Bacaro Ae Forcoe
Bacaro Ae Forcoe is a traditional Venetian bacaro located in the San Polo district of Venice, offering the classic combination of ombre (small glasses of wine) and cicchetti (bite-sized snacks) that has defined Venetian social drinking culture for centuries. Tucked into the dense calli of Venice’s oldest sestiere, the bar continues an unbroken tradition of informal neighbourhood hospitality that predates modern tourism.
At a glance
- Type
- Bacaro (traditional Venetian wine bar)
- Period
- Historic bacaro tradition
- Style
- Venetian vernacular, typically standing-room or minimally furnished
- Location
- Sestiere di San Polo, Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.4365° N, 12.3396° E
Overview
A bacaro is the quintessential Venetian osteria — simply furnished, sometimes standing-room only, and centred on the ritual of wine served in small glasses called ombre. Bacaro Ae Forcoe is one of the neighbourhood establishments that sustains this tradition in San Polo, one of Venice’s six historic sestieri and home to the Rialto market. The bar’s cicchetti — small open-faced sandwiches, polenta bites, and marinated seafood — are prepared fresh and displayed on the counter throughout the day.
History
The bacaro institution is believed to derive its name from Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, reflecting centuries of wine-trading activity in Venice centred on the Rialto. San Polo’s proximity to the Rialto market made it a natural home for bacari serving merchants, gondoliers, and artisans. Ae Forcoe — whose name refers to the traditional Venetian term for forks (forcoe in dialect) — fits into this long lineage of informal taverns that have served the working waterfront community. The cicchetti tradition itself is documented in Venice from at least the 15th century.
What you see
Inside, the bar presents a compact counter lined with the day’s cicchetti selection, glass cases of marinated olives and seasonal preparations, and rows of local wines by the glass. The setting is deliberately modest — bare surfaces, a handful of stools, and the convivial noise of regulars exchanging conversation over small plates. The surrounding calli of San Polo provide the atmospheric backdrop of Venetian stone arches and canal reflections typical of this part of the city.
Cultural significance
Bacari like Ae Forcoe represent a form of living intangible heritage: the daily ritual of the ombra — a glass of wine taken standing at a bar before or after work — is a social custom unique to Venice and documented as part of the city’s identity for over five centuries. As Venice’s population declines and tourist-facing businesses multiply, neighbourhood bacari that serve local residents play a role in preserving the fabric of authentic Venetian daily life.
Practical information
- Address
- Sestiere San Polo, Venice
- Coordinates
- 45.4365° N, 12.3396° E
- Hours
- Check directly with the venue; bacari typically open from mid-morning through early evening
- Admission
- No admission charge; pay per order
Getting there
Venice is car-free. From Venice Santa Lucia railway station, take the vaporetto Line 1 or 2 along the Grand Canal to the Rialto stop and walk south into the San Polo sestiere. Water taxis serve all areas of the city. The historic centre is compact enough to walk across in under 30 minutes.
Sources & resources
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