Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
WINE BAR
I RUSTEGHI
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 523 22 05;
http://www.osteriairusteghi.com/
; Corte del Tentor 5513; mini-panini €2-5; 10.30am-3pm &
6-11.30pm Mon-Sat; Rialto)
Honouring centuries of Venetian
enoteca
tradition, fourth-genera-
tion sommelier Giovanni d'Este will open any bottle on his shelves to pour you an
ombra
(half-glass of wine) - including collector's wines like Cannubi Barolo. Request '
qualcosa
di particolare' (
something exceptional) and Giovanni will reward you with a sensual
Ribolla Gialla to pair with truffle-cheese mini-panini and platters of Spanish and Veneto
ham.
CAFFÈ FLORIAN
MAP
CAFE
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 520 56 41;
www.caffeflorian.com
;
Piazza San Marco 56/59; drinks €6.50-16; 10am-midnight Thu-Tue;
San Marco)
Florian maintains rituals established c 1720: white-jacketed waiters serve cap-
puccino on silver trays, lovers canoodle in plush banquettes and the orchestra strikes up a
tango as sunsets illuminate San Marco's mosaics. Piazza seating during concerts costs €6
extra, but dreamy-eyed romantics hardly notice. Among Italy's first bars to welcome wo-
men and revolutionaries, Florian maintains its radical-chic reputation with art installations.
CAFFÈ LAVENA
( 041 522 40 70;
www.lavena.it
;
Piazza San Marco 133/4; drinks €1-12; 9.30am-11pm; San Marco)
Opera
composer Richard Wagner had the right idea: when Venice leaves you weak in the knees,
get a pick-me-up at Lavena. The €1 espresso at Lavena's mirrored bar is a baroque bargain
- never mind the politically incorrect antique 'Moor's head' chandeliers. Spring for piazza
seating to savor
caffe corretto
(coffee 'corrected' with liquor) accompanied by Lavena's
nimble violinists.
CAFE
HARRY'S BAR
( 041 528 57 77; Calle Vallaresso 1323; cocktails €12-22; 10.30am-11pm; San Marco)
Aspiring
auteurs hold court at bistro tables well scuffed by Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Tru-
man Capote and Orson Welles, enjoying the signature €16.50 bellini (Giuseppe Cipriani's
original 1948 recipe: white-peach juice and
prosecco
) with a side of reflected glory. Up-
BAR
