Bacaro Bar by Matteo
Bacaro Bar by Matteo is a traditional Venetian bacaro — the characteristic small wine bar of Venice — offering cicchetti (bite-sized bar snacks) alongside a selection of ombra (small glasses of local wine) in the historic centre of Venice. Bacari are an integral part of Venetian social and culinary culture, representing a centuries-old tradition of informal hospitality that predates the modern restaurant and remains a living expression of the city’s identity alongside its canals and campo squares.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Venetian bacaro (wine bar with cicchetti)
- Period
- Bacaro tradition in Venice established from the 16th–17th century
- Style
- Venetian vernacular hospitality; informal standing bar culture
- Location
- Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.4268° N, 12.3387° E
Overview
Venice has a distinctive food and drink culture centred on the bacaro, a wine bar where locals and visitors stand at the counter to drink an ombra — a small measure of wine — and eat cicchetti, which range from crostini topped with salt cod (baccalà mantecato) or spleen (milza), to hard-boiled eggs, polpette (fried meatballs), and seasonal vegetables. The tradition belongs to a world of modest, daily pleasures that has survived the city’s transformation into a global heritage destination, and Bacaro Bar by Matteo continues this practice in a setting accessible from the main routes of the historic centre.
History
The bacaro tradition in Venice is closely linked to the city’s role as a maritime trading republic, where sailors, merchants, and workers from the arsenale and the markets of Rialto sought quick refreshment between transactions. The word bacaro is thought to derive from Bacco (Bacchus, the god of wine), and the institution has been documented in various forms since at least the 16th century. Unlike the osteria, the bacaro was typically a humble standing establishment without tablecloths or formal service, and this informality remains its defining characteristic today.
What you see
A typical bacaro experience at Bar Matteo includes a counter display of cicchetti prepared fresh daily, wine served by the glass from the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions, and the convivial atmosphere of Venetians pausing for a morning or afternoon break. The interior retains the compact, counter-focused layout typical of the genre, and the location in the Venetian sestiere places it within reach of the city’s major landmarks and canal-side walking routes.
Cultural significance
The bacaro represents a form of intangible cultural heritage that UNESCO has recognised as part of the Mediterranean diet tradition. In Venice specifically, the practice of the giro di ombra — moving between several bacari in a neighbourhood for wine and cicchetti — is a social ritual that expresses local identity and resists the homogenisation of tourist-oriented catering. Establishments like Bacaro Bar by Matteo help sustain this living tradition.
Practical information
- Address
- Venice, Veneto, Italy (coordinates: 45.4268° N, 12.3387° E)
- Opening hours
- Typically open morning through early evening; check locally for current hours
- Admission
- No entry fee; cicchetti typically priced at €1–3 per piece; wine by the glass from approximately €1.50
Getting there
Venice is accessible by train from across Italy to Santa Lucia station, and by vaporetto (water bus) across the lagoon from Marco Polo Airport. From Santa Lucia station, vaporetto lines serve the Grand Canal and the main sestieri. The nearest vaporetto stop to the bar’s coordinates is on the Cannaregio or Santa Croce lines; check the ACTV map for current routes. Water taxi and gondola services are also available.