Since 2014, Vino Vero has championed natural wines from Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and France. Place your order at the counter in the wine bar’s tiny space, choosing cicchetti like baccalà mantecato or mortadella with pistachio pesto and wines by the glass or bottle, which line the walls, floor to ceiling. Opt for an Italian by the glass or a bottle of Zibibbo from Pantelleria. The bar has some canal-side seating that becomes competitive real estate in the warmer months.

Just off the canal of Fondamenta della Misericordia in Cannaregio. this bar has a handful of tables on the sidewalk and a few more in the cozy exposed-brick interior. The atmosphere is far less pretentious than the other natural wine spots in town, which makes it all the more enjoyable to hang out with a bottle and a few cicchetti of prosciutto cotto and salted anchovies. Among the satisfying bites on offer at La Sete are *tramezzini*, finger sandwiches on white bread filled with speck .

Located in artsy Dorsoduro, Adriatico Mar serves wine and ingredients coming primarily from the regions in northeastern Italy touched by the Adriatic Sea. There are wines from the Carso and Colli Orientali in Friuli and Breganze in the Veneto and a particular emphasis on the various Malvasia grape varieties that were traded in the Adriatic since the Middle Ages. These accompany seafood like pesce crudo from the lagoon and whipped salt cod with polenta.

A Venetian institution in Dorsoduro near the Academia, this old school enoteca is a standing-room-only affair. Find a place at the fast-pace counter and order an ombra of Pinot Grigio Ramato poured from a large, unlabelled bottle for around a euro and a few classic cicchetti like a thick wedge of mortadella spiked with a pickled pepper or vinegar-rich tuna salad heaped on a small round of bread.

Tucked away near the Rialto Bridge, Sepa does a little bit of everything. The counter displays a couple dozen cicchetti, (small bites)including locally caught cuttlefish (“sepa” in Venetian dialect). There are a few dishes made to order from the kitchen like *frittura mista* (mixed fried seafood), as well as a rotating daily risotto menu.. The wine, from the Veneto, is poured from taps in the back room and served in volumes ranging from a glass to a magnum.

On Via Garibaldi, the long, wide avenue that slices through the Castello sestiere (district), and within striking distance of the Biennale exhibitions, is the dream local hole-in-the-wall serving wine, cocktails, beer, and snacks. From afar it might resemble the many other standard bars along Via Garibaldi, but upon closer inspection there are plates of cheeses and cured meats from small producers across Italy.

A perfect address to stop if you’re exploring the gardens of the Biennale and Arsenale, in the far east side of the city, Basegó offers a relaxed stop for wine and cicchetti made with seasonal ingredients from nearby farms, including vegetarian options that keep a Venetian soul. Run by young owner Tobia, this bar is warm and welcoming. Beyond food and wine, the bar hosts book-crossing, live musi, and art shows, with community spirit reflected in initiatives like the caffè sospeso.

Opened by a group of Venice locals and part of the city’s cool-kids scene, this wine bar sits just steps from Saint Mark’s Basilica and defies the notion that the area lacks quality and authenticity. Bottles are carefully selected from local winemakers, with a focus on natural wines, but what truly sets the place apart is its vibrant atmosphere and the people who bring it to life.

Think of it as a wine bar, though if you’re lucky, this bacaro may offer a few small tables where guests can enjoy more than just cicchetti, with simple, traditional dishes from the kitchen. Seated or standing, the address charms with its intimate atmosphere.

Among Venice’s oldest bacari, Do Mori is said to be where a young Casanova once brought his dates. Still buzzing today, it draws crowds with its rustic décor of damigiane and branches, shelves of notable wines, and a famed array of cicchetti. Don’t miss the house specialty, the francobollo: a bite-sized tramezzino layered with fillings from prosciutto to shrimp. Order an ombra at the bar and soak up the timeless atmosphere.

On Via Garibaldi, La Barrique is a rustic bacaro favored by locals. Its wine list stands out in the neighborhood, featuring national labels, international selections, and a careful focus on natural and biodynamic producers. Pair an ombra with classic cicchetti like sarde in saor or polpette. With relaxed all-day service, it’s the perfect stop before or after the Biennale.

Set away from the city’s main attractions, on the walk toward Arsenale and Giardini, this bar takes its name directly from its address, showcasing Venice’s unique numbering system. Its location outside the busy core allows for a spacious interior and a generous outdoor area, set between a bridge and a canal.

Opened by the same owners who made Estro Cucina e Vino in Calle San Pantalon a staple of modern dining and bacaro hopping in Venice, this new Cannaregio venture launched in early 2024. At the counter, guests can enjoy cicchetti paired with natural wines, whether perched at a few outdoor tables or standing inside, soaking up the relaxed, convivial atmosphere of a classic Venetian bacaro.