Caffè Florian

Every vacation needs one splurge experience - that overpriced place that is all about the experience rather than the cost. In Venice, it's Caffè Florian.

Why? For starters, it is right on Piazza San Marco, giving you a magical ambiance overlooking the incredible cathedral and the daily drama that is played out in the square. Then there's the atmosphere - this caffe' is elegant as all get-out; one glance and you know that it's a really special place. And then there's the history: Florian is the oldest caffe' in Italy and one of the oldest continually operating caffes in Europe. It has seen the centuries pass by its doors and the events of history play out in the piazza. It has witnessed the splendor and the fall of the Venetian Republic, the passing of power, the opulent parades and decadent Carnevale celebrations of Venice. It has survived epidemics, upheavals and kept on serving throughout wars. So you see why it's as much a must-do in Venice as a gondola ride.

Established in 1720 as the pretentious-sounding Caffe alla Venezia Trionfante (Caffe of Venice Triumphant), it quickly became known to locals simply as Florian for its owner, Floriano Francesconi. It attracted the noble and noteworthy, and allowed women to partake of its coffee and drinks, a rarity in that day. Venice imported coffee from the orient and the beverage became all the rage in the 1700s; there were more than 200 coffeehouses in the city plying the stuff, but Florian quickly became the place to see and be seen. It is beautiful - each room is richly decorated with antiques, mirrors, gilding and paintings. It makes every occasion feel celebratory and special.

Yes, it's expensive. Remember, we're paying for the ambiance and the experience. There is a permanent orchestra to serenade you while you enjoy a coffee or a Spritz, Venice's favored aperitif. You can enjoy a table on the piazza to watch the world go by, or sit down at one of the writing desks (like Dickens did) to scribble out your postcards. Or enjoy the antiques and warmth of one of the grand salons inside. Either way, you'll get to drink in history with your beverage.