Nightlife Venice: magical during the day and mysterious in the evening. When the sun goes down, Venice reveals a quiet but great atmosphere, characterized by refined wine bars and traditional taverns where you can sip a good wine or a classic spritz and tasty aperitifs. Here's where to go out during your nights in Venice.
Venice nightlife
Famous all over the world for its canals and its wonderful bridges, Venice is a city to visit at least once in a lifetime . Millions of tourists come here every year to admire this magnificent town of timeless charm. However, it is as evening falls that the city empties and reveals its intimate and true atmosphere, among the narrow streets and ancient buildings, almost as if suspended back in time.
In fact, the nightlife of Venice is very far from the lively nightlife of Rimini and from the fashionable evenings of Milan . Although Venice attracts a huge number of tourists every year, the city is not well known as a party destination. Some neighborhoods in Venice may seem quite empty after dark, but its center still offers some options to keep you entertained once the sun goes down. In the historic center of Venice there are no real discos , but rather some disco bars, pubs and cocktail bars, where the locals and young university students gather in the evening to have a few drinks and listen to live music.
The evenings in Venice begin at 18.00 with the ritual of the aperitif . The bars and taverns of the city fill up at aperitif time, when people gather to enjoy a good wine, a Bellini or the inevitable Spritz , a cocktail based on white wine, seltz, aperol or campari and a orange slice. The aperitif in Venice is truly a ritual: Venetians love to go around the numerous "bacari" , that is the typical taverns where you can accompany your drink with delicious "cicchetti" ! Cicchetti are the Venetian version of Spanish tapas and are presented as tasty plates of different dishes, ranging from fried vegetables to polenta, to crostini of cod and typical cheeses.
Among the best known bacari we can mention the Lost Paradise , Osteria Ai Promessi Sposi , the Enoteca al Volto , located near Piazza San Marco and famous for its mini sandwiches, and many others reviewed below. To try a Venetian street food, stop by Aqua & Mais (Campiello dei Meloni, 1411-1412, Venice) , where for only 5 euros they give you a mixed fried fish, shrimp and squid, served in a paper cone.
After the aperitif, the evening continues in the various bars scattered around the center of Venice. If you want to spend the night in a disco, you should move to the nearby city of Mestre or, during the summer season, head to the Lido of Venice, where there are some beach cubs on the beach, or to Jesolo, a seaside resort on the Venetian Riviera. frequented by young people.
The districts of Venice and the nightlife
Venice's nightlife is instead concentrated in three distinct areas of the historic center.
Erbaria
The Erbaria area , near the Rialto and the fish market, is the ideal place to have a drink outdoors, meet people and stay out late. Here you can grab a bite and mingle with the locals and tourists who gather here to enjoy the city's nightlife (especially on summer weekends). The area is populated by both traditional bars and more modern bars.
Cannaregio
To the north-west, towards the Cannaregio district, also known as Fondamenta Misericordia , you will find a number of wine bars and restaurants on the north side of the main canal walkway. This is an area full of bacari and is mostly frequented by locals, with a trendy and vibrant yet relaxed vibe. Most of the venues are small with plenty of canal seating where you can watch the boats go by.
Campo Santa Margherita
A Venetian nightlife institution, Campo Santa Margherita is a very popular square with young people in Venice , thanks to its strategic location, less than 10 minutes from Piazzale Roma and close to the Ca'Foscari university, and to its high concentration of good bars and bacari where you can drink and eat cheaply. During the warm season, many people gather here to have a Spritz or a beer, and to spend a nice evening outside. Here there are many small bars and cafes frequented by a young crowd of university students and travelers: the ideal place to socialize with local young people, listen to live music and DJ sets.
Piazza San Marco
If you want to spend a quieter evening and breathe the atmosphere of ancient Venice, head towards Piazza San Marco and sit at the tables of the various historic cafes scattered around the perimeter of the square. You can enjoy a typical Venetian aperitif or a coffee comfortably seated in these elegant lounges, accompanied by the notes of classical music.
Festivals and events in Venice
Venice is famous for two important events that fill the city with tourists and famous people: the Carnival and the Film Festival.
Famous for its traditional masks, the Venice Carnival begins on the Saturday before Shrove Thursday and ends on Shrove Tuesday. During these eleven days, there are numerous events, parades and concerts scattered throughout the city.
Film fans should not miss the Venice Film Festival . The event, which takes place from the end of August to mid-September, brings together all the greatest international directors and actors. You can access the festival and preview films by purchasing tickets.
Classical music lovers won't be disappointed either. In fact, the city is renowned for the numerous concerts of classical music and opera , performed by important musical groups, such as the Musici Veneziani and Virtuosi di Venezia . Concerts take place in many churches and buildings in the historic center: you can find more information on timetables and prices on the Music in Venice website .
Theater enthusiasts, on the other hand, head to the most important Venetian theaters, among which we mention the Teatro La Fenice and the Teatro Malibran. Both offer very rich programs ranging from plays, ballet and opera, with performances by artists of international caliber.
Finally, an interesting idea could be to spend the evening at the Venice Casino , located in the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, one of the most fascinating and aristocratic buildings in the city. You will have to show your identity card and pay a registration fee of 10 euros which you can use as a chip. There is also an upscale bar and restaurant, for those of you who want to feel like James Bond, despite the cost. Elegant attire is required.
Clubs and discos in Venice
Piccolo Mondo 
(Dorsoduro, 1056A, Venice) Open Friday and Saturday from 11.00pm to 4.00am.
Open since 1963 and located a short distance from the university area, the Piccolo Mondo is the longest-running nightclub in Venice and is also the only one you can find in its historic center. Located in what was once an art gallery, the place is a small disco-bar frequented mostly by students who gather here to drink and dance late into the night.
Molocinque
(Via Elettricità, 10, Venice) Located in the building that housed the Porto Marghera theater, the Molocinque is one of the most popular discos in Venice and the province . Open all year round, the club has several bars and dance floors and offers a selection of music ranging from house, techno, pop, to Latin rhythms and hits from the 70s and 80s. The average age ranges from 20 to 40 years.
Area Venice
(Via Don Federico Tosatto, 9, Mestre, Venice) Located in the Mestre area, Area Venice is one of the most popular nightclubs in Venice . The club hosts events and evenings with house music with famous Italian DJs in the console.
Tag Club
(Via Giustizia, 19, Mestre, Venice) Located in Mestre, the Tag Club is a small undeground nightclub frequented by a young and party crowd. The club offers evenings with electronic music, alternating with live jazz performances, as well as various events and theme nights. Club parties always attract a lot of people and often host famous DJs.
Aurora Beach Club
(Lungomare Gabriele D'annunzio, Lido, Venice) Located on the beach of Lido di Venezia, this club represents one of the reference points for the nightlife of Venice during the summer season. Between plays of light, famous DJs on the console and excellent fruit cocktails, the Aurora Beach Club is a fixed appointment for your summer nights in Venice.
Porta Gialla
(Parco San Giuliano, Mestre, Venice) Open from Tuesday to Friday from 17.00 to 1.00, Saturday and Sunday from 12.00 to 1.00.
Located in Venice Mestre inside the San Giuliano Park, the Porta Gialla is a popular summer nightclub in Venice. Reference point of the Venetian nightlife during the summer months, this club contains music, fun and nature in a single location.
Pachuka Beach
(Via Ing. Klinger, 1, San Nicolò, Venice) Located right on the Lido beach, Pachuka is the ideal place to take a break from the city crowds and relax on the beach with delicious seafood, pizzas and pasta. Pachuka transforms from a laid-back beach restaurant during the day to a dance club on summer evenings, with live music and DJ sets.
Venice Jazz Club
(Dorsoduro 3102, Venice) Venice 's only jazz club dedicated to introducing local jazz musicians: this romantic, dimly lit place attracts jazz fans from all over the world. Shows at the Venice Jazz Club begin around 9pm, with five nights a week of live concerts. Admission generally costs 20 euros, including a glass of wine, beer or cocktail.
The bars and pubs of Venice
Paradiso Perduto
(Cannaregio, Fondamenta della Misericordia, 2540, Venice) Open from Thursday to Monday from 11.00 to 1.00.
Between art exhibitions and live music, this typical Venetian tavern offers a fantastic atmosphere. There are bands playing live music, from jazz to rock n roll, and you can dine or have a glass of wine with some appetizers while listening to the music. This is one of the most popular nightlife spots in Venice . Locals flock for the great live jazz on Mondays and especially for the incredible food - the chef offers only traditional dishes and changes the menu based on local market availability. Be sure to book a table, as the tavern is very popular with Venetians.
Hard Rock Cafè
(Bacino Orseolo, 1192, Venice) Open every day from 10.00 to 00.30.
The famous Hard Rock Cafe is also present in Venice and is located a few steps from Piazza San Marco. Located inside a historic building and decorated with Murano chandeliers and Venetian floors, the Hard Rock Cafè Venezia is the smallest Hard Rock in Europe . As in the other bars of the same chain, here too you can have a good drink listening to beautiful music and enjoying an enchanting view of the canals of Venice.
Skyline Rooftop Bar
(Via Giudecca, 810, Venice) Open every day from 12.00 to 1.00.
Housed on the top floor of the Molino Stucky Hilton , an elegant hotel built in an ancient mill located on the Giudecca island, the Skyline is a beautiful rooftop bar that offers an extraordinary panoramic view over the city of Venice. The place is perfect for an aperitif or for an after dinner drink, also thanks to the reasonable prices if compared to the class of the place. The terrace is open to all, and there are plenty of live music events or DJ set nights even in the summer when the action moves to the deck and pool. Come here at sunset for a postcard view.
Il Santo Bevitore
(Fondamenta Diedo, Venice) Open every day from 4.00pm to 2.00am.
Located in the Cannaregio area and open until late, Il Santo Bevitore is frequented by many locals and tourists for its vast choice of beers and live music. You can choose from over 20 draft beers, including Trappist beers and seasonal beers, as well as a wide range of gins, whiskeys and vodkas. If you are a football fan you can watch the main matches live.
Cafè Noir
(Dorsoduro, Venice) Open Monday to Friday from 11.00 to 2.00, Saturday and Sunday from 19.00 to 2.00.
With an amazing selection of reasonably priced drinks, this is one of the best pre-club bars in Venice or just a place to hang out and chat with friends. Café Noir fills up around midnight and is very popular with students and creative people. There are always a lot of Venetian university students, and the bar has a nice, relaxed atmosphere. If you happen to be there around 6pm for an aperitif, order a glass of Prosecco wine or spritz and grab some appetizers and slices of pizza to accompany your drink.
Harry's Bar
(Calle Vallaresso 1323, Venice) Open every day from 10.30 to 23.00.
This historic bar in Venice is the original model of all the other Harry's Bars that you can meet around the world. Here the Bellini was invented, a cocktail made from prosecco and white peach pulp. Throughout its history, this bar has been visited by many famous customers, including Hemingway himself.
The Irish Pub Venice
(Corte dei Pali, 3847, Venice) Open every day from 10.00 to 2.00.
An Irish style bar with a cheerful atmosphere and a large choice of great beers. The ideal place to spend an evening drinking beer with friends and chatting.
Devil's Forest Pub
(Calle dei Stagneri O de la Fava, Venice) Open every day from 11.00 to 24.00.
Decorated like an English pub, simply but with a pleasant atmosphere, this is a great place to bring a group of friends for a good time. The music is good and you can watch live sporting events. While it doesn't have the style of a typical Venice bar, this place is very popular with locals because of the good drinks at fair prices and the friendliness of the bartenders. Also frequented by many American and British tourists.
Chet Bar
(Dorsoduro 3684, Venice) Open every day from 17.00 to 2.00.
Always crowded with a crowd of college students, this small bar offers great drinks and an always updated cocktail menu. The place is also a good stop during the day to eat a sandwich or one of their snacks prepared with seasonal products.
Osteria Ai Pugni
(Fondamenta Gherardini, 2836, Venice) Open every day from 8.00 to 23.00.
Locals love the festive atmosphere and young, friendly staff of the Osteria Ai Pugni , located in the Dorsoduro area near the university. The crowd is a mix of all ages and the prices are low by Venice standards. The creative spirit shines through in a playful decor of wine bottle chandeliers and local artwork along with DJ set nights once a month. The bar often hosts wine tastings and other events not to be missed.
Bar Dandolo
(Calle Secondo de la Fava, 4196, Venice) Open every day from 9.30 to 1.00.
Located in the luxurious fourteenth-century building of the Danieli Hotel , Bar Dandolo pampers its guests with its fantastic location, including Murano chandeliers, silk furnishings and elegant staff. The cocktails are perfectly prepared and there are also live music performances. Without doubt one of the most elegant bars in Venice .
Margaret Duchamp
(Campo Santa Margherita, 3019, Venice) Open every day from 9.00 to 2.00.
This bar in Venice is very popular with young people and fills up after midnight. There is an extensive menu of cocktails, wines and beers, as well as a good choice of pub food such as sandwiches, burgers and wraps.
LondraBar
(Riva degli Schiavoni, 4171, Venice) Located on the 4th floor of the Londra Palace hotel, LondraBar is an international cocktail bar with a beautiful terrace offering a splendid view over the canals of Venice.
AquAlta
(Piazza 27 Ottobre, 37, Mestre, Venice) Open Monday to Thursday from 7.30 to 22.00, Friday from 7.30 to 23.00, Saturday from 18.00 to 23.00.
Located in Mestre and characterized by a modern and trendy décor, AquAlta is one of the best bars to start the evening before heading to the disco. Here you can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco, accompanied by excellent appetizers, including different types of cheeses and cold cuts.
El Refolo
(Sestiere Castello, 1580, Venice) Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30 to 24.00.
A cozy wine bar very popular with locals. Enjoy a Spritz or a good glass of wine while tasting the appetizers of cheese and salami.
El Sbarlefo
(Calle S. Pantalon, 3757, Venice) Open every day from 10.00 to 24.00.
If you want to escape the lively student scene of Campo Santa Margherita, head to this quiet wine bar with an industrial chic look, a sophisticated rock and blues soundtrack and live music on weekends. The place is appreciated for the long list of regional wines and excellent appetizers, such as the robiola wrapped in smoked swordfish and the polenta with herring.
Al Timon
(Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2754, Venice) Open every day from 17.00 to 1.00.
Located in Canareggio along a quiet canal frequented by Venetian fashionistas, Al Timon is a tavern where you can eat that offers excellent wines and delicious Venetian cicchetti. You can even have an aperitif on the boat moored right in front of the venue and you can sip your drink and chat with others on board directly on the water. There is also often live music.
Skillà Bar
(Dorsoduro 2995/2996, Venice) Open Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 2.00, Sunday from 17.00 to 2.00.
Located in Campo Santa Margherita, one of the most authentic neighborhoods in Venice, this bar is every student's first stop on an evening in Venice. Low prices and friendly bartenders.
Osteria Da Filo
(Santa Croce, 1539, Venice) Open Monday to Friday from 4.00pm to 11.00pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11.00am to 11.00pm.
This osteria is also known as “Osteria alla Poppa” . A nice bacaro to have a glass of wine and eat something during the day at a reasonable price, and to hang out with friends at night. They play live music once a week. This bar is very popular with young people, mostly students, and it fills with locals and visitors until everyone spills out into the open. Wednesday nights feature live music ranging from rock to folk and jazz. Expect a hipster vibe, cheap and tasty cocktails: try the house specialty "Zaza" , a potent rum punch and fresh ginger.
Caffè Rosso
(Sestiere Dorsoduro, 2963, Venice) Open Monday to Saturday from 7.00 to 1.00.
Born in the late 1800s, Caffè Rosso is a historic café in Venice , located in Campo Santa Margherita. It has a peculiar history shared with the “Ostaria al Capon” opposite. In the nineteenth century in these two rooms there were two different political points of view and they were a theater of debates and battles of words. Today it is popular with students and Venetians, and is a good place to enjoy a spritz accompanied by a good sandwich. During the evenings and nights it is full of young people.
Caffe Florian
(Piazza San Marco, 57, Venice) Open every day from 9.00 to 24.00.
Founded in 1720 and located in Piazza San Marco, the Florian is the oldest café in Italy and is one of the most popular coffee rooms in Venice , loved by locals and tourists alike. Throughout history, the Florian has been visited by personalities such as Dickens, Lord Byron, Silvio Pellico, Carlo Goldoni, Foscolo, Goethe, Proust and many others. A piece of history of Venice's nightlife .
Vino Vero
(Fondamenta Misericordia, 2497, Venice) Open Monday to Thursday from 17.00 to 24.00, Friday and Saturday from 12.00 to 1.00, Sunday from 12.00 to 24.00.
This brick-walled wine bar offers interesting small-scale wines, including a large selection of natural and biodynamic labels. Their offering of cicchetti is also extraordinary and attracts a large crowd that flocks to the canal every night.
Iguana
(Calle Aseo, 1885, Venice) Open Wednesday to Monday from 11.30 to 15.00 and from 18.00 to 24.00.
One of the few Mexican restaurants in Venice. The restaurant is worth a visit for the mojito they make. Always full of guests on weekends, not only to eat but also to have a drink. This beautiful place is located in the lively Fondamenta della Misericordia. It is advisable to book in advance.
Al Parliament
(Sestiere Cannaregio, 511, Venice) Open every day from 7.30 to 1.30.
This popular Venice bar offers good aperitifs accompanied by tasty sandwiches. Draped ship ropes accentuate the canal view from the large windows at the front. There are evenings with live music or DJ sets.
Il Mercante Venezia
(Fondamenta Frari, 2564, Venice) Open Tuesday to Thursday from 18.00 to 1.00, Friday and Saturday from 18.00 to 2.00, Sunday from 18.00 to 24.00.
Elegant and playful, Il Mercante aims to take cocktail lovers on a journey. Located near Campo de Frari in San Polo, this bar tells stories of world exploration through expertly crafted cocktails with exotic spices and flavors like The Captain's Death, a dangerous blend of pepper gin. One sip and you will understand why this place was named one of the best bars in Italy by the prestigious Gambero Rosso .
Estro
(Dorsoduro 3778 Crosera, Calle S. Pantalon, Venice) Open Wednesday to Monday from 12.00 to 23.00.
This artistic wine bar in Dorsoduro lives up to its name. Local art works, handcrafted glassware and a recycled wood bar are the backdrop to the selection of wine bottles that cover the walls of the room. This is the place to experience a breath of modern and fresh Venice while tasting wines from small regional producers and organic wines.
Zanon Brewery
(Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2735, Venice) Open every day from 9.00 to 22.00.
A cool neighborhood vibe permeates this small bar on the Cannaregio canal, offering a glimpse of local life off the tourist trail. Young Venetians flock out onto the foundations from early afternoon until the wee hours, sipping Spritz or sampling craft beers as they devour tasty cicchetti.
Cantina Arnaldi
(Santa Croce, 35, Venice) Open from Thursday to Tuesday from 11.00 to 2.00.
With exposed brick walls, wood-beamed ceilings, and an interesting selection of wines, this Santa Croce winery exudes old-world charm. The friendly owners are always behind the counter, happy to guide you through the wines of the Tri-Veneto region. The platter of cold cuts and cheeses is also excellent.
Taverna al Remer
(Cannaregio, 5701, Venice) Open every day from 12.00 to 24.00.
For a unique view of the Rialto Bridge, head to the Taverna al Remer : in a small hidden campo near the bridge, this location gives you the chance to take some fantastic photos of the Rialto from the Grand Canal. The tavern offers an excellent happy hour offer with a large assortment of cicchetti, including warm bruschetta topped with delicate cod and olive cream or delicious rosemary baked potatoes. Plus, every Wednesday there is live jazz and blues music.
