While Venice has plenty to offer from a tourist point of view, its nightlife is not as rich in opportunities as one might believe at first, as far as revelers with a penchant for dancing and drinking until dawn are concerned. Venice remains a place of huge cultural explorations, with ever present theater representations and classical music concerts, and of canny talks in the presence of friends at one of the elegant cafes dozing on the banks of the network of canals.

Gambling too is possible in Venice and, if truth be told, there are also bars and clubs where the public can spend a usual night out, dancing and drinking and doing everything in between that is specific of a mainstream night in the city. However, most of these venues close by midnight, so we’re back to stating Venice doesn’t fall short of its literary surname, La Serenissima.

Venice by night Venice by Night

Theaters and concert halls in Venice

Teatro La Fenice

The history of Teatro La Fenice goes back to the 18th century, but the building, at least, had a very winding fate, so to speak. The theater, which used to be one of the leading opera houses in Europe (partially, it still enjoys this reputation), was completely rebuilt several times in the course of history, since it was literally raised to the ground, once in 1774 and then in 1836, not to mention the disastrous fire in 1996. The construction works to the present building started in 2001, only to be completed some 2 years later. Since then, the opera house received both favorable and less friendly reviews. It was rebuilt keeping close to the original design and, despite the occasional acid critiques, it does manage to live, at least in part, up to the magnificence of the former opera house.

Teatro La Fenice (literally, the Phoenix Theater, hinting the theater’s rebirth from its own ashes) is home to first-class opera, theater and ballet performances, which is why it is one of the best places to be for performing art lovers who happen to spend their vacation in Venice.

Name:
Teatro La Fenice
Address:
1965, Campo San Fantin, 30124, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 786511
Website:
www.teatrolafenice.it

Teatro Stabile del Veneto Carlo Goldoni

Teatro Goldoni is one of the most ancient theaters in Venice. Originally called Teatro di San Luca and Teatro Vendramin, or even Teatro San Salvatore, this theater has had a centuries-old tradition in Venice, since the time when the institution of theater itself was at its heydays (the 17th century).

The building underwent significant changes in time, in particular in the second half of the 20th century. The theater reopened its gates in 1979, delighting the public with a play by Carlo Goldoni himself (La Locandiera). At present, it is one of the major contributors to the rich performing arts scene of Venice.

Name:
Teatro Stabile del Veneto Carlo Goldoni
Address:
4650, Sestiere San Marco, 30124, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 2402011
Website:
www.teatrostabileveneto.it

Casinos in Venice

Casino di Venezia

Casino di Venezia is one of the few splendid casinos in Italy and at the same time a notable tourist sight by force of the place which is home to this gambling venue. The 15th century Palazzo Vendramin Calergi hosts the specific activities of the casino in the winter season (in summer, the casino moves to Lido di Venezia), and, as an interesting historical reference, it is the place where Wagner himself died in 1883. The palace overlooks the Grand Canal, enriching the architectural patrimony of the center of Venice. The casino proper imposes a certain dress code, and the gambling thrills it makes available come down to French roulette, black jack, Caribbean poker, slot machines and the other opportunities keen gamblers must already be familiar with.

Name:
Casino di Venezia
Address:
Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, 2040, Cannaregio, 30121, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5297111
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.casinovenezia.it

Cafes in Venice

Grancaffe Quadri

Grancaffe Quadri is one of the most historical cafes in Venice. Located in the glorious Piazza San Marco, this cafe is one of those venues which have helped to the rising of the “institution”, so to speak, of cafes in Venice. The cafe was set up in the 18th century by a Corfu-born entrepreneur. Since 1830, the cafe proper has been upgraded to the level of a cafe-restaurant (the back then owners set up a restaurant on the upper floor of the building).

In time, Grancaffe Quadri welcomed prestigious guests like Dumas and Stendhal, Proust and Gorbaciov, as well as the likes of Robert de Niro and Woody Allen.

Name:
Grancaffe Quadri
Address:
121, Piazza San Marco, 30124, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5222105
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
caffequadri.it

Caffe Florian

Caffe Florian was, it too, set up in the first half of the 18th century, more precisely, in 1720. Just like Grancaffe Quadri, it is located in Piazza San Marco, and, in fact, it remains one of the most symbolical Settecento cafes in Venice. Florian and Quadri have maintained a centuries-old rivalry, both of them turning elegance into a standard and being frequented by the bigwigs of literature, art, politics and so on (for instance, Lord Byron, Goethe and Rousseau were fond of Caffe Florian, and Casanova himself is said to have visited once again the cafe after his escape from the Doge’s Palace prison and before leaving Venice).

Name:
Caffe Florian
Address:
56/A-59/A, Piazza San Marco, 30124, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5205641
Fax:
0039 041 5224409
Website:
www.caffeflorian.com

Caffe Rosso

Caffe Rosso is located in Dorsoduro, in Campo Santa Margherita, one of the liveliest areas of Venice, given the consistent student population. The small Caffe Rosso is not as prestigious as Florian of Quadry (since its lacks the historical background), but it remains nonetheless a popular cafe where, as some tend to believe, foreigners can observe the Venetians in the everyday routine of their lives: sipping a coffee in the morning, having a light fresh snack in the afternoon and relishing a spritz in the evening.

Caffe Rosso is also a relatively inexpensive venue, which is, at least in part, a reason of its popularity.

Name:
Caffe Rosso
Address:
2963, Campo Santa Margherita, 30123, Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5287998
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.cafferosso.it

Clubs and bars in Venice

Venice Jazz Club

Venice Jazz Club is roughly deemed the best live jazz music clubs in Venice. The club welcomes the performances of the best jazz artists in Veneto and in Italy, for that matter, and the staff is so friendly such that it is impossible for clients to say they did not have a great time here, which is why the club draws the sympathy of most of its visitors (foreigners and locals alike).

The concerts are organized frequently (weekdays even), and the live music happenings are complemented by restaurant services (food is available from 8pm to 9pm when concerts usually begin) and by a gift shop. The club is also available for organizing art exhibitions and special events.

Name:
Venice Jazz Club
Address:
3102, Ponte dei Pugni, Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro, 30123, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5232056 / 0039 340 1504985
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.venicejazzclub.com

Bacaro Jazz

While Bacaro Jazz is not the glitziest of all bars in Venice (its interior lacks the elegance of the historical Venetian cafes, for instance), it is a cocktail bar which might come in handy for people who want to sit and have an extended dinner in front of a superb cocktail in the company of their friends. The bar is opened until after midnight, and the kitchen even doesn’t close until 2am, which is always reassuring for clients who feel the need of refreshment even at that late hour. The friendliness of the staff and their will to make clients have a wonderful time is also of note.

Name:
Bacaro Jazz
Address:
5546, San Marco, 30124, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5285249
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.bacarojazz.com

Piccolo Mondo

Piccolo Mondo is largely considered the best place to have a typical dancing and drinking night out in Venice. The club opens until 4am, which is why it is virtually unmatched by any other nightlife opportunities in Venice. The prices, on the other hand, might determine budget holidaymakers to stay away from Piccolo Mondo, but the atmosphere maintained by the staff and the DJs is worth all the money.

Indeed, it is precisely the atmosphere which gives the club its high ranking (not to mention the fact it is virtually the only nightclub in Venice), since the music and even the fixtures are rather outdated. It’s not a modern place, but its appeal is undeniable.

Name:
Piccolo Mondo
Address:
1056/A, Calle Contarini Corfu, Dorsoduro, 30100, Venice, Italy
Telephone:
0039 041 5200371
Website:
www.piccolomondo.biz
Go to top