Top Bars in Venice – Most Viewed (2025)

Nestled in the heart of Venice’s San Polo district, Il Mercante occupies the historic Caffè dei Frari, an elegant café first opened in the 1870s and lovingly transformed in 2016 into a haven for creative cocktails. The bar spans two intimate levels. On the ground floor, patrons are welcomed by a stylish bar and artful décor. A graceful mezzanine rings the main room, outfitted with black leather booths and stained-glass lamps that cast a warm, romantic glow—perfect for stealing away from the tourist bustle. Il Mercante’s cocktail menu is a narrative in liquids—each drink inspired by tales of explorers, adventurers, and maritime journeys. Signature concoctions like The Captain’s Death (pepper-infused gin, cherry shrub, apricot liqueur, verjus, tonka bean bitters, garnished with burnt rosemary) are served in imaginative vessels such as moss-filled boxes or calavera skulls—every detail elevates the experience. Bartenders even offer small touches like flavored water and bar snack samplings while you peruse the “drink diary” menu. Beyond the cocktails, the atmosphere is where history and modern design converge. Velvet sofas, leather seating, subdued lighting, and original paintings hint at the café’s storied past—yet everything feels freshly curated for today’s cocktail aficionado. Thoughtful service, polished yet welcoming, rounds out the sense of warmth and discovery. With its magical blend of ambiance, narrative cocktails, and elegance, Il Mercante is a favorite for date nights, intimate evenings, or anyone seeking a uniquely Venetian cocktail journey.

On May 13, 1931, Giuseppe Cipriani Senior opened Harry’s Bar in Venice. Over the years, Harry’s Bar became the place where writers, painters, artists, aristocrats, kings and queens would meet. Among them there were: Barbara Hutton, Katherine Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Giancarlo Menotti, Peggy Guggenheim, Orson Welles, Frank Lloyd Wright, Joe di Maggio, Truman Capote and Ernest Hemingway. The keys to the success of this tiny Bar were: service, freedom and lack of imposition.

Bar Longhi stands as a timeless cocktail salon inside The Gritti Palace, where old-world Venetian refinement meets spirited hospitality. Named for the 18th-century Venetian painter Pietro Longhi, the bar’s walls display reproductions of his scenes, adding local heritage to its atmosphere. Walking in, you’ll first take in the rich décor: plush seating, mirrored walls, Murano glass chandeliers, Venetian fabrics, and often soft lighting that makes the place feel like a private salon. The bar counter itself is a statement — marble, polished, elegant — evoking the grandeur of Venetian palaces. Beyond the interior, Bar Longhi extends into a canal-facing terrace — a prime spot to sip a drink while watching gondolas drift by, listening to water lap against the walls, and enjoying that unique Venice atmosphere. The menu is a curated mix of classic and signature cocktails. One specialty is Bar Manager Cristiano Luciani’s “wild fennel martini” variation. Other signature drinks include the Gritti Special (China Martini + Campari + Martini Dry), Dogeressa, Doge Gritti, among others — the names pay homage to Venetian identity. The bar also offers fine wines, champagnes, and Italian bubbles, often by the glass. Bar Longhi is also tied to a “Venetian cicchetti experience” — small plates, late night snacks, and sharing bites to accompany drinks. Service is described as elegant but warm, aiming to balance luxury with conviviality. In terms of vibe, Bar Longhi is less about loud nightlife and more about refined lingering. A drink here encourages conversation, reflection, and absorbing the surroundings — especially when the terrace is in full use. It’s a place to savor Venice’s slow beauty while the bar pours stories in cocktails.

Bar Dandolo sits within the legendary Hotel Danieli, perched along Riva degli Schiavoni in Venice’s Castello district. From the moment you cross its threshold, you’re enveloped in a richly historic ambiance: marble columns, ornate finishes, plush seating, and a sense of theatrical elegance that evokes Venice’s glamour of bygone eras. By day, the bar welcomes hotel guests and visitors for coffee, afternoon tea, or light refreshments. In the evening, the space transitions into a refined cocktail lounge. Pianists often play live, adding a musical layer to the atmosphere of relaxed sophistication. Visitors frequently describe Bar Dandolo as a refuge from the bustle of Venetian streets — a place to pause, enjoy a drink, and soak in elegance. While the cocktail menu adheres to classic standards, the bar also serves beer (local and international) and offers a Champagne Afternoon Tea service from 15:00 to 18:00. The ambiance, service, and setting are often praised — though some reviews caution about premium pricing consistent with the bar’s luxury hotel context. In short: Bar Dandolo is not a trendy hotspot but a classic, elegant venue. It’s ideal when you want to slow down, enjoy attentive service, appreciate an exquisite setting, and let piano melodies guide your drink. Whether for an afternoon tea or a nightcap, it offers a sense of timeless Venetian poise.

In the Dorsoduro district of Venice, tucked behind a discreet entrance from the lobby of Il Palazzo Experimental, you’ll find Experimental Cocktail Club Venice — a bar that feels equal parts secret salon and modern alchemy lab. As evening falls, ECC transforms. The lighting deepens, the palette hums with jewel and terracotta tones, and the bar comes alive with curated cocktails that draw from Venetian ingredients, classic foundations, and forward thinking technique. The interior design, by Cristina Celestino, couples Venetian references (marble, soft arches, local stone) with a surreal sensibility: terrazzo floors, layered marble counters evoking San Marco’s stone, and lacquered wood back-bar elements. The drink menu is in constant motion. Seasonal menus, bespoke recipes, local spirit influence, and creative signatures (“Tales of Taste – A Venetian Journey”) define their approach. Expect both reimaginings of classics and daring experiments — mezcal, amaro, liqueurs, brines, herbs, local botanicals all have space on the list. During warmer months, ECC’s ambiance shifts: the bar opens up to garden areas or canal-adjacent seating, allowing drinks by the water and a lighter social air. In winter, the magic is more hidden, more intimate — a speakeasy buried in Venice’s rhythms. The staff is helmed by Lorenzo Di Cola (Bar Manager), who speaks of a philosophy that blurs line between cuisine and drinks — seasonal, local, poetic. He has shared that one signature cocktail, “Melting Pot”, combines Amaretto, Nardini Chinato, vermouth, and a Lapsang Souchong + olive brine cordial. Though the space is inside a hotel, ECC Venice stands on its own: many locals, travelers, and cocktail aficionados make a point to come for the distinct style, ambiance, and drink craft. In short: ECC Venice is a stylish hideaway in Venice’s cocktail renaissance. It rewards the curious, the night wanderer, and anyone with an appetite for drinks that tell stories.

Skyline Rooftop Bar crowns the Hilton Molino Stucky on Giudecca Island, making it one of Venice’s most dramatic perches. From here, you can gaze across the lagoon, take in sweeping views of St. Mark’s, and watch the pace of Venice unfold in miniature. The bar leans fully into cocktail craftsmanship. Their menu features signature Venetian-inspired cocktails as well as refined takes on classics; in recent seasons they introduced a “Skies of Venice” menu with sensory filters (taste, texture, emotion) to guide visitors in choosing a drink that suits their mood. Many of the drinks incorporate local, seasonal, and zero-waste elements (for example, the hotel’s own gin and full-use lime juice) to tie flavors to place. The design refresh leans bold and atmospheric — vibrant reds, oranges, blues and greens echo Venetian sunsets and water reflections. Seating is varied: lounges, sofas, bar stools, and terrace tables allow flexibility of mood, whether for a romantic evening or a social gathering. On summer nights, expect DJs or live music to enliven the terrace. Food offerings are modest but well matched to the drinks — small plates, bar bites, and light Mediterranean fare. The experience is built more around ambiance, views, and cocktails than full dining. Visiting around sunset is ideal: the glow over Venice and the tonal shift in the bar as the lights come on combine to create a cinematic moment. Because it’s a hotel bar, non-guests are welcome (especially via the hotel’s shuttle boat from San Marco / Zattere), though reservations are wise in peak times. In sum: Skyline Rooftop Bar is an elevated Venetian cocktail destination — dramatic views, creative drinks, atmospheric design — ideal for those who want to see Venice from above with a glass in hand.