Harry’s Bar di Venezia (1931)

Founded in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani, Harry’s Bar in Venice quickly evolved from a modest establishment located just off St. Mark’s Square into an internationally renowned cultural landmark. The origin story is famously intertwined with an American expatriate, Harry Pickering, whom Cipriani assisted financially; in gratitude, Pickering funded the opening of the bar, lending it his name. Unlike the grandiose cafes of the era, Harry’s Bar was designed to be intimate, understated, and impeccably serviced. It rapidly became the favored gathering place for a dazzling array of writers, artists, royalty, and intellectuals passing through Venice during the interwar and post-war periods. Most notably, the bar served as a vital creative refuge for Ernest Hemingway, who immortalized it in his novel ‘Across the River and into the Trees’.

Beyond its legendary clientele, Harry’s Bar is celebrated for its enduring culinary and mixological innovations. It is the undisputed birthplace of the Bellini cocktail—a delicate mixture of Prosecco and white peach purée—and Carpaccio, a dish of thinly sliced raw beef created specifically for the Countess Amalia Nani Mocenigo. In 2001, the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs declared Harry’s Bar a national landmark, officially recognizing its profound impact on 20th-century cultural history. Today, the venue remains a vibrant testament to Venetian hospitality and the cosmopolitan allure of Italy during the grand era of European travel.

Visiting the Site: Street View & Modern Geography