Il Maremmano

A Tuscan apericena and Hi-Fi listening bar in Brixton, serving regional specialities from the Maremma — the wild coastal region of southern Tuscany known for its wild boar, seafood and vineyards.

Apericena is a more generous take on aperitivo: more substantial than a few nibbles, more relaxed than dinner. Dishes arrive alongside cocktails or glasses of wine from independent Maremman producers — the kind of bottles you won't find on a supermarket shelf.

The bar is part of the Maremma group, with Maremma restaurant just around the corner. It works equally well as a pre-dinner aperitivo stop, a post-dinner digestivo, or the full apericena shebang for anyone after a more easy-going evening. Small plates run to crostoni, pizzette, boards of Maremman formaggi and salumi, and other Tuscan specialities.

The sound system is built around restored 1960s and 70s Sansui speakers, and the music policy is vinyl only. Thursday to Saturday, resident duo Here On Earth and a rotation of guest DJs programme the nights — deep cuts, rare finds, no shuffle play. Each week an exploration into jazz, soul and global sounds, and beyond - it's a bar where the music sounds good, and where you can still hold a conversation.

Located on Tulse Hill, a short walk from central Brixton, the interior takes its palette from the Maremma landscape: terracotta walls referencing the iron-rich soil that has defined winemaking in the region since the Etruscans, a blue bar front echoing the Tyrrhenian sea, sage green picking up the olive groves. The gig posters lining the walls are owner Dickie's own collection — he's lived in the area for nearly 50 years.