Harry's Bar
The legendary Cipriani-founded bar near San Marco, birthplace of the Bellini and carpaccio.
The call
Worth it if you're traveling as a couple and you're traveling solo.
Short answer
Is Harry's Bar worth it?
Harry's Bar deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
A small, low-ceilinged room of white-jacketed waiters and a famously steep bill.
- 02
You go for the history and the ritual of a Bellini, not for a bargain or a quiet table.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Harry's Bar is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Harry's Bar is an easy yes.
History and culture matter to you
Harry's Bar rewards a trip built around history & culture.
Think twice if
You're watching the budget
Save the money. Harry's Bar does not return enough for the price.
You're traveling with kids
With kids, skip Harry's Bar.
You only have one day
Keep Harry's Bar only when it outranks a half-day elsewhere.
Food is a reason to travel
Harry's Bar offers some food & drink, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
The plates that decide it
- A Bellini — invented here — the one unmissable order
- Beef carpaccio — the other house creation, reliably done
- A full multi-course dinner — skip if budget matters — the markup is steepest on the meal
Plan it well
- Cost
- Very expensive — drinks and dishes both premium-priced
- Timing
- Aperitivo hour for a Bellini at the bar
- Booking
- Reservation advised for tables; bar walk-ins possible
- Allow
- 1-2 hours
- Accessibility
- Small, often crowded ground-floor room
Sources and method (2)
- Opened in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani; the Bellini cocktail was invented here in 1948 and beef carpaccio in the early 1950s. en.wikipedia.org ↗
- A Hemingway haunt, it was declared a national landmark by Italy's Ministry of Cultural Affairs in 2001. en.wikipedia.org ↗
- cipriani.com ↗