What Venice certainly does not lack is a love for social drinking. It happens at all hours, in even very different social settings, and often offering an “ombra de vin” (the house wine served in a small glass) is an excuse to catch up with a friend, a work colleague, someone you've just met. To take a break, even one too many, from daily tasks.
The spritz, before it became the favorite aperitif of Italians, was an all-Venetian drink, apparently stemming from the custom, common among Austrians during their city rule, of cutting local wine with seltzer or sparkling water (white spritz). At the end of the domination, the spritz saw the addition of spirits from the big Italian brands that were gaining popularity at that time: Aperol, Cynar, Campari and Select are still the most popular variants with which this very famous aperitif is consumed. Below is a short list of venues where you can best enjoy something to drink, with an eye to location and “Venetian rate.”
Caffè Lavena
The café in St. Mark's Square most frequented by Venetians, some of whom enjoy tables always reserved for them and their families. Founded in 1750, in the 19th Richard Wagner was a regular customer, who often engaged in long conversations with the owner at the time, Carlo Lavena. This historic café is a must-visit destination both for those seeking the more “traditionally touristy” atmosphere and the experience of enjoying St. Mark's Square seated at a small table outside with background music, and for those who want to experience an authentic Venetian bar: the modest prices charged at the counter make it a must for employees of nearby museums, tour guides, gondoliers and all those who work around the city's only “square.” www.caffèlavena.it
Al mercante
A modern cocktail bar inside a historic Venetian café (dating back to 1870), all with a breathtaking view of the Basilica dei Frari, not even a quarter-hour walk from Ca' Dadda but also easily accessible by boat or cab. The restaurant has a set menu of cocktails concocted by the in-house bartenders, plus a list of preparations that, in taste and use of ingredients, follow seasonality. All the staff are highly trained and will be happy to explain the secrets and philosophy behind each choice, even the most unique. The experience of tasting intoxicating and utterly original flavors in a unique and evocative location, an institution in Venetian nightlife, often also a discreet meeting place for celebrities passing through the city. www.ilmercantevenezia.com/
Skyline rooftop bar
Definitely the most atmospheric location to enjoy a cocktail prepared by mixology professionals . Located on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel, on the rooftop of what was once the historic Stucky factory on the island of Giudecca, the 360-degree view offered by this bar ranges from the almost deserted shallows of the South Lagoon to the new waterfront of the Port of Venice, spanning as far as St. Mark's Basin. It can be considered the pleasant commotion after a stroll among the art galleries and ateliers located on the Giudecca banks or the start of an evening to begin with a boat or taxi ride along the canal of the same name. www.skylinebarvenice.it