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 ★ 4.7
Sestiere San Polo 429, 30125 Venezia VE
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.
Cantinone Gia Schiavi (Cantina Schiavi) ★ 4.6
Fondamenta Nani 992, Dorsoduro, 30123 Venezia VE
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.
Bacareto Da Lele ★ 4.6
Campo dei Tolentini 183, Santa Croce, 30135 Venezia VE
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.
Al Merca ★ 4.4
Campo Bella Vienna 213, San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE
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.