Harry's Bar

"Harry’s Bar might be the most famous bar in Venice. Hidden in plain sight behind a nondescript door near Piazza San Marco, getting a drink here is a truly Venetian experience (even if the service is consistently aloof). Sit at one of the lacquered wooden tables or at the marble-topped bar and order a bellini if you’re visiting in the summer—they invented the drink back in 1948. Otherwise, go for a gin martini that comes served in a small tumbler to assure it’s properly chilled, some beef carpaccio or a grilled ham and cheese sandwich as a snack. You going to have to accept that this cocktail is not going to end up in your Instagram story, though, since they don’t allow photos." - Gillian McGuire

"Birthplace of the Bellini: Harry's Bar The Bellini was born in Venice at Harry's Bar, which has been hopping since 1931. Declared a National Historic Monument by the Italian government in 2001, this San Marco bar and restaurant is a cultural institution. Even though it doesn't do the best food in Venice, and prices are ridiculously expensive, it's worth dining here once just for the experience. Over the decades it has served a global collection of writers and artists, including Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, and Orson Welles, and today it's still popular with Venetian movers and shakers. The interior decor has not changed since Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry's on the eve of World War II (and during the war, Harry's was one of only a handful of restaurants in Venice that would serve Jewish patrons). The food is classic Venetian. Try the baked sea bass with artichokes for a main, and make sure to save room for dessert. Harry's is famed for crêpes flambées and also its Cipriani chocolate cake. Reservations are imperative; when booking ask for the ground floor because dining here is all about seeing and being seen, and the second floor is considered much less cool by Venice society (although it has much better views and more dining space)."

"Birthplace of the Bellini: Harry's Bar The Bellini was born in Venice at Harry's Bar, which has been hopping since 1931. Declared a National Historic Monument by the Italian government in 2001, this San Marco bar and restaurant is a cultural institution. Even though it doesn't do the best food in Venice, and prices are ridiculously expensive, it's worth dining here once just for the experience. Over the decades it has served a global collection of writers and artists, including Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, and Orson Welles, and today it's still popular with Venetian movers and shakers. The interior decor has not changed since Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry's on the eve of World War II (and during the war, Harry's was one of only a handful of restaurants in Venice that would serve Jewish patrons). The food is classic Venetian. Try the baked sea bass with artichokes for a main, and make sure to save room for dessert. Harry's is famed for crêpes flambées and also its Cipriani chocolate cake. Reservations are imperative; when booking ask for the ground floor because dining here is all about seeing and being seen, and the second floor is considered much less cool by Venice society (although it has much better views and more dining space)."

"The Bellini, a famous prosecco-based cocktail with white peach puree, was invented at Harry’s Bar in Venice by a renowned bartender in the mid-20th century." - Ashley Goldsmith

"This legendary 1930s bar on the Grand Canal is a National Landmark known for inventing the bellini. Everything in the room, from the mahogany bar to the golden lighting, exude a bygone era of classic European cafe culture, making for it a perfect place to be transported. Drinking at Harry’s isn’t about the latest mixology trends. Instead, it’s about imbibing well-done classic cocktails. Order a bellini first, then move on to a martini or a negroni. And keep a keen eye out on the crowd—you never know what celebrity might pop in." - Jenna Scatena