You don’t need us to tell you that the past few weeks have been chock-full of cocktail action around the globe. It reared into action in Berlin with BCB, rolled on to London for London Cocktail Week, then buckled up for the long haul to Singapore for The World’s 50 Best Bar awards. Next week the focus is on Venice, for the third Venice Cocktail Week.
Yes, Venice is best known for its canals and bridges but Venice Cocktail Week founder Paola Mencarelli is on a mission to make sure that its bars get some of that adulation too. For the past two years, she and her team have invited trade and media from around the world to experience the growing cocktail scene in the city that already has plenty going for it in the taste and culture department.
The seven-day event, running from 23rd to 29th October brings 31 of the best bars in the Venice into focus, taking in everything from cosy hotel bars and rooftops to independents and historic caffés.
Throughout the week, each of the participating venues will offer three cocktails: an exclusive Signature Cocktail, an aperitif and a RiEsco a Bere – an original cocktail made with Italian ingredients.
During the day, in between shopping and admiring the sights, those fresh, light, bright and delicious aperitifs come into play. For those who want to get involved in the VCW action early on, there’s a packed events programme taking in masterclasses, book and product presentations, as well as tastings and special brunches.
Things ramp up in the evening with a host of guest shift and special events, including Blues Night with live music and mixology by Cinquanto – Spirito Italiano at I Rusteghi; Vivaldi’s Mixology Masterclass with the team from Hanky Panky in Mexico City bringing their talents to Experimental Cocktail Club and our friends from Four Seasons Florence and Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte by Altamira Distillery making a special appearance at the Aman Hotel.
There’s more too, including Dining With The Spirits, where some of the best restaurants in the region will tempt diners with inspiring specials featuring spirits from participating sponsors, shown off in either single dishes or full-blown menus.
“Once again, this year Venice Cocktail Week is turning the spotlight on the excellence of the lagoon’s cocktail culture,” says Paola Mencarelli. “We started the event to give cocktail enthusiasts and professionals a place to meet and discuss current and future trends in the world of mixology and spread the culture of conscious and responsible drinking. It’s a really unique project, where we hope a different idea of drinking can be developed.”
See participating bars and venues below.
HOTEL BARS
Alchemia, Ca’ di Dio
Arts Bar, The St. Regis Venice
Canova Bar, Baglioni Hotel Luna
Experimental Cocktail Club, Il Palazzo Experimental
La Biblioteca, Nolinski Venezia
Il Caravellino, Hotel Saturnia & International
Le Maschere, Splendid Venice
LPV Bar, Londra Palace Venezia
Oriental Bar & Bistrot, Hotel Metropole
Rose Bar Lounge, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Santa Cocktail Club Venezia, Hotel L’Orologio Venezia
Skyline Rooftop Bar, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
The Bar, Aman Venice
Top of the Carlton Sky Lounge, Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal
COCKTAIL BARS
Ai Do Leoni
Amo, Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Ancòra
Blue Drop Venice
Caffè Florian
Caffè Lavena
Chic Bar, Taverna La Fenice
Grancaffè Quadri
La Barrique Wine Bar
Marciano Pub Venezia
Osteria I Rusteghi
San Giorgio Cafè
Tarnowska’s American Bar
Terrazza Aperol
Tiki Noir
Time Social Bar
Venissa – Il Bar
DINING WITH THE SPIRITS
Ai do Leoni
Algiubagiò
Antinoo’s Lounge & Restaurant, Sina Centurion Palace
Aromi Restaurant, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Arva, Aman Venice
Gio’s Restaurant & Terrace, The St. Regis Venice
Glam Enrico Bartolini
Hostaria Bacanera
Le Maschere, Splendid Venice
Local
Marciano Pub Venezia
Oriental Bar & Bistrot, Hotel Metropole
Osteria I Rusteghi
Ristorante Canova by Sadler, Baglioni Hotel Luna
Ristorante La Caravella, Hotel Saturnia & International
Rose Bar, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa San Giorgio Cafè
Taverna La Fenice
Terrazza Aperol
Top of the Carlton Sky Lounge, Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal
Venissa Osteria Contemporanea, Venissa Tenuta
VERO Restaurant, Ca’ di Dio
Wistèria
Zanze XVI
