The Bacari of Venice
One of the true delights of a trip to Venice is the cuisine… unless you have no idea what to look for and end up at one of the plethora of terrible tourist traps serving up uninspired portions of bland food no self-respecting Venetian would eat. An excellent choice that will satiate your hunger and suit pretty much any budget is a Bacaro (plural – Bacari).
Bacaro Risorto – one of my favourite’s in all of Venice!
Bacaro is the Venetian word for “bar”. The typical Venetian bacaro offers “ombra” (a small glass of wine), aperitivo (think Spritz Campari or its milder cousin Spritz Aperol), and a nice selection of fresh cicchetti (small snacks or side dishes – like tapas in Spain). Some of my favourites also have a small selection of tasty craft beers as well, like Bacaro Risorto, pictured above.
A small glass of wine and a plate of cicchetti as pictured above will only set you back a few euros.
Locals and visitors-in-the-know will make a nice evening visiting a few bacari, sharing drinks and snacks with friends – old and new alike! It’s easy to meet new people at a bacaro – people generally crowd around the bar or stands on the square or sidewalk chatting with each other while enjoying their finger foods and drinks. However, if your feet are tired from a day of sightseeing, you can probably find a table to relax at.
Locals chatting with the bartender about football and local politics.
One of my commitments when I started Eat and Drink Like a European was to ensure that in addition to high-end fine dining, my guests would always get a chance to connect with the locals and eat the way they do every day. I hope you can join me on a Bacari “crawl” on our next Very Best of Northern Italy Tour!
