Ostaria Enoteca Do Colonne
Ostaria Enoteca Do Colonne is a Venetian osteria and wine bar — the two columns of its name referencing the architectural features of the campo or calle where it stands — combining the cicchetti tradition of the bacaro with a curated selection of Venetian and Italian wines. In the complex ecology of Venetian drinking culture, the ostaria-enoteca represents a step above the neighbourhood bacaro: still rooted in local custom, but with a broader wine offer and seated dining alongside the standing-room counter.
At a glance
- Type
- Venetian ostaria-enoteca (traditional wine bar with seated dining)
- Period
- Contemporary venue within a tradition established during the Venetian Republic
- Style
- Ostaria-enoteca — cicchetti counter + seated tables + curated wine list
- Location
- Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.4438° N, 12.3285° E
Overview
The ostaria (Venetian dialect for osteria) is the foundational institution of Venetian public drinking and eating, predating the more specialised bacaro in the city’s documented history. During the Republic, osterie were licensed and regulated by the Serenissima’s magistracies; they served wine, simple food, and provided a social space for the city’s diverse population of merchants, craftsmen, sailors, and visitors from across the known world. Do Colonne maintains this tradition of hospitality in the western area of Venice nearest the sestiere of Santa Croce and Dorsoduro, away from the Rialto and San Marco crowds.
History
Venice’s osterie are documented from at least the 13th century, when the Serenissima’s commercial administration required licensing of wine retailers and eating establishments. The term ostaria (inn with food and drink) distinguished establishments offering meals from the mescite (pure wine shops) and bacari (wine bars with cicchetti). By the 17th century, Venice had hundreds of licensed osterie serving its population of around 150,000 — one of the densest concentrations of public eating and drinking establishments in Europe. The 19th century brought decline with the fall of the Republic and the departure of the commercial classes, but the surviving osterie adapted to serve the city’s remaining workers and artisans, a tradition that continues today in places like Do Colonne.
What you see
Ostaria Enoteca Do Colonne presents the hybrid character of its type: a counter with cicchetti at the entrance, wine racks and bottles as decoration throughout, and tables for those who prefer a seated meal. The wine list foregrounds Veneto DOC wines — Soave Classico, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella, Bardolino, and Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene — alongside selections from Friuli and other northern Italian regions. The food menu extends beyond cicchetti to include pasta dishes, seasonal soups, and a selection of cheese and charcuterie boards drawing on both Veneto and Italian artisan producers.
Cultural significance
The ostaria-enoteca hybrid represents a contemporary evolution of one of Venice’s oldest institutions, adapting to changed economics while preserving the fundamentally convivial and wine-centred character of Venetian public life. Establishments like Do Colonne that maintain a genuine local clientele — rather than operating purely as tourist services — play a disproportionate role in sustaining the social fabric of a city whose permanent population has declined from 175,000 in 1951 to under 50,000 today.
Practical information
- Address
- Venice, Veneto, Italy (45.4438° N, 12.3285° E)
- Hours
- Check current opening times directly with the venue
- Reservations
- Recommended for seated dining; counter service typically walk-in
Getting there
The coordinates place Do Colonne in the western area of Venice, near the sestieri of Santa Croce or Dorsoduro. From Santa Lucia station, the walk takes approximately 10–15 minutes through the Cannaregio or Santa Croce calli. ACTV vaporetto lines along the Grand Canal serve the area; the San Stae and Riva de Biasio stops are closest for water transport.