Bar
Skyline Rooftop Bar
A rooftop cocktail bar on top of the Hilton Molino Stucky on Giudecca, with panoramic views across the Giudecca Canal to the domes and towers of…
Harry’s Bar
Giuseppe Cipriani's bar near the San Marco waterfront, opened in 1931, where the Bellini and carpaccio were created, and a declared Italian national landmark.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic cocktail bar and restaurant
- Area
- San Marco, Venice, Italy
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
Good to know
- Birthplace of the Bellini
- Restaurant upstairs
- National landmark
Why we recommend it
Harry's Bar is probably the most famous bar in Venice and one of the best-known in the world. It was opened in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani, then a bartender at the Hotel Europa, who had lent money to a young American, Harry Pickering; when Pickering repaid the loan with interest, Cipriani used it to open a bar and named it after him. In 2001 Italy's Ministry for Cultural Affairs declared it a national landmark.
Harry's Bar is credited with inventing two things now known worldwide. The Bellini, a mix of white peach purée and Prosecco, was created here and named after the Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini, and the dish carpaccio, thin slices of raw beef with a light sauce, also originated in this room. The bar is also known for its very dry martinis, served small and cold. Over the decades the guest list has included Ernest Hemingway, Arturo Toscanini, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Maria Callas and Peggy Guggenheim.
The room itself is surprisingly small and plain, with low tables, wooden panelling and white-jacketed waiters, and it has barely changed in decades. That unchanging style is part of the appeal for some and a disappointment for others who expect glamour. There is a restaurant upstairs with views over the water, serving a menu of classic dishes.
Prices are among the highest in the city for a drink, and you are paying for the history and the ritual as much as for the cocktail. Order a Bellini at the bar, ideally in the early afternoon or early evening before the dinner crowd arrives, and treat it as a one-off experience. Smart dress is appropriate. The bar does not suit those on a tight budget, but anyone interested in cocktail history, literature or old Venice will find it memorable.
Harry's Bar is on Calle Vallaresso, right beside the San Marco Vallaresso vaporetto stop and a two-minute walk from St Mark's Square. The entrance is easy to miss, marked only by frosted windows and a simple sign. Nearby, the Giardini Reali gardens and the waterfront promenade make a pleasant walk before or after a drink.
If the prices put you off staying long, one Bellini at the bar is enough to say you have been, and the walk along the waterfront afterwards is free.
Harry’s Bar FAQs
Was the Bellini invented at Harry's Bar?
Yes. The Bellini, white peach purée with Prosecco, was created here, as was the dish carpaccio.
When did Harry's Bar open?
In 1931, founded by Giuseppe Cipriani.
Is Harry's Bar expensive?
Yes. Drinks are among the most expensive in Venice, reflecting its history.
Is there a dress code?
Smart dress is appropriate.
Is there a restaurant?
Yes, there is a restaurant upstairs with views over the water.
Where is Harry's Bar?
On Calle Vallaresso, beside the San Marco Vallaresso vaporetto stop and two minutes from St Mark's Square.
Who has visited Harry's Bar?
Famous guests have included Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Maria Callas.