Bacaro 60/40 Venezia
Bacaro 60/40 is a traditional Venetian bacaro — the characteristically informal wine bar unique to Venice — serving ombra wine and cicchetti in the historic city centre. The bacaro tradition, centuries old and deeply embedded in Venetian daily life, makes these establishments as much a part of Venice’s cultural heritage as its churches and palaces.
At a glance
- Type
- Bacaro (traditional Venetian wine bar)
- Location
- Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.4302° N, 12.3335° E
- Speciality
- Ombra (small wine glass) and cicchetti (Venetian bar snacks)
Overview
A bacaro is a type of Venetian osteria, usually simply furnished and sometimes standing-room only, serving wine in small glasses called ombra accompanied by cicchetti — food offerings typically displayed on and served from a counter. The bacaro is an institution entirely native to Venice, with no precise equivalent elsewhere in Italy. Bacaro 60/40 continues this tradition in the heart of the historic city.
History
The bacaro tradition is thought to date back several centuries, rooted in the wine trade that made Venice one of the Mediterranean’s great commercial centres. Venetian taverns selling wine by the small glass to gondoliers, merchants, and workers became fixtures of neighbourhood life, surviving the fall of the Republic in 1797 and the subsequent transformation of the city into a major tourist destination. The cicchetti served alongside — small bites of baccalà mantecato, sarde in saor, meatballs, and seasonal vegetables — evolved into a Venetian culinary form recognised today across Italy and abroad.
What you see
A classic bacaro is compact, with a marble or wooden counter displaying rows of cicchetti under glass, bottles of house wine lined behind the bar, and regulars standing or perched on stools. The atmosphere is unhurried and local in character, distinct from the tourist-facing restaurants along the Grand Canal. Venice’s narrow calli and campielli mean that bacari often spill out onto the pavement in warmer months, becoming informal gathering points in the neighbourhood fabric.
Cultural significance
The bacaro is listed among Venice’s defining cultural institutions and is a central element of what UNESCO recognised when inscribing Venice and its Lagoon as a World Heritage Site. The practice of the giro de ombra — a stroll from bacaro to bacaro drinking small glasses of wine — is a living social ritual that connects contemporary Venetian life to centuries of mercantile and maritime culture.
Practical information
- Address
- Venice historic centre (45.4302° N, 12.3335° E) — check local listings for exact address and hours
- Access
- Check official website or local listings for current opening hours
Getting there
Venice is served by Marco Polo Airport (VCE), approximately 12 km from the historic centre. Water bus (vaporetto) line 5 connects the airport to central Venice stops. Within the city, navigation is on foot or by vaporetto; the historic centre is a UNESCO-protected pedestrian zone and no private vehicles are permitted.