The Best Bars & Clubs in Venice

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Updated: May 5, 2022
By Santorini Dave

10 Best Bars & Clubs in Venice

1. Cantina Arnaldi • Santa Croce

Map • +39 041 524 4992
The top bacaro (wine bar) in Venice, Cantina Arnaldi showcases an ever-changing array of boutique local wines, regional Italian varieties, natural wines from around the world, and cold craft beer on tap or bottled. Pair with any of their simple but well-made cicchetti, charcuterie, or cheese boards. Open from 11:00 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Wednesdays. Reservations strongly recommended; this is a small but popular hotspot.

2. Venice Jazz Club • Dorsoduro

Map • +39 340 150 4985
Cozy, cool jazz bar with nightly performances by the house band, the VJC quartet (the club owner plays piano) and occasional guests. Modern, classic, and original compositions played most nights with Latin jazz and bossa nova on Tuesdays and Fridays. The cover includes one drink (anything on the menu) and table service (there is no dance floor). Food is available from 7:00 p.m. until the concert begins at 9:00 p.m. Music ends promptly at 11:00 p.m. due to Venice’s noise ordinance, but there are plenty of nearby bars to continue the party after the show. Reservations strongly recommended; most concerts sell out. Open nightly most of the year from 7:00 to 11:00; closed on Sundays and Thursdays. Closed in August; limited calendar in December, January, and February.

3. Bar All’Arco • San Polo

Map • +39 041 520 5666
Vibrant, authentic bar serving delicious, cheap, local wines and prosecco by the glass – all to wash down their of-the-moment cicchetti made with seasonal ingredients sourced from the nearby Rialto Market. Primarily a breakfast and lunch spot, the bar is filled to overflowing most of the day with its limited tables snapped up early and most of its guests eating while standing at the counter or on the sidewalk out front. Though a popular stop on street food tours, the bar remains a standby for Venetians as it has been for over a century. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed Wednesdays.

4. Café Noir • Dorsoduro

Map • +39 041 200 7893
Lively, wallet-friendly bar popular with artsy types and Venetian students from the nearby university. Cocktails feature heavy pours and fresh fruits, while coming in at only €7 or €8. Solid cicchetti selection, excellent coffee, too. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., except Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

5. Bar Longhi • San Marco

Map • +39 041 794611
Refined cocktail bar in the luxurious Gritti Palace hotel (itself set in a 15th-century palazzo) with sweeping views of the Grand Canal from its seasonal outdoor terrace and richly decorated interiors boasting 18th-century paintings by namesake artist Pietro Longhi, handcrafted Murano glass, and antique tapestries. Hemingway drank here and the historic hotel featured prominently in his writing. Though most famous for the cocktails, Bar Longhi also serves an outstanding afternoon tea. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

6. Arcicchetti Bakaro • Santa Croce

Map • +39 347 245 6144
Friendly, unpretentious bacaro with some of Venice’s best cicchetti. The crostini (open faced sandwiches) here come topped wit meats, fish, cheeses, and more and ring in at just €1, while an ombre, (literally “shadow,” a small glass of local white wine) is also just €1 to €1.50. There is no seating; most patrons eat standing in the square out front or sitting on the steps of the grandTolentini church nearby. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. on Sundays). No reservations.

7. Cantine Vino gia Schiavi • Dorsoduro

Map • +39 041 523 0034
AKA Al Bottegon – half bar, half wine shop and always buzzing with locals and travelers alike who flock here for their impressive variety of local and international wines (high-end or budget) and for their eclectic spread of traditional and creative cicchetti. There are no tables or seating. Open for breakfast and lunch (8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) and for aperitivo and dinner (4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Closed on Sundays.

8. Il Mercante • San Polo

Map • +39 347 829 3158
Classy spot with a romantic ambiance set in a historic cafe dating to 1870. Signature and classic craft cocktails dominate the menu with wine and with a small menu of creative light bites and cicchetti. Seating is available on the ground floor and mezzanine, furnished with a blend of contemporary and vintage paintings, mirrors, and sofas. Open nightly from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (until 2:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays).

9. Osteria da Filo • Santa Croce

Map • +39 041 524 6554
AKA La Poppa, this incredibly unfancy locals’ bar sits a little off the beaten path. The crowd skews young, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is homey with vintage sofas, second-hand books, and board games. Signature and classic cocktails are well-mixed and the wine and beer are both plentiful and cheap. Live music on Wednesday evenings. Open 4:00 p.m. to 11: p.m. weeknights and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

10. Osteria all’Alba • San Marco

Map • +39 340 124 5634
The only real dive bar in Venice, complete with a classic rock soundtrack, graffitied walls, and wine barrels for tables. The signature cocktail list changes seasonally plus there’s the always new Cocktail of the Day. Well-made classic cocktails, local wine from Veneto, and simple yet high-quality cicchetti round out the evening. Open nightly from 4:00 p.m. to midnight and until 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.