GET A TASTE OF VENICE’S RICH CULTURE THIS AUTUMN, FROM HISTORIC CAFÉ TOURS TO ARTISAN SHOPPING, AND CELEBRATE VENICE COCKTAIL WEEK FROM 23-29 OCTOBER 2023
Those looking to discover the iconic city of Venice this autumn will be treated to one of Europe’s best festivals of drinks, as Venice Cocktail Week returns for a third year from 23-29 October. The third edition of the event conceived and directed by Paola Mencarelli, with the patronage of the Comune di Venezia and the support of Vela.
The city-wide celebration this autumn will give visitors the ideal chance to discover the vibrant culture of the Serenissima amid a spectacular backdrop of historic cafés, gardens and shops during a week of one-off drinks, special menus and events, all brought together in an initiative created to showcase the very best of the city’s rich food and drink culture.
The capital of the Veneto region, Venice is a place whose truly unique surroundings and history have culminated in a city popular with tourists from around the world looking for a slice of its culture, and its food and drink scenes and attractions are legendary. For those looking for a slice of its history, why not take a tour of Venice’s historical cafés. Café culture is a pillar of Venetian culture, from cafés in its squares and palazzos to canal–side venues serving coffee and aperitivo, and are loved by locals and tourists alike.
Elsewhere, many visitors love to take time to take in attractions like the city’s Secret Gardens, more than 500 picturesque gardens scattered amongst its islands, as well as its many Libraries, housed in beautiful and historic buildings. Tours of its gardens and libraries are high on the agenda for many visitors to the City of Water looking for a peaceful and serene day out. A unique setting across the islands that make up the city means that traditional boats including Topa and Bragozzo are still used daily by visitors to the city, for transport as well as to provide unforgettable experiences.
No trip to Venice is complete without a morning or afternoon spent shopping, with some of Italy’s best artisans setting up beautiful shops making everything from souvenirs to wine and the city’s historic decorative glass. For those looking for fresh food and drink and world-class produce, meanwhile, the Rialto Market is one of the true beating hearts of the city, and a trip is sure to feed the curiosity as well as the stomach.
Taking place in bars across the centre of the city, Venice Cocktail Week will celebrate the city’s bartending heritage in unmatched fashion from 23-29 October, providing guests with the ideal reason to explore this rich, vibrant and historic destination for themselves, and giving them a chance to dive into the city’s distinctive cocktail scene, known for everything from midday aperitiviin small venues to artful, creative cocktails in some of the city’s best hotel bars.
The third annual Venice Cocktail Week also marks the return of Dining with the Spirits. Originally conceived by founder Paola Mencarelli for Florence Cocktail Week, the initiative – which runs throughout Venice Cocktail Week – aims to shine a light on the synergy between the worlds of mixology and cuisine, and sees some of the city’s best restaurants taking inspiration from different participating spirits. The restaurants will use them as ingredients in single dishes or in an entire menu, alongside pairing options including both cocktails and neat spirits.
As in previous years, Venice Cocktail Week will combine daytime educational events, tastings and activations at the city’s leading bars and hotels, open to the public and designed for both enthusiasts and professionals, while special aperitif menus will also be available from midday at many of the initiative’s best participating venues. During the evening, meanwhile, attention will turn to bespoke menus at the city’s best bars, as well as guest shifts from acclaimed bartenders.
During Venice Cocktail Week, 31 of the city’s best bars will offer a cocktail list created exclusively for the festival that demonstrates the talent and inventiveness of the participating bartenders. Each menu will include:
A drink created to be representative of each respective cocktail bar by its bartending team.
A drink dedicated to Italian provenance, with products from exclusively Italian companies participating in the initiative.
A fresh, light drink designed for the midday aperitif, a great Venetian tradition.
Venice Cocktail Week was founded by food and drinks writer and expert, Paola Mencarelli, the founder of the successful and influential Florence Cocktail Week. “Once again, this year Venice Cocktail Week is turning the spotlight on the excellence of the lagoon’s cocktail culture,” says Paola Mencarelli. “We started the event to give cocktail enthusiasts and professionals a place to meet and discuss current and future trends in the world of mixology and spread the culture of conscious and responsible drinking. It’s a really unique project, where we hope a different idea of drinking can be developed.”
The week’s events will be in partnership with the city’s official tourism board La Città de Venezia, and will showcase main partner brands including Altamura Distilleries, Campari Group, Cointreau, Distilleria Nardini 1779, Ferro Beverage & Co and Select Aperitivo, as well as other sponsors (see full list in notes to editors).
All the information on Venice Cocktail Week will be communicated on the event’s social channels.
The Cocktail Lists and the Events Calendar will be available on the website
www.venicecocktailweek.it close to the event.
