The Art of Aperitivo

FOUNTAIN SQUARE, INDIANAPOLIS

Monti Aperitivo & Cucina is inspired and is named after the Monti district in central Rome, IT. Monti neighborhood is full of art galleries, creative studios, independent restaurants and shops - just like our home in Fountain Square. Housed in a century-old building, and led by the simplicity of Italian farmhouse tradition, we feature vermouths, wines, craft cocktails, and a focused, seasonal menu.

Wood, brick, brass, and marble set the stage — but the focus is on the vermouth bar. From citrus-kissed spritzes to amaro-laced Negronis, our bar pays tribute to the beauty of vermouth and its botanical complexity. Along with Italian classics like Carpano and Cocchi, Monti serves its own version of vermouth and amaro based spritzes, curated wines and craft cocktails. The kitchen follows suit, offering a seasonal menu: fresh, scratch-made, and rooted in farmhouse tradition.

Our Team

  • Minda Balcius

    OWNER

    Q&A

  • Francesco Settanni

    GM & EXECUTIVE CHEF

    Q&A

  • Zoë Hayes

    SOMMELIER & BAR MANAGER

    Q&A

  • Matt Goodrich

    ASSISTANT MANAGER

    Q&A

  • Trey Christianson

    CHEF DE CUISINE

    Q&A

  • Nate Miller

    SOUS CHEF

    Q&A

FAQs

  • Monti serves authentic Italian small plates, inspired by the farmhouse dinner table - think homemade meatballs, focaccia, pasta, fresh mozzarella, whole fish and chicken, with plenty of extra virgin olive oil, citrus, olives, fresh veggies and herbs - on a menu that changes with the seasons and market availability.

  • Our house cocktail is a Vermouth Spritz - it is fresh, herbal, and bubbly, yet light and not super boozy. Our bar is well-stocked with Italian aperitivo classics - vermouths, amaros, curated regional wines and spirits.

  • Dinner reservations are highly encouraged, the restaurant fills up quickly. We work with OpenTable to manage reservations by phone, app, and website.

  • The name is inspired by the Monti district in Rome, Italy. The Monti neighborhood is full of art galleries, creative studios, independent restaurants and shops-just like our home in Fountain Square.

  • We make our own fresh mozzarella from the highest-quality ingredients. We also make fresh pasta, gnocchi, meatballs, bake our own focaccia, and make fresh gelato-because fresh is delicious.

  • Our Happy Hour is 4:00-6:00PM with a smaller Aperitivo Menu and Dinner is 5:00-11:00PM.

    We are open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

  • Yes, our espresso and drip coffees are amazing. We worked with our sister shop, Bovaconti, just down the street to set up our espresso machine, train our servers, and dial in the recipes. They curate our house blend for regular and decaf.

  • Service pets are allowed inside and out on the patio.

  • We have a private dining room that accommodates up to 10 people, and should be reserved in advance. We can also accommodate groups of 6 to 14 people in our main dining room.

  • We can close half or the whole restaurant for a special occasion. Email Francesco to discuss details: francesco@monti.us.