Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
The Spritz Veneziano is the city's signature aperitivo: a chilled glass of Prosecco with a bitter aperitif (Aperol, Select or Campari) and a splash of soda, garnished with an olive and an orange wedge.
The Venetian spritz traces to the early 19th century, when Austrian soldiers in Habsburg-ruled Veneto spritzed local whites with sparkling water (the German verb spritzen, to spray). The bitter-aperitif version arrived in the 1920s with Select (1920, Pilla family of Padua) and Aperol (1919, Barbieri brothers, Padua); the modern Aperol-Prosecco-soda formula was codified at Venetian bacari postwar. Aperol Spritz became a global drink after Campari Group acquired Aperol in 2003; Select, the less-sweet original, is what Venetians actually drink. The 18:00 spritz at a campo bacaro is the canonical aperitivo move.
4 editor picks for Spritz Veneziano in Venice, ranked by editorial score. All Venice signature dishes · Spritz Veneziano across every city.
Cantina Do Mori in Venice's San Polo is the city's oldest bacaro, open since 1462 near Rialto, with a counter of francobolli sandwiches and ombre poured.
OrderCicchetti and ombre at the counter
TipWalk-in only. Order ombre (small glass of wine) plus a francobolli sandwich. Counter pours stop hard at 19:30; arrive by 18:30 for the best cicchetti choice.
Cantinone Gia Schiavi in Venice's Dorsoduro at the foot of Ponte San Trovaso is the De Rossi family bacaro since 1944, with house-made crostini and the canal.
TipEat your crostini standing on the bridge; the bar inside is tiny. Closed Sunday afternoons. Family-run since 1944.
Bacareto Da Lele in Venice's Santa Croce near Piazzale Roma is the canal-side bacaro the students fill on the Tolentini church steps, ombre and panini.
OrderMini panini and ombre
TipWalk-up window only; sit on the church steps with your panino and ombra. Most ombre are €0.80 to €1.50, panini €1 to €2. Cash only.
Al Merca on Campo Bella Vienna near Rialto is the tiny walk-up bar where locals stop for an ombra, the canonical aperitivo standing-room in San Polo.
TipNo interior space; the crowd stands on the campo. Closes hard at 20:00. Spritz €3.50, ombra €1.50.
Spritz Veneziano makes more sense with someone from Venice explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Day trip · 7 hours
Enjoy a day tour from Venice to the Prosecco Hills. Taste Prosecco wine and Italian Spritz with cheese, salami and snacks while admiring stunning views. Explore the en...
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Taste your way through Venice's bacari culture, crossing the Grand Canal like a local and discovering the neighborhoods where Venetians gather for cicchetti, wine, and...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Embark on a bacaro food tour in Venice and savor Spritz, Prosecco, cicchetti, warm dishes, and gelato while discovering local culinary traditions with a guide.
