where’s the party in… venice
words by Massimo Benvegnù
For clubbers
Venice is a stage, not a dancefloor. But if you don’t fancy silent evening strolls by the canals and you really need that disco fix, it does have a few suitable spots. You can rub elbows with art students and local DJs while sipping cocktails at Caffè Aurora, shake your hips to a house beat at Round Midnight or, if you’ve got a roving eye, head to Piccolo Mondo where locals pick up foreign tourists and vice versa. In summer, top DJs such as David Morales and Timo Maas play at the nearby seaside resort of Jesolo.
Caffè Aurora San Marco 49, +39 041 528 6405
Round Midnight Dorsoduro 3102, +39 041 523 2056 Piccolo
Mondo Dorsoduro 1056, +39 041 520 0371
For quintessential Venice
Venetian bar owners like to go the distance when it comes to pleasing their customers, but no one puts on a better show than Mauro Lorenzon, wine connoisseur and owner of Enoteca La Mascareta and the nearby Al Mascaron restaurant. Not only does he make sure you pick the right bottle to accompany your seafood risotto or cheese platter, he’ll also pop the cork himself – with a sword. Part sommelier, part swashbuckler, he’s sure to give you a warm welcome.
Enoteca La Mascareta Castello 5183, +39 041 523 0744
Al Mascaron Castello 5225, +39 041 522 5995
For laid-back drinking and eating
Naranzaria hits the right balance between traditional and modern, cosmopolitan wining and dining. Choose between familiar Venetian dishes or the chef’s uniquely Mediterranean take on sushi (the fish market is just around the corner), while drinking in the views of the Canal Grande and the Rialto bridge from this 16th-century building, a mixture of classic Venetian and contemporary design. A friendly crowd hangs out here until the early hours, so order a round of caipirinhas and settle in.
Naranzaria San Polo 130, +39 041 724 1035, www.naranzaria.it
For celebrity spotting
Ghosts from the past haunt the frescoed walls of Caffè Florian. Here, Lord Byron, Marcel Proust and Charles Dickens jotted down notes, and Casanova roamed the rooms chasing women. Nowadays, movie stars tend to crowd Harry’s Bar, especially during the Venice Film Festival (from late August to early September). Woody Allen is a regular, George Clooney sips bellinis with his drinking buddies, and recent visitors include Michelle Pfeiffer, Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman. It used to be Hemingway’s favourite watering hole, now it’s Elton John’s. That’s Harry’s Bar for you.
Caffè Florian, Piazza San Marco 56, +39 041 520 5641, www.caffeflorian.com
Harry’s Bar, Piazza San Marco 1323, +39 041 528 5777, www.cipriani.com
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