Harry's Bar

They say you can give a girl a fish..or..teach her to drink like one. While to initiate such a task at Harry's Bar located near San Marco's cathedral, might not come at the price for bottom feeders (classic Bellini 26 euros), you can be sure to have the lobster of all cocktails here at this classic and immaculately sharp spot right off the Grand Canal. Stylish New York scene meets lido-beach white linen casual. Do not be fooled by the misleading suffix to Harry's. The elegant carrera marble meets the eye with ease. The bar is strikingly well- lit, rather than dimmed and loungy. Rather instead, creates a prompt environment that justifies the celebration we recognize as a 'cocktail'.

Harry's Bar located right around the corner from Piazza San Marco, was opened in 1931, it became famous for its two creations, the Bellini cocktail, named after Giovanni Bellini a Venetian painter, is a mixture of white peach juice and sparkling prosecco, and the beef carpaccio, a dish of thinly sliced raw meet, created for a contessa who was on a cooked meat free diet, and also named after an italian painter, Vittore Carpaccio. Harry's Bar is all about the tradition, serving classic italian dishes, and classic drinks like the Martini, Whisky sour. Is not particularly original, in fact is not original at all, however Harry's Bar's big succes probably comes from the atmosphere rather than their drinks and dishes (and certainly not their prices), it sets a friendly environment where the customer feels welcomed and taken care of. Overall service is great, however eating a complete meal at Harry's will go for around €120 per person, and even tho the service is great, the food and cocktails do not have any kind of "wow" factor to them, its just classics, as an overall experience maybe its worth its cost, (if you really love Bellini's and the general mood at Harry's) but personally i would not agree on this experience being worth €120 per person.

Everyone has heard of Harry’s. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. Everyone has heard of Bellinis, but not everyone drinks them, which is also a good thing—considering Harry’s will charge you the price of a meal to drink one with a meager champagne content and peach juice that tastes like it’s from a carton. I didn’t even get the Bellini—I tried my friend’s Bellini—and it wasn’t great. My cocktail wasn’t worth the amount I spent on it—which is embarrassing—and Harry’s seem to attract the pretentious and less fun of Venice’s population. Go if you’ll die without a Bellini, but otherwise, it’s just not worth the trip.

Right around the corner from Piazza San Marco, just down the Calle Vallaresso is legendary Harry’s Bar. Pass through its bronze beveled-glass doors and take a step into the past. Not the Venice of Marco Polo or the Doges, but of about a hundred years ago, when European travel was not easily accomplished, and what travelers wanted more than anything was a great meal and a spectacular martini. Today, Harry’s Bar is nothing less than an international institution. Here, waiters in tuxedos still serve up old school gin martinis and classic Italian cuisine. Now an official Italian national landmark and global brand, there are 11 Harry’s Bars in exotic places like Hong Kong, Moscow, and even Abu Dhabi. But there’s only one original and this is it: Simple, elegant, and fantastic, Harry’s wears its history with earned confidence. Is it any wonder Harry’s became the favorite Venetian hang out for so many 20th century icons? Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Wells, Woody Allen, and Ernest Hemmingway all fell in love with Harry’s, which itself has joined their iconic status. For any restaurant, that’s a lot to live up to. So how is it in 2012? In a city known for lousy food, Harry’s Bar still delivers. Their pastas, beef, shrimp and fish are consistent and delicious. The bar itself, where the Bellini was invented, stays open long after the restaurant closes down. And all these many years later, Harry’s still feels like an upscale party, where you might just as easily rub elbows with sultan as a movie star. Yes, it might be a magnet for tourists and it goes without saying that this it’s pricey, but in a city where you can pay a fortune for lousy food, why not do it in style?