5 typical Venetian places to discover to live an authentic experience with the locals! Ready to take note?
If you are in Venezia, one thing you absolutely must include in your visit is a bacaro tour. The bacaro is the typical Venetian place that is halfway between an inn and a bar, in which to order cicchetti (croutons, meatballs, fried fish, polenta) accompanied by a glass of house wine, the famous "shadow".
They are usually small places, with few seats and all relatively close together to facilitate a continuous turnover of customers. Being particular places that go beyond the general rules of bars or pubs, closing times are often around 20pm, maximum 21pm. A bacaro tour will therefore start in the afternoon at aperitif time.
But what are they the best bacari of the Venetians?
1. Bacareto da Lele (Fondamenta dei Tolentini 183)
Attended by university students of any faculty, the Bacareto da Lele it is an institution. Small both in size and in price, it has an offer of tasty sandwiches and wines that will make you forget anything else. With a few euros you can drink a house red and taste the mini sandwiches ranging from simple salami to pancetta with chanterelles. Given its location close to Piazzale Roma, is the perfect starting point for the bacaro tour if you arrive by bus or car.
2. Hostaria Vecio Biavarol (Santa Croce 225)
If you arrive by train, after the Ponte degli Scalzi, the first real bacaro you meet is the Vecio Biavarol. While this is also quite small, there is some seating both indoors and out. The house wine is excellent, as are those offered a la carte, and the culinary offer is very special. Must try the crispy hot crouton with Bologna mortadella cut on the spot and Bronte pistachio pesto.
3. Cantina Arnaldi (Santa Croce 35)
Continuing your alcoholic walk along the same foundation, you will stumble upon the Arnaldi winery. It is a local fashionable which also allows you to have lunch or dinner, but remember to book because it is always full. The wines are fine and are described with great competence, the spritz is excellent, as well as the meatballs and croutons, for which quality combinations are risky that work very well. An example is the crouton with grilled ham with honey and dried tomatoes, if there is one, don't miss it.
4. Al Bottegon (Fondamenta Nani 992)
Proceeding towards the Accademia Bridge, just after the Toilet bookcase, you will have the second bacaro of the university students in front of you, At the Bottegon. No place to sit, but directly overlooking the shore. The wine in this bacaro can be tasted by the glass or bought by the bottle, as it is actually a a wine shop. The cicchetti proposed are among the most particular of the area and they also have won several awards. Try the pumpkin and parmesan one and the one with shrimp in saor.
5. The bacari of Mercy (Cannaregio)
Finally, on the opposite side of Venice, away from the tourist and university flow, moving a little from Strada Nova, there is Foundations of Mercy. Along this shore you will have the opportunity to try some of the best bacari with fish offer, even sitting directly on the canal shore. At Misericordia you will find theOstaria Bea Vita, Al Timon Bragozzo, famous for cicchetti with polenta, Al Mariner, or Paradiso Perduto, where I would recommend you stop for lunch or dinner, as well as enjoy the fantastic cicchetti.
Good drink!
