El Magazen – Risto-Bacaro
El Magazen is a refined bacaro-restaurant in the Cannaregio sestiere of Venice, combining the convivial spirit of the traditional Venetian wine bar with a thoughtful kitchen that draws on both classic and revisited fish dishes. Situated on Calle Larga Giacinto Gallina, it offers cicchetti at the counter alongside a full dining menu, an open kitchen, and house-made desserts — a format that brings together the working-class roots of the bacaro tradition and the contemporary demand for quality sourcing and presentation.
At a glance
- Type
- Bacaro-restaurant (risto-bacaro)
- Period
- Contemporary; rooted in the Venetian bacaro tradition
- Style
- Venetian fish cuisine and cicchetti; open kitchen; curated décor
- Location
- Calle Larga Giacinto Gallina 5402, 30121 Venice (Venezia), Veneto
- Coordinates
- 45.4398° N, 12.3396° E
Overview
El Magazen occupies a carefully dressed dining space in northern Cannaregio, one of the less-touristed areas of Venice, where the bacaro culture of stand-up wine drinking and small bites remains a genuine part of neighbourhood life. The menu moves between tradition and innovation, presenting fish-based plates alongside meat options and vegetarian proposals, with wine poured by the glass from Italian cellars. House-made pastries and a visible kitchen complete an atmosphere designed around transparency and hospitality.
History
The bacaro is one of Venice’s most distinctive food institutions, originating as a simple wine shop where workers stopped for a small glass — an ombra — and a few cicchetti between tasks. El Magazen continues this tradition while adding the service depth of a sit-down restaurant, a combination that has become increasingly valued in a city where the bacaro form was at risk of being replaced by tourist-facing formats. The name magazen echoes the Venetian dialect word for a warehouse or store, evoking the commercial character of the Cannaregio waterfront.
What you see
The interior features carefully chosen furnishings that distinguish El Magazen from the rougher edges of the traditional bacaro, while retaining a counter for cicchetti service. The open kitchen allows diners to observe preparation; the dessert counter shows house-made sweets. A selection of cheeses and cured meats from the Tri-Veneto region sits alongside the fish-based menu, and the wine list foregrounds small Italian producers. The overall effect is intimate and curated without abandoning informality.
Cultural significance
The bacaro is to Venice what the osteria is to Bologna or the trattoria is to Florence: a social institution embedded in the rhythms of working and neighbourhood life. Places like El Magazen that maintain counter service, cicchetti culture, and honest sourcing alongside a restaurant offer are significant precisely because they bridge the gap between daily Venetian eating habits and the expectations of visitors who seek authenticity rather than spectacle.
Practical information
- Address
- Calle Larga Giacinto Gallina 5402, 30121 Venice (VE)
- Hours
- Check official website or contact the bacaro directly
- Notes
- Counter cicchetti service and full sit-down dining available
Getting there
El Magazen is located in the Cannaregio sestiere of Venice. The nearest vaporetto stop is Ospedale (lines 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2) or Fondamente Nove (lines 4.1, 4.2). Venice is accessible by train to Santa Lucia station or by road via Piazzale Roma; all movement within the city is on foot or by vaporetto.