Harry's Bar

It's an institution; a place where you go to pay homage when in Venice. Harry's Bar is just that, a real bar, not a fancy caffe'. It was a hangout of Hemingway, who had his own table in the corner where he finished his novel, Across the River and Into the Trees. Other notable clients included Toscanini, Marconi, Noel Coward, Charlie Chaplin and Truman Capote. But it has served as a point of reference for thousands of everyday Venetians and scores of travelers who come for the camaraderie.

It was opened in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani who wanted to create a destination, a place that people would seek out to enjoy a drink and a chat, where they'd feel comfortable just hanging out. He found a location in the center of Venice but in a side street, and then put in exacting thought to the decor, including the height of the tables and the length of the bar, to ensure that his vision of making people feel welcome would play out. The place prides itself on the overall atmosphere, which feels clubby without being exclusive. It is stylish but not trendy; Harry's doesn't follow fads, it sticks to the classics.

Its signature drink is the Bellini, a concoction created here in the 1930s consisting of white peach juice extracted by hand, mixed with prosecco (Italian sparkling wine). This Venetian version of a champagne cocktail is now world renowned. It was named for the painter Giovanni Bellini, a Venice native.

Harry's Bar is still in the hands of the Cipriani family. Giuseppe's son Arrigo runs the place; he was born one year after the bar was opened, and he continues his father's version of hospitality to everyone who passes through.