16 Best Bars in Venice
Walking into bars in Venice is a bit like stepping through a time portal. Through one door is the 1930s and the original home of the Bellini. Through another a wine bar that unchanged since the 19th century with nostalgic cicchetti. Through a third a divey, punk past you might have seen in lower Manhattan in the '80s. Of course, there are also en vogue takes on mixology and biodynamic wine no city should be without. Venice does have its share of blown-out, over-touristed drink dens though. So follow our list and find a cheers-worthy place to spend the afternoon or evening..
Francesco RussobarWine Bar 5000
$$Situated on a quiet canal beyond the reach of the tourist crowds in central Venice, this little wine bar would be right at home in the Tuscan Countryside: exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors, soft lighting, and just a few outdoor tables make this an ideal spot for a glass of wine between sightseeing stops. The menu, with more than 100 bottles, is an ode to organic, biodynamic, and vegan Italian wines. Chilled whites and temperature-controlled local reds are well-stocked here, making it one of Venice’s better spots for a stationary wine-tasting journey.
GettybarHarry’s Bar
$$$This legendary 1930s bar on the Grand Canal is a National Landmark known for inventing the bellini. Everything in the room, from the mahogany bar to the golden lighting, exude a bygone era of classic European cafe culture, making for it a perfect place to be transported. Drinking at Harry’s isn’t about the latest mixology trends. Instead, it’s about imbibing well-done classic cocktails. Order a bellini first, then move on to a martini or a negroni. And keep a keen eye out on the crowd—you never know what celebrity might pop in.
Courtesy Bar LonghibarBar Longhi
$$$This iconic bar in the Gritti Palace has only gotten more classic with age. The space is decorated so finely it’s fit for royalty: Murano glass chandeliers, Fortuny fabrics, and priceless Piero Longhi paintings fill the opulent room. As for the drinks, ten variations of the martini grace the Bar Longhi menu, in addition to specialty cocktails like the Basil-Ica (gin, lemon, St-Germain, basil leaves, and orange bitters) and Kir Imperial (creme de framboise and Champagne). The craft cocktails are complemented by a well-stocked wine cellar selection. Even if you come alone you'll have someone to talk to as the tuxedoed bartenders are some of the best conversationalists in Venice.
barOsteria All'Alba
This edgy osteria bucks the typical Venetian romantic decor trend, and replaces it with Sharpie-scrawled walls, loud music, and vinyl records doubling as decoration. It makes for a refreshing break from Venice’s overly sentimental bar scene. Bartenders, metalheads, and visitors seeking an alternative bar-going experience frequent this funky little dive. While shots, shooters, and well drinks listed on a chalkboard at the entrance look like they keep things simple and to-the-point, inside, classic cocktails like Negronis are given extra attention, with the help of herb garnishes, and served in mason jars.
Courtesy Il MercantebarIl Mercante
$$Set at the foot of the Ponte dei Frari bridge, this romantic two-story bar is a throwback to another era. An intimate mezzanine looks down on the main room, which is lined with black leather booths and illuminated by stained glass lamps. This bar prides itself on being one of the few in Venice to shake up truly inventive modern cocktails and they have the presentation to match: drinks are served in moss-filled boxes and ‘calavera’ skulls.
AlamyrestaurantAl Timon Bragozzo
$$Rows of lavish cicchetti lined up in the window lure pedestrians into this nondescript canal-side spot. The classic osteria stands out for well-done Venetian finger foods and strong spritzes poured generously. Both are best consumed outside, seated on the ledge with your legs dangling over the canal. Local Italian wines by the glass are also on offer and very reasonably priced. Regardless of what time of day it is, regulars and travelers fill the room with laughter, lively conversations, and clinking glasses.
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Enoteca Mascareta
$$This Venetian institution has drawn devoted followers for decades. What began as a small, divey wine bar has evolved into a popular spot with a full menu, serving up organic wine and classic Italian dishes. But people come for the personable owner, Maurizio Lorenzon, as much as they do the finely-tuned selection of Italian wines. He has been known to saber bottles of bubbly for his favorite guests.
AlamyrestaurantTaverna al Remer
$$Tucked down a discrete alley that opens into a small courtyard with a pier stretching out over the canal, this tavern is one of Venice's best kept secrets. People seek out this gem after hearing about its legendary happy hours. The bartenders behind the brick bar shake up well-balanced Aperol and Campari spritzes, but a full bar is stocked with all the fixings for any classic cocktail you desire. Plenty of bottles of prosecco are on the ready, chilling in an iced tub, and of course there is a litany of Italian wine in the cellar.
Courtesy Birreria ZanonbarBirreria Zanon
$This hip, edgy dive bar on the outskirts of Cannaregio is full of young Venetians and good beer. Kitschy décor like framed beer-oriented artwork, sassy signs, and fishing nets is hung throughout the wood interior. Outside, a few canal-side tables offer a more mellow ambiance. The drink menu rebels against the rest of Venice’s bar scene: Belgian, American, British, and local Venetian beer flows from the taps behind the bar. As such, beer geeks gravitate here for tall, cold suds consumed with friends outside along the water.
Courtesy Blind SpotbarBlind Spot
$$This sleek, dark cocktail bar is worth the pilgrimage across the causeway to Mestre, Venice's mainland district, for their expertly-crafted drinks. Refreshing, well-balanced cocktails are shaken and stirred with fresh citrus, shrubs, and tinctures and are served in an eclectic mix of glassware from traditional martini glasses to tiki mugs to mason jars. While the bar's interior boasts a classy ambiance, the sprawling outdoor terrace at sunset is exactly where you want to situate yourself.
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Basegó
$$Basegó is a classic cicchetteria, but updated for modern bon vivant. Situated off the beaten track in mellow Campo San Toma, this sleek, upscale wine bar feels like it would be at home in San Francisco or New York. A finely-tuned wine list of crisp whites and well-balanced reds appeals to drinkers who appreciate newer Italian wines. There's a limited selection of local craft beers on tap, too. And be sure to order some bites: cheese and salami-centric cicchetti are assembled to pair with the wine offerings and the season.
Courtesy Il Santo BevitorebarIl Santo Bevitore
$$Located off the beaten path on a canal in Cannaregio, this old haunt would make a great set for a Venetian parody of “Cheers.” A cast of devoted regulars fill the old bar stools while travelers who often stumble in without planning mingle amid kitschy and nostalgic decor.More than 20 Italian and Belgian craft beers are on tap as well as a few rotating guest beers. They have also perfected the gin and tonic, using their own gin label and garnishes like star anise.
Courtesy Skyline BarbarSkyline Rooftop Bar
$$As its name suggests, this bar at the top of the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice on Giudecca boasts panoramic city views and patrons are all ready to engage in an obligatory sunset photo shoot. Venice-inspired cocktails are the highlight of the 48-page drink menu: seasonal ingredients like rosemary and thyme make regular appearances in drinks like the Sensation Fizz (vodka, elderflower liqueur, rosemary syrup, strawberry, and egg white). But don't miss out on the signature cocktail, the Smokey Old Fashioned, which is smoked on the spot and served in a style that is part good service and part performance.
AlamybarAl Bottegon
$$If you are looking for the ultimate classic bacari that feels as if it has been unchanged since the 1950s, then this is definitely your spot. Situated on a quiet canal-side lane, this is is a part of Venice that feels untouched by modern-day tourism, and as such the food and ambience are entirely unsullied. Inside, brick walls lined with Italian antiques and aging bottles of wine overlook a glass case of fresh fare. Al Bottegon started as a wine cellar and shop a few generations ago, and as such, is well-stocked. Forfeit the spritzes and instead opt for whatever the owner is pouring by the glass that day.
restaurantOsteria al Squero
$This sweet and discreet peach-colored bacari is an ideal low-key day drinking spot, overlooking the city’s oldest gondola workshop. Set on a canal in the quiet, Dorsoduro district, it is a tiny, standing-room only space with wine glasses dangling over a wood bar stocked with cicchetti. Come here for spritzes, prosecco, pinot grigio—all the quintessential refreshing Italian classic beverage. Affordable (and generous!) pours make it easy to take down more than a few glasses, especially on a warm day.
AlamybarVino Vero
$$On the quiet Cannaregio fringe, along a placid canal, sits Vino Vero, a beloved bacaro that proudly hangs a sign reading “No spritz; we love wine!” That they do—with an extensive list of wines by the glass and bottle. The list skews biodynamic and slightly experimental, but Rosso Toscano, Languedoc, and Carignon Blanc make frequent appearances. .
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