There’s a lot of things we love about Italy, but if there’s one thing in particular we adore it’s the country’s snacking culture. Snacks, known over the pond as spuntino, are a key fixture of Italy’s culinary sphere. Where the term antipasti is typically reserved for appetisers that come just before a larger meal, spuntini refers more to standalone bites that are best accompanied by a drink. The latter is the primary focus of Spuntini Bar, a new pop-up concept manifesting down at riverside hub Howard Smith Wharves from 5:00 pm today, Friday April 16. Much like fellow pop-up eatery La Mexicana, Spuntini Bar is activating a section of the wharves not typically utilised by the general public. This time, the Rivershed Bar is being transformed into an afternoon and evening hangout spot, where Brisbane’s finest DJ’s will be spinning Italo-disco jams while a nearby spritz bar dispenses refreshing sips.

Making good on its name, Spuntini Bar will serve up a menu of mouth-watering choices – from blissful one-bite morsels to larger options. The fun starts with pizza fritta (topped with slivers of prosciutto and dollops of stracciatella) and moves through a procession of plates including provolone-and-thyme arancini, spanner crab, fennel and chilli bruschetta, zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, and broccoli-and-cauliflower fritters. A selection of thin-and-crispy pizzas will be perfect to divvy up amongst pals, while a scoop of sorbet will ensure things end on a sweet note. With a clutch of cocktails and wines also available, Spuntini Bar is shaping up to be a go-to site for salubrious sunset soirees.

Spuntini Bar officially opens to the public this evening, Friday April 16, and will open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:00 pm to late.