Bacaro Osteria Al Squero
Bacaro Osteria Al Squero is a traditional Venetian wine bar situated in the Dorsoduro sestiere, facing one of the last working gondola repair yards — the squero di San Trovaso — on the narrow canal of the same name. A classic bacaro in the Venetian sense, it serves ombre (small glasses of wine) and cicchetti alongside the canal, offering one of the most atmospheric spots in the city for an informal midday or early-evening stop.
At a glance
- Type
- Bacaro (traditional Venetian wine bar and osteria)
- Period
- Contemporary establishment in historic Dorsoduro
- Style
- Informal canal-side bacaro; standing room and outdoor seating
- Location
- Dorsoduro, Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.4301° N, 12.3261° E
Overview
Al Squero takes its name from the squero di San Trovaso, the historic gondola boatyard visible directly across the narrow rio. Bacari are Venice’s most democratic institution — simply furnished, unpretentious, focused on quality local wine and counter-served snacks called cicchetti. This one occupies a canal-front position that makes it a favourite with both neighbourhood residents and knowledgeable visitors crossing from the Zattere waterfront.
History
The bacaro tradition stretches back centuries in Venice, rooted in the city’s trading culture where wine arrived by barge from the mainland and the Veneto hinterland. Dorsoduro, the sestiere whose name means “hard ridge” for its relatively firm lagoon ground, has long hosted artisans, boatbuilders, and their informal refreshment stops. The squero di San Trovaso, one of only three gondola repair yards still operating in Venice, lends this stretch of canal an authenticity rare even by Venetian standards.
What you see
The venue is compact and canal-facing, with outdoor benches and tables along the fondamenta that fill quickly in good weather. Inside, the counter displays the day’s cicchetti — typically combinations of crostini, baccalà mantecato, and seasonal vegetables. Across the water, the timber-frame shed of the squero provides a living backdrop of gondola craftsmen at work, a scene that has changed little in visual character over the past century.
Cultural significance
The bacaro is Venice’s answer to the Spanish tapas bar and the French bistrot — a place where social life and food culture intersect without pretension. Al Squero’s position beside an active working boatyard makes it a rare example of a convivial space that still sits within a genuinely productive craft environment, rather than a purely touristic one.
Practical information
- Address
- Fondamenta Nani, Dorsoduro, 30123 Venice
- Hours
- Check official website or local listings for current opening times
- Admission
- No admission charge; pay per order at the counter
Getting there
From the Zattere vaporetto stop (lines 2, 5.1, 5.2, 6), walk west along the Zattere and turn north on Fondamenta Nani beside the squero. From the Accademia bridge, walk south through Dorsoduro toward Rio di San Trovaso — approximately 10 minutes on foot. The area is not accessible by water taxi directly to the fondamenta.