transition to life outside of work. This Parisian practice allows for better work-life balance, and therefore a better life. Maybe we could learn a thing or two from the French. Without such pauses, school often feels like a nonstop whirlwind, with little space to breathe. L’apéro offers a small but meaningful refuge from that cycle.
Of course, it’s not always possible to sip spritzes on a terrace with your friends at 5 p.m.—but we can still embrace the spirit of l’apéro. For those of legal age on campus, that could mean a post-p-set smoke sesh by the Charles or a Friday night edible and movie night. With or without substances, carving out time to step away from the hustle is a good start. Add friends and some good fare, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a good time. A ritual that invites you to slow down and be present—even briefly—makes la vie a little more belle.
Frances Connors ’26 (maryfrancesconnors@college.harvard.edu) hopes to bring l’apéro to campus this fall.