As you walk around Venice at certain times around noon and the early evening you'll see groups of men huddled in doorways or crammed intio a smalldimly-lit room. Occuppied in conversation, balancing a plate overflowing with local snacks in one hand while sipping wine from a glass held in the other hand. These hole-wall-eateries provide delicious local snacks and loca wines at very reasonable prices. You literally choose what you want to eat froma mouth-watering display of dishes and somehow through all the confusion as people grab food left, right and centre the staff remember how much you have eaten and drank. Just remeber not so sit down, especially if a seat is offered as the unexpecting tourist will be charged more than double if they are seated when they eat!

Al Bacareto Bacaro, Venice, Tel   041 5289336

San Marco 3447 Calle de le Borteghe - Campo San Giacometto

Closed: Saturday evening and Sunday

Opening times: 7.30- 23.00

This historical ‘bacaro' (Venetian bar) situated between Campo Santo Stefano and Palazzo Grassi in the san marco district of Venice, also offers table service, but at prices a little high ,48 Euro for traditional dishes such as ‘Bigoli in salsa' ‘fegato alla veneziana' ‘seppie in nero  etc.  Worth a mention because the bar is open all day for  ‘cicheti' and a ‘ombra' (a quick drink)  of on tap white wine from the Veneto or Friuli area. There is a vast selection  of snacks such as fried ‘Baccalà' (salted cod), ‘polpettine' (meat balls) and  various bite size snacks of fish.

Cantina Vecchia Carbonera Bacaro, Venice, Tel   041 710376

Cannaregio 2329 Ponte Sant'Antonio

Closed: Monday

Opening hours: 10.00-23.00

                          10.00-01.00 (Saturday and Sunday)

In front of the Maddalena church, near the san Marcuola vaporetto stop in the Cannaregio district of Venice you'll  find this bacaro whose simplicity is demonstrated by it's interior design and dark brown wooded beams.  Owned by Marco Pedrocchi  who on a Sunday organises  original performances with live music that attracts a young audience.  Other than various traditional snacks, there are sandwiches with ham and a selection of  cold meats from Tuscany, Friuli, and at times from Spain all cut with an old fashioned Berkel slicer.  A good selection of both red and white wines.

Cantinone Bacaro, Venice,  Tel 041 5230034

Dorsoduro 992 San Trovaso

Closed: Sunday afternoon

Opening hours: 08.30-14.15/15.30-20.30

Dating back to the 800's, this  pretty oak- beamed bacaro with it's period furnishings is right in front of the old and characteristic gondola construction yard of San Trovaso, in the Dorsoduro district of Venice.  Only a short walk away from the Zattere.  You can stop off for an ‘ombra' at the bar (about 10 different bottles of red and white wines)  and a sandwich with a good selection of cold meats and cheeses, ‘ciceti' and ‘crostini' with tasty sauces such as tuna and pickled onions, or egg and mushrooms.  Choose a good bottle of wine   from a wide selection of Venetian, Tuscan and Piedmontese wines to take away.  There is also pure malt scotch whisky.

Cavatappi Bacaro, Venice, Tel 041 2960252

San Marco 525 Campo de la guerra

Tel: 041 2960252

Closed: Never

Opening times: 09.00-24.00

A novelty amongst bar/wine cellars of the city Venice.  A small, well looked after, modern, well lit bacaro, with tables outside, situated between San Marco and Campo Santa Maria Formosa.  Here you won't find the usual ‘cicheti' but a selection of cheeses from various Italian regions as well as tramezzini and sandwiches accompanied by a glass of good wine.  It is also possible to eat a first course(7 Euro), a second course such as chicken salad (10 Euro) or a large salad (8 Euro).

Al Prosecco Bacaro, Venice, Tel   041 5240222

Cannaregio 1503 Campo San Giacomo Dall'Orio

Closed: Sunday

Opening hours. 08.00-22.30

Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio is not the usual choice for tourists in Venice, so the bacaro in this area have maintained a pleasant local atmosphere.  At Al Prosecco you will find connoisseurs who are looking for a good ‘ombra' (around 10 different wines offered per glass) and tasty cicheti' (on a Saturday there are also oysters and fresh raw fish) as well an attractive choice of cheeses.

Al Portego Bacaro, Venice,  Tel  041 5229038

Castello 6015 San Lio

Closed:  Sunday

Opening hours: 10.00-15.00/19.00-22.00

A small and friendly bacaro situated between Rialto bridge and Salizada San Lio in Venice,  highly esteemed for it's excellent ‘cicheti'; ‘polpette', fried vegetables and ‘crostini'.  Owner Luigi Lubrano also offers hot dishes (risotto of fish, ‘fegato alla Veneziana and a tasty tiramisu) and a decent ‘ombra.

Rivetta Bacaro, Venice, Tel   None

Santa Croce 637 a Calle Sechera

Closed.  Sunday

Opening hours: 08.30-21.30

A local ‘Bàcaro' not far from Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia train station in Venice.  Not to be missed when on a tour of  the local bacaro.  Wine available by the barrel  (0.60 Euro a glass) . Good choice of ‘cicheti' and tasty sandwiches with ‘sorpressa', ‘bacalà', pancetta, porchetta, artichokes, but also fresh salads.  A bar where there is a comical atmosphere with continuous joking  and teasing of clients by the publican.

Ai Rusteghi Bacaro, Venice,  Tel   041 05232205

San Marco 5513, Campiello del Tentor

Closed.  Saturday(only during the summer)   and Sunday

Opening Times: 09.30-15.00/17.00-20.30 

Hidden behind Campo San Bartolomeo, at the foot of the Rialto bridge in the heart of Venice, this small bacaro guarantees a quiet stop and above all a good quality  ‘ombra' , as well as an incredible choice of fresh sandwiches with lard and rosemary, asparagus and egg, courgettes and cheeses, prawns and porcini mushrooms and lots of other tasty fillings.