Bar All'Arco

Venice, birthplace of the Aperol Spritz and the Italian aperitivo, also gave us cicchetti—small bites traditionally enjoyed in bàcari wine bars with a glass of ombra. These flavourful morsels, often on toasted bread, remain a ritual of Venetian life. Among the city’s finest is Bar All’Arco, a family-run bacaro next to the Rialto market. Open only until early afternoon (closed Wednesdays), it serves superb cicchetti such as porchetta with mushrooms, mantis shrimp crudo, lightly cured flounder, sarde in saor and baccalà mantecato. There are no reservations and usually a short wait, but its convivial atmosphere and authentic flavours make it a must-stop in Venice.