The 7 Best Wine Bars in Venice

Considering the Veneto region is the birthplace of Bardolino, Amarone, and Prosecco, it’s hardly surprising that the Venetians have a deep affinity for exceptional wines. And where better to sample the finest vino in northern Italy than at some of the best wine bars in Venice?

Wine plays a starring role in my Venice food tours, and I’m almost as passionate about it as I am about Venice food! You can secure great local wines in every pocket of Venice, but it’s worth digging deeper to uncover the city’s stand-out spots for a more memorable experience.

Luckily, I’ve done the research for you, and you’ll find my picks for Venice’s top wine bars below!

Vino Vero

Photo credit: Vino Vero

Vino Vero is a canal-side wine bar on Fondamenta de la Misericordia in Cannaregio, where natural wines and fine Venetian-style tapas (cicchetti) take center stage.

This tiny bacaro had been on my radar since I was last in Venice, and I knew I had to bite the bullet and check it out for myself. While I could have sat inside and admired the gorgeous wooden interiors all day, they only had a handful of stools, so I opted for the outdoor seating area on the canal.

My order here was baby spinach and octopus crostini with a nice glass of Masiero Merlot. The spinach’s earthiness, blended with the oceanic tinge of the octopus, gave the crunch of the crostini a flavorful kick. As for the Merlot, it had a strong black cherry-like taste with a soft texture and was very easy to sip.

Vino Vero (€€) – Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2497, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am and every Friday and Saturday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 am.

Enoteca Al Volto

Photo credit: Enoteca Al Volto

Seconds away from the Rialto Bridge is one of my favorite spots for a good glass of wine in San Marco, Enoteca Al Volto.

Besides the seriously good selection of fine wines here, the overall vibe of this wine bar always draws me. From the buzzing area out front with the slew of seats lining the walls to a low-lying ceiling with a bunch of old wine labels stuck on, it has some real character to it.

The baccala mantecato is the specialty cichetti here; I don’t say this often, but they do it better than anywhere else on the Grand Canal. The cod is perfectly salted and extra creamy, and the bread is always slightly crunchy but nothing too overwhelming.

I urge you to try out their spritz biancos; they have their recipe down to the ground, so much so that I went for one and ended up having three a few weeks back. Maybe it’s the light, refreshing sweetness of the Prosecco or the citrusy notes of the Luxardo Bitter Bianco; regardless, they’re divine.

Enoteca Al Volto (€€) – C. Cavalli, 4081, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Bacareto da Lele

Next, we’re moving over to the Santa Croce area for some lovely white wines at Bacareto da Lele. I can’t think of anywhere better to order a glass of pinot grigio and watch the gondolas cruising by than here; the seating area sits right on the banks of the canal. 

When you eventually reach the top of the massive line that forms outside Bacareto da Lele daily, you’ll get a peep inside their little building. 

It’s a cozy spot that accommodates only a handful of guests at a time. The glass bar proudly displays freshly baked bread, and a sign features their most beloved brands as you walk inside.

If you’re a wine lover like myself, you’ll have a field day with all the options on the menu. Particularly the whites, you’ve got delectable friulano and chardonnays, but the pinot grigio ramato stands out as my preferred choice.

This unique style of pinot grigio only comes from the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region, and it’s more like a rose or orange wine than a white. Although there’s a hint of tropical fruits, the spicy, herbaceous edge adds some savory notes to each sip.

Bacareto da Lele (€) – Fondamenta dei Tolentini, 183, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, Saturday from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm, closed every Sunday.

Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

Photo credit: Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

Visiting Cantine del Vino già Schiavi in Dorsoduro is a bucket list activity. Unlike most wine bars in Venice, this is a standing-room-only spot, but shuffling amongst the other customers is all part of the experience.

It’s a classic hole-in-the-wall bar with dark wooden decor, countless wine barrels, clusters of photos, and more wine bottles than I could possibly keep track of! There are also rows of tasty cicchetti on display near the entrance, which I gladly availed of.

I attempted to look through the wine list, but there were over 500 varieties to choose from, so I went for a glass of the house white, which was a soave. This turned out to be a lovely pairing with the prawn-topped crostini.

The prawns were doused in garlic and paprika, giving the sweet flesh some warmth and punch. On the other hand, the soave had mineral-like, salty notes and delightful honey and citrus tones that linger.

Cantine del Vino già Schiavi (€) – Fondamenta Nani, 992, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, closed every Sunday.

Cantina Do Mori

San Polo‘s Cantina Do Mori holds the title of the longest-standing wine bar in Venice, which was all it took to convince me to try out this iconic spot.

This is one of those bacari you could easily pass by without noticing, as it’s super tiny and has a dark, vintage interior that’s changed very little since the late 1400s. However, its modest interior is what makes it so appealing, and I already can’t wait to revisit it.

I wasn’t planning on stopping when I first noticed this one-of-a-kind wine shop, but I ended up staying for a couple of hours! They had an excellent selection of Italian wines, and I opted for the ribolla as I fancied something easy on the palette.

This wine was exactly what I needed on a summer’s day in Venice, thanks to the floral aromas and gentle stone fruit and citrus flavors. The high acidity and light body ensured every mouthful was refreshing and zesty.

Cantina Do Mori (€) – Calle Do Mori, 429, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm, closed every Sunday.

Al Prosecco

I’ve become a fan of biodynamic wines in recent years, so I made it my business to check out Al Prosecco in Santa Croce the next time I was in the city.

Even though it’s just steps from canals in either direction, Al Prosecco has a unique location in a quiet square, which I could admire from the shaded terrace area. The wood-beamed interior is just as charming, but the weather was simply too nice to sit inside when I was here.

After asking the staff for some suggestions, I decided to sample the sangiovese oddone, a northern Italian red I hadn’t tried too many times.

It’s among the lighter reds I’ve tried, and I couldn’t help but think that the persistent hints of red fruits, leather, and woodsy flavors would work wonderfully with a pizza. This wine has some intense notes, yet it’s surprisingly bright and crisp.

Al Prosecco (€) – Sestiere Santa Croce, Campo S. Giacomo da l’Orio, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed every Sunday.

Rétro Wine Bar

Photo credit: Rétro Wine Bar

Rétro Wine Bar lies between the Cannaregio and Castello neighborhoods, but walking inside is like traveling back to another era.

Every corner was filled with antiques and old-world furniture, contrasting the selection of modern wines and contemporary jazz music playing in the background.

As tempting as the craft beer and cocktail offerings were, I had my mind made up as soon as I spotted an Amarone on the menu. It’s one of my favorite wines, but it can sometimes be tricky to come across.

Because of its high alcohol content and concentrated dark fruit flavors, it’s a punchy, robust wine. On the nose, there were mouthwatering cherry aromas and mild chocolatey notes that made it feel rich and luxurious.

Rétro Wine Bar (€€) – Campo drio la Chiesa, 4541, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am.

Conclusion

There are some truly terrific wine bars in Venice to choose from, but I’ve yet to find anywhere that tops these much-loved spots. If you’re looking for superb wine selections, impeccable ambiance, and delicious snacking plates, these are the wine bars you’ll want to make some time for.