Harry's Bar

Why go

The interest lies in the connection between a compact Venetian bar and dishes that travelled far beyond it. Its associations with writers, including Ernest Hemingway, add cultural context, but the food-and-drink tradition is the more concrete reason to sit down. The small scale keeps the experience distinct from the ceremonial cafés on the square.

What to look for

• The original bar stands on Calle Vallaresso.
• The Bellini and carpaccio are creations associated with Harry's Bar.
• Its dry martini is served in a small stemless glass.

The full story

The name comes from an act of assistance in the company's account of its beginnings. Giuseppe Cipriani was working as a bartender when he lent money to an American guest, Harry Pickering, who had lost financial support from his family. Pickering later returned the loan with an additional sum intended to help Cipriani open a bar. Naming it after Harry preserved that story in the business itself. The Venetian address later developed a reputation among writers and travellers. Hemingway became closely associated with it, and the bar also entered literary descriptions of Venice. Those connections helped give a small room an international cultural presence. Its culinary influence was more tangible still. The Bellini and carpaccio became names recognised well beyond the city, while the Cipriani name developed into an international restaurant business. The original bar is the local starting point for that wider history.

Useful to know

• Use the bar as a seated food-and-drink pause during a San Marco walk.
• Consult the current menu before choosing between a drink stop and a meal.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.