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Capodanno a Venezia con Cena itinerante nei Bàcari

Veneziaeventi come ogni anno organizza il Tour dei Bacari di Capodanno, quest’anno lo faremo in modo più autonomo ma ugualmente divertente, sarà una Cena itinerante nei Bàcari a Venezia.

Ogni gruppo di persone ( minimo due ) riceverà via mail tutte le informazioni necessarie per fare in autonomia il Tour, questa volta non ci sarà la guida ad accompagnarvi ma sarà ugualmente bello e divertente. Il Tour inizierà alle 20.30 o alle 21.00 nel primo Bacaro nel cuore del Ghetto di Venezia e terminerà vicino a San Marco e poi in autonomia potete andare a vedere i Fuochi a San Marco!

La serata prevede una cena itinerante in quattro Bacari: 1°) Bacaro degusteremo due cicchetti della tradizione veneziana abbinati ad un calice di Prosecco. 2°) Bacaro una lasagnetta di pesce e un bicchiere di Prosecco o Rosso 3°) Bacaro musetto con lenticchie e calice di Bianco o Rosso 4°) Bacaro Panettone o Pandoro con calice di Prosecco

Il Costo della Cena Itinerante è di € 80 persona. Posti limitati. Il Tour è a numero chiuso e i posti sono limitati, il Tour non è rimborsabile.

Richiedi informazione per partecipare: [email protected]

Maria Botter  Mob. +39 347 4447717

#capodanno2023 #capodannovenezia2023

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What Is A Bacaro? + A Local’s Self Guided Bacaro Tour Itinerary

Last updated on December 28th, 2023

Chances are that if you have looked into coming to Venice you have come across the term bacaro or even seen others talking about or offering a bacaro tour.

If you are wondering what a bacaro and a bacaro tour are, you are in the right place. And if you already are a pro and are ready to take the leap to a self-guided bacaro tour in Venice, stay with me. 

After traveling to Venice for years and eating a heck of a lot of cicchetti at the most famous bacari in Venice, I have come down to the absolute best self-guided bacaro tour itinerary to follow as a foreign traveler to Venice.

Seeing Venice through the lens of their unique culinary traditions is one of the most authentic and fun ways to learn about this magical city. 

In this article, I will explain:

• What a bacaro is, and how to pronounce it
• What bacaro tours consist of, and why you should go on one
• My self-guided bacaro tour itinerary
• Tips for having the best experience on a bacaro tour
• Alternatives to a self-guided bacaro tour

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What Is A Bacaro?

So what is a bacaro?

A bacaro, pronounced bah-cah-roh in Italian, is a Venetian bar serving alcoholic beverages and small snacks known as cicchetti . 

Listen to the pronunciation of bacaro here:

A bacaro is a place of gathering for Venetians throughout the day to catch up, take a break and dampen their hunger. 

Bacari usually open in the morning and close later in the evening or even late at night, breaking all rules of other Italian eateries , which hold specific hours in relation to eating times . 

What Are Cicchetti?: To learn more about cicchetti , read What are Cicchetti?

At a bacaro , Italians will take a break with a small glass of wine known as an ombra and a small nibble known as a cicchetto (or two!). This happens at any time of the day from early in the morning when fishermen are just finishing their daily catch to early into the evening when younger crowds come out for an aperitivo .

The atmosphere of a bacaro is casual while providing an intimate and authentic culinary experience.

Eating cicchetti and drinking wine at bacari is a fast affair, something quick, that perhaps lasts no more than 20 minutes (generally speaking). It can also be like downing an espresso at an Italian bar at the counter – quick and satisfying. 

Spending time at a bacaro as a local can be longer as you linger, bump into comers and goers and not purposefully end up with three glasses of wine instead of one! 

What Is A Bacaro Tour?

A bacaro tour is the idea of making a whole evening of eating cicchetti and drinking by hopping from one bacaro to the next, tasting small nibbles and trying different wines all the while meeting new people, chatting to locals and catching up with old friends. 

Venetians may do this with friends or just do it on their own, making time to chit chat with other locals doing the same. 

Many people compare a bacaro tour to a pub crawl (in fact, some people call it a bacaro crawl), spending the evening trying different venues, foods and wine. In fact, you might even hear a bacaro tour called a bacaro crawl. 

Usually, a bacaro tour will take place over the course of a couple of hours and may include 5-7 bacari . You may or may not travel to different sestieri or districts in Venice, depending on where you are and how comfortable you are with walking longer distances. 

Where Is A Bacaro Tour In Venice?

So where are you going in Venice on your bacaro tour, you ask? That depends on where you are. 

In my self-guided itinerary below, I have covered ground in San Polo and San Marco, where the best cicchetti bars are. Below are the top neighborhoods to visit with my bacari recommendation should you have time for further exploration of these neighborhoods:

• Cannaregio: Check out El Sbarlefo 
• Santa Croce: Check out Bacareto da Lele
• Dorsoduro: Check out Panini and Vini Da Babbo or Cantina del Vino già Schiavi
• Castello: Check out Osteria alla Scuela or Basegò

More Cicchetti: To learn about the best places to eat cicchetti in Venice read Best Cicchetti in Venice.

Why Go On A Bacaro Tour?

Taking yourself on a bacaro tour is one of the best ways to experience Venice from a local, authentic perspective. You will find yourself elbow to elbow with Venetian locals, students and international travelers hoping for the same experience.

After visiting the best bacari in Venice and eating the absolute best cicchetti on the Venice food scene, it has remained one of my favorite ways to see the city and share my love for it with my friends and family.

My top 10 reasons for going on a bacaro tour:

• Best way to try an array of traditional Venetian food without breaking the bank
• Best way to try an array of local Venetian wines
• Affordable ( cicchetto cost €2-5 each and ombra €2-7)
• Meet new people
• You can do it on you own without a guide
• You can do it at anytime of the day
• Alternative to a full course meal at a restaurant in Venice
• Break up the main sites and tourist attractions in Venice by working in a bacaro tour into your Venice itinerary. 
• Kid friendly dinner alternative 
• It’s fun! 

Travelers With Special Diets: If you have a special diet or allergy, fear not! There are plenty of cicchetti for gluten-free travelers , vegans and vegetarians .

Self-Guided Bacaro Tour Itinerary

Keep in mind that you can really do this bacaro tour at any time of the day, however, you need to be sure you choose a day in which all the bacari are open. 

I suggest you follow my itinerary for a self-guided bacaro tour on either Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. If you go on one of these days, all the bacari I recommend will be open. 

A bacaro tour can be as short or as long as you like but I usually recommend first time travelers to really take their time and make it a whole event. You can either do the bacaro tour all at once or split your cicchetti and wine up with other top attractions and activities in Venice. It’s up to you!

Below, I will outline my two hour bacaro tour with the best places to eat cicchetti in Venice , including 6 bacari in two neighborhoods.

Since we are on a bacaro tour, I suggest you linger a bit at each location but not too long or you will be out all night! Try and enjoy each bacaro for 20-25 minutes or so, whether this means sitting down or eating your cicchetti standing is up to you. 

Map Of Self-Guided Bacaro Tour In Venice

Stop 1: Bacarando Corte dell’Orso

Sestiere di S. Marco, 5495, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily

Bacarando Corte dell’Orso is one of the most famous bacari in Venice for a wide array of cicchetti with ample indoor seating. 

They have one of the largest selections of cicchetti in all of Venice including classics such as polenta squares with sarde in saor, larger tortini, savory quiches and a wide selection of seafood skewers.  

Order at the counter and bring your cicchetti to one of the large wooden tables in the next room over. If not, choose to eat and drink standing at the counter or outside on one of their benches. 

Tip: For a longer bacaro tour, think about adding SEPA or Osteria Al Portego (one of my favorite places in Venice for after-dinner drinks ) to your tour before heading over to Osteria Bancogiro. Both are right around the corner from Bacarando Corte dell’Orso, making it easy to swing into without going out of your way. 

Stop 2: Osteria Bancogiro

Campo San Giacometto, Ponte di Rialto

Closed: Monday

Osteria Bancogiro, located just off the Rialto Bridge, has one of the best locations in all of Venice with  tables spilling out on the backside onto Campo Erberia.

The cicchetti they serve are more chic and plated with a modern touch. They are well known for their curried shrimp salad and their raw fish selection. 

Eat your cicchetti standing indoors or outdoors or ask if they have a table on their terrace outside to sit down at for a short time. 

Stop 3: Al Mercà

Campo Bella Vienna, 213, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Closed: Sunday

Al Mercà is just next door to Osteria Bancogiro next to the Rialto Market , serving up some of the best spritz and cicchetti sandwiches in the area. 

Al Mercà is literally a window on the street with one small bench, catering primarily to locals and nearby fishermen and produce vendors who have just finished their morning at the market (although I have found it to become quite popular with tourists over the years as well). 

Stop 4: Bar All’Arco

S. Polo, 436, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Closed: Wednesday

Bar All’Arco is arguably the most famous bacaro in all of Venice with just a few tables lining the walls and standing r oom only indoors. 

The selection of cicchetti is traditional but they are always fresh and worth the wait. Their crostini cicchetti are my favorite in the city. 

If you can, sit down at one of the few tables outdoors. I have never been here when a table was free so here’s to trying! 

Stop 5: Cantina Do Spade

San Polo, 859, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Cantina Do Spade is the most famous bacaro in Venice for fried nibbles including their famed fried meatball.  

Cantina Do Spade is a bacaro but also a restaurant, so there isn’t much space to sit down for cicchetti, just three small tables indoors. If these are occupied (they probably will be), quickly eat your fried meatball and €1 bicchierino of wine at the bar standing or outside. 

Stop 6: Acqua E Mais

Campiello dei Meloni, 1411/1412, 30125 Venezia VE

Acqua E Mais is a favorite bacaro for all sorts of Venetians including students, serving up some of the best seafood cicchetti as well as some of the best takeout in Venice and street food .

Acqua E Mais is tiny with no seating. Plan on sipping your wine and eating your seafood skewers and smoked salmon cicchetti on the street with the crowds. 

Planning Tip: If you happen to be on the other side of town and  you want to start your bacaro tour, feel free to reverse the order. It makes no difference!

Tips For Having The Best Experience On A Bacaro Tour

• When ordering wine, ask for a bicchierino , meaning small glass for just a sip of wine. This is different from a full 6 oz glass of wine. Some bacari will serve this size, some will not. 
• Feel free to order a plate of several cicchetti to share, allowing you to sample several different kinds.
• Try the same kind of cicchetto at different bars. This is my favorite way to analyze the bacari and tell which ones I like the best. I usually do this with baccalà mantecato . Every bar does it slightly differently. Which one do you like best?
• Don’t be afraid to ask for cicchetti on a slice of polenta if you don’t want bread. They often can do this for you (great for gluten-free travelers in Venice .
• Don’t feel obliged to finish your wine. If you take yourself on a bacaro tour and visit up to seven different bacari , it may be too much alcohol for you. No one will shame you for not finishing.

Alternatives To A Self-Guided Bacaro Tour

While heading out on a self-guided bacaro tour is easy, I am completely sympathetic with travelers who don’t want to think about getting from place to place, especially if you have been touring all day and your brain has turned to jelly. 

Alternatively, you can opt to sign up for a guided bacaro tour offered by local guides in Venice. If you fall into this category and want a guided bacaro tour, consider the following tours.

Foodie Travel: Are you interested in planning an itinerary revolving around eating in Venice? Read 24 Hours in Venice and 48 Hours in Venice .

Venice bound? Get prepared with all of our Venice posts: 20+ Must-Try Foods And Drinks In Venice – And My Favorite Places To Eat Them What Are Cicchetti? + Where To Eat Them In Venice What Is A Bacaro? + A Local’s Self Guided Bacaro Tour Itinerary My Favorite Cicchetti In Venice – The 10 Best Bacari To Try Best Restaurants in Venice + Nearest Cicchetti Stops Best Gelato In Venice – My Italian Family’s 10 Favorite Gelaterie 7 Food Markets In Venice Worth Your Time Where To Get Coffee In Venice Where To Eat Breakfast In Venice – A Local’s Favorite Breakfast Nooks 10 Amazing Bakeries In Venice – Where to Get Your Pastry On Best Spots In Venice For Aperitivo – My Top Bars & Squares for Pre-Dinner Drinks Dinner On The Water In Venice – My Top 7 Restaurants Best Pizza In Venice – My ‘Don’t Miss’ List My Favorite After Dinner Drink Spots In Venice Shopping at the Rialto Market in Venice – Tips + Printable 5 Street Foods To Try In Venice & Where Eat Them Best Places To Get Takeout In Venice – My Top Picks Where To Eat Before Catching Your Train At The Venice Santa Lucia Train Station My Favorite Food Chains To Try In Venice Eating Gluten-Free In Venice – Restaurants, Cicchetti & Gelato Gluten-Free Cicchetti In Venice – What To Order (& Avoid) and How to Order Eating Vegetarian In Venice – My Top Five Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants + Tips Eating Vegan In Venice, Italy – My Top Five Vegan Friendly Restaurants Eating in Venice While Pregnant 8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice Best Squares To Eat And Drink With Kids In Venice 24 Hour Food Guide For Venice – A Self Guided Tour For Foodies in Venice Eating Around Venice in 48 hours – 2 Day Venice Itinerary For Foodies 10 Best Food Souvenirs From Venice, Italy + Where I Buy Them

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The Bacaro Tour: a Venetian tradition

One of the best ways to explore Venice as a local, tasting the savory Venetian cicheti (appetisers, in italian "cicchetti") accompanied by the typical ombra di vino (glass of wine), is to have fun going from bacaro to bacaro (a typical Venetian tavern) with your friends, and it is not even expensive at all. The bacaro tour is an alternative and fun way to enjoy the city as a real Venetian. 

Join a local guide to discover Venice secrets ❯

The Bacaro Tour: discovering the bacari

First of all, what it is a bacaro ? To define it simply as a tavern would be somewhat reductive. A bacaro is a typical Venetian tavern , small in size, characterised by simple and rustic furniture, mainly made of wood, where you can enjoy glasses of wine , ombre in Venetian, or of spritz, accompanied by typical Venetian cicheti , that are small snacks of food ranging from fish balls to small stuffed sandwiches.

All cicheti are usually displayed in a glass case near the bar. But what certainly characterises a typical Venetian bacaro is the cosy and familiar atmosphere, the friendliness of the host and the presence of many Venetians that are taking a relaxing break.  

Step off the beaten track and discover hidden Venice ❯

The Bacaro Tour: what do you eat and drink in a bacaro?

Going from bacaro to bacaro certainly means drinking good wine and tasting real delicacies. As it is well known, Veneto is one of the best known Italian regions for the production of its fine wines, and for this reason in Venice you can certainly find excellent wines, even in the bacari , where they usually serve cheaper wines but still DOC (controlled designation of origin) wines. Among the red wines you can find Raboso, Cabernet, Merlot and Bardolino, whereas among the white wines Prosecco, Malvasia, Ribolla Gialla, Soave and Traminer. It is also possible to taste the authentic spritz , a typical Venetian aperitif, made with Prosecco, Aperol or Campari (or both in the case of the spritz misto, mixed), sparkling water or Seltz, a slice of orange and to put the finishing touches the olive. 

Concerning the cicheti , each bacaro offers its own options, so at each stage of your tour you can taste different specialities of the Venetian cuisine , but among the most common ones you can find the sarde in saor (fried fresh sardine fillets marinated in softly cooked white onions), baccalà mantecato (whipped salted cod served on slices of bread or polenta), meatballs, mozzarelle in carrozza (fried mozzarella cheese sandwiches), fried fish, tramezzini  (triangular Italian sandwich constructed from two slices of soft white bread, with the crusts removed) and sandwiches stuffed with cured meats.  

The Bacaro tour: what it is and where you can do it

The Bacaro Tour is the custom of going from bacaro to bacaro , around the sestieri  (districts) of Venice , to enjoy a few glasses of wine or spritz with your friends. Instead of sitting at the same bar for a long time, Venetians prefer performing this itinerant ritual. There is no exact time to go on a bacaro tour, but lunchtime and aperitif time are certainly the two most popular moments of the day. Tourists usually eat a real meal in the bacari , ordering trays of cicheti , but by doing so they miss the true essence of the bacaro tour. 

For those arriving by train at the Santa Lucia station, the first area from where they can begin their tour is the sestiere (district) of Cannaregio , in particular along the Fondamenta   (a street parallel to a canal) dei Ormesini, an area full of bacari . For those arriving instead by car or by bus, you cannot miss the Santa Croce district , an area with well-known bacari, frequented also by young people, especially university students. Another must-go area during your bacaro tour is the sestiere that includes the famous Campo  (square) Santa Margherita, that is Dorsoduro . A final district that deserves to be mentioned is the Castello district , the least tourist area in Venice and therefore full of bacari frequented by locals.

As previously mentioned, the bacaro tour is not expensive at all, the price of a glass of wine ranges from 0.60 cents to 2 euros maximum, while the price of a  cicheto  ranges from 1 to 3 euros . Those who have not yet had the chance to visit Venice will certainly not miss the opportunity to go on a bacaro tour on their first visit, and for those who have already visited it this will certainly be an opportunity to experience the city in a new way. 

Discover the hidden Venice ❯

Discover the best bacari with the Venice Pass

The Venice Pass is the Venice new tourist card with which you can visit most of the sites and museums in Venice free of charge and travel freely by all means of transport. Among the included attractions we can find the Basilica of San Pietro di Castello and the Museum Le Macchine di Leonardo.

In addition, with the pass you can get further discounts on the main tours and at some of the city's most popular historical activities. These include authentic Venetian bacari and cicchetterie. 

Thanks to the useful app you can locate all the activities and attractions included in the Venice Pass on an interactive map, so you can reach them easily. This tourist card will be able to offer you unique experiences, such as taking part in a workshop to create your own handmade Venetian mask, discovering how the famous glass manufactures in Murano are made or taking a tour of the traditional bacari , to experience Venice like a Venetian. 

Discover the Venice Pass ❯

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GUIDED BACARO TOUR IN VENICE, WINE TASTING AND CICCHETTI

Enjoy an aperitif like a real Venetian! Discover the most typical places of the city tasting wine, spritz and cicchetti.

• Trip Type ART & CULTURE , DISCOVER VENICE , FOOD & WINE
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• Group Size No size limit - No size limit
• Reviews 0 Reviews
• Locations Venice
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An original way to get to know Venice in all its aspects, food and wine included!

This is a travelling aperitif lasting about 2h , among the most traditional places in Venice : the so called bacari . The latter can only be found in the historic centre of the city and they are an obligatory stop for every Venetian evening.

Our Bacaro tour includes a stopover with an aperitif in 3 bacari . The happy hour includes, for each place, a cicchetto and a glass of wine (for example a glass of prosecco or a spritz).

Cicchetti are snacks with more local flavours, they can be meatballs of tuna or meat, sardines in saor, dried cod on bread or polenta and much more. All this is then accompanied by a glass of wine, usually a spritz. This is an aperitif that takes its name from the German term spritzen, i.e. watering. This is composed of 1/3 white wine, 1/3 sparkling water and 1/3 liqueur.

Our bacaro tour is organized everyday , with departure in front of Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station at 5.00 pm . It lasts between 2/3 hours and it ends at Rialto. There is also the presence of an assistant to discover the hidden corners/tastes of the city.

On request we can develop customized solutions , for example the departure of the tour in different places/time/date.

Price: €86 p/person

Our Bacaro tour includes a stopover with an aperitif in 3 bacari . The happy hour includes, for each place , a cicchetto and a glass of wine (for example a glass of prosecco or a spritz).

Our bacaro tour is organized everyday, with departure in front of Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station at 5.00 pm. It lasts between 2/3 hours and it ends at Rialto . There is also the presence of an assistant to discover the hidden corners/tastes of the city.

• a cicchetto and a glass of wine in each of the three bacari
• tour leader
• what is not specified under “inclusions”

CUSTOMISATION

To customize this service contact us directly, within 24 working hours you will receive our feedback and the best solutions customized for you.

At the time of booking, subject to availability, you will automatically receive our feedback. Please be advised that it is compulsory to print a paper copy of the voucher issued at the end of the online reservation and bring it with you the day of the tour. It is advisable to arrive at the place of departure 10 minutes before the indicated time. Indicate in advance any problems of moving in order to ensure the best possible quality of service.

CANCELLATION

Cancellation at least 24 hours in advance is fully refundable. In case of no-show at the meeting point at the time indicated on the voucher, cancellation after the deadline (24h) or abandonment of the service before its end there is no refund. In case of adverse meteorological conditions and/or force majeure, you are invited to contact us in order to verify the feasibility of the service and assess, in case of cancellation, the best solution. This may be a refund or the postponement of the service to the first date available. Where predictable well in advance you will also receive our notice of change / cancellation service.

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The ultimate private food tour - Bacaro Hopping a Venetian

• 3 drinks (Spritz or local wine) - non-alcoholic alternatives available
• 4 bites (delicious "cicchetti") - vegetarian alternatives available
• 1 sweet tasting (pastry or gelato)
• Local top rated guide (licensed tour leader & nature and interpretive guide)
• Combo, Venezia, Campo dei Gesuiti, 4878, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy Meet your guide at Combo, in the internal courtyard near the well.
• Zattere, 30133 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy a very scenic area of the city, conveniently located and at walking distance to the rest of the city and main public transportation
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Stroller accessible
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Most travelers can participate
• On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Ponte di Rialto
• Casa di Marco Polo
• Campo San Bartolomeo
• Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Combo, Venezia Or, you can also get picked up See departure details
• 1 Chiesa dei Santi Apostoli Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 2 Casa di Marco Polo Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 3 Campo San Bartolomeo Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 4 Ponte di Rialto Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 5 Pescheria di Rialto Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 6 Campo Bella Vienna Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 7 Campo dei Frari Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 8 San Polo Stop: 15 minutes See details
• 9 Fondamenta Zattere Stop: 15 minutes See details
• You'll end at Zattere 30133 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy a very scenic area of the city, conveniently located and at walking distance to the rest of the city and main public transportation See address & details

• adairh_13 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great private tour with Valerio Our private tour with Valerio was awesome! He personalized it to our needs and was very informative about the palace and other significant information on Venice. Will recommend his tour to friends! Read more Written March 25, 2024
• 875klarab 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Perfect way to start our stay in Venice We had a great time with Valerio! We took this tour on the first day of our visit and it was just perfect. A good balance between informations and fun facts. He is a true local Venitian and it makes the diffence, you can feel it like the way he shows you the streets. He gave us plenty of tips and recommendations for things to do and where to eat and drink. I will definitly recommend this tour if you wanna get the vibe of Venice! Read more Written March 15, 2024
• Mary D 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Murano glass beads making! We couldn't have asked for a more patient teacher of lamp work and educator of Murano glass. Well worth the cost and no pushy sales pitch after. We had so much fun making the glass beads! A must when visiting Venezia, where else can you make Murano glass beads yourself? Read more Written December 8, 2023
• bodoh939 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Insights about Venice you won't find in books A fantastic tour through Venice! Get to know insights you won't find in any books, brought to you by a charming guide. Read more Written October 30, 2023
• Travel39947531666 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Valerio Valerio, a local was very enthusiastic and showed us the non-touristic places as well. He was very knowledgable and fun. Read more Written October 28, 2023
• 539karissam 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing personal guide through Venice Amazing experience. We had our own small family guide all day. We got lost in the streets of Venice with a local. We had our 10 and 12 year olds in tow. He made it exciting for everyone. I would highly recommend!! Read more Written October 19, 2023
• Julie Z 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Murano with Valerio Valerio was very personable. We certainly enjoyed him. He was so knowledgeable and fun and knew the area and the people well. The tour was so much more than we expected. He is from the area and was able to give us a wonderful behind the scenes look at Murano. Read more Written October 17, 2023
• grantd4 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience Valerio was great. Lots of local knowledge and insights. Took us to rarely seen gardens in Venice easy walking great views. 3 private and one public. Read more Written October 13, 2023
• faithsB5545ZJ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The historical importance of venice. Valerio was a terrific guide. We learned so much about Venice and he put everything into historical context which made the tour very meaningful. Highly recommend Valerio for your time in Venice. Read more Written October 5, 2023
• I7717SMamyp 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great local experience Valerio was an amazing guide! He was friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us great advice for the rest of our adventures in Italy. Having a local guide really creates an experience of a local. So nice to have a private tour also! c’è like Read more Written October 3, 2023
• susanwC2620HV 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lovely tour! We had a great couple hours with Valerio in Murano. As a local- he had so much to share. We visited a beautiful showroom with the very finest glass pieces. Amazing! Really breathtaking . We were able to try our hand at making our own glass bead at an artist’s shop. Monica was a great teacher. We then walked about and ended with a great recommendation for lunch. It was a perfect day. Read more Written September 26, 2023
• Quest67262786502 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Night time tour of Venice’s hidden gems We did the night time tour in Venice, Highlight and hidden gems night tour in Venice, Valario was our guide and he was brilliant, one of the best tours so far! Read more Written September 18, 2023
• 645carolq 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highlights and Hidden Gems of Venice Tour with Valerio We had a private night tour with Valerio to see the Highlights and Hidden Gems of Venice. He was very pleasant, knowledgeable and accommodating. We enjoyed his enthusiasm in explaining the history of Venice and appreciated his suggestions for additional sites we might want to visit. Thank you Valerio! Read more Written September 11, 2023
• catrionab826 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing glass-making tour We had a Fab tour of Murano and a glass making workshop. We were able to see very high-end artisan glass chandeliers, and one of a kind pieces. We then went to Monica’s workshop and I got to make my own glass bead which was amazing! Valerio is a fantastic tour guide. He is super friendly and approachable, very knowledgable and informative. We felt very fortunate to be on a tour with him. We would 100% recommend him and this tour to our friends and family! Read more Written September 1, 2023
• Buzzwinckel 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Views of Venice Valerio is a great guide who lives and grew up in Venice. He can customise his tours to suit the needs of the client. Interesting night tour of the Jewish Ghetto and boat trip to get a perspective of the lagoon and islands. Read more Written August 31, 2023

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13 April 2022

Things to do in Venice:

Self-guided bacaro tour.

Italy has one of the richest food cultures in the world, full stop. This comes as no surprise given how the love of food is infused in every aspect of daily life – w hether you’re gathering with family or taking a stroll with friends, there’s a perfect Italian cuisine moment waiting for you if you know where to look.

Additionally, enjoying local traditions is one of the best ways to make sure you’re getting a truly authentic Italian experience. While this can get trickier and harder to find in the most touristy cities in Italy, it’s never impossible – and Venice isn’t an exception. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the typical tourist must-do’s while still immersing yourself in the soul of the city, a self-guided Bacaro tour in Venice is an absolute must!

In this mini-guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about a Bacaro Tour – what it is, how to do it, Italian words you should know, and my personal recommendations to navigate your way through a seriously delicious dining experience.

A little note before we get going:

As I’ve mentioned before, traveling doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg – there are plenty of ways to enjoy an authentic Italian experience on a budget. I’m all about traveling on a realistic budget and knowing what you should splurge on and what you can save on. 

With this in mind, I’m confident your time spent drinking, snacking, and chatting with locals on a self-guided Bacaro tour is well worth an evening in Venice. Although, I don’t think you’ll need much convincing ;).

Now – let’s dive in!

What is a Bacaro?

First thing first – what in the world is a “Bacaro”?!

A Bacaro is a type of traditional Venetian tavern where locals gather after a long day’s work to laugh, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.

It is a rich Venetian tradition passed down from generation to generation where you go from Bacaro to Bacaro (or bar to bar) to get something called “cicchetti” and “ombra.”

Think of it like a pub crawl – just earlier in the evening and filled with more local delicacies and traditions. Twist my arm.

Small by nature, these taverns give you an intimate, front-row seat to local Venetian culture and authentic, no frills cuisine.

As I mentioned above, part of a bacaro tour is indulging in ah-mazing food.

“Cicchetti” are small Venetian snacks, such as “crostini,” which are small pieces of bread with a bunch of different toppings like fish, meat, vegetables, or “polpette” (meatballs made of meat, cheese, or fish). Is your mouth drooling yet because mine is. 

There’s a variety of different crostini at every bar, but one of the most famous Venetian cicchetti flavors is “baccalà mantecato” – whipped salted cod. Even if you aren’t a fish person (I’m not), you should try it. It’s surprisingly delicious!

In addition to varied Italian cuisine, no bacaro tour would be complete without the “ombra” – a small glass of red or white wine.

The best parts about a Bacaro tour

One of the best parts of a self-guided bacaro tour is how affordable it is. You can literally find cicchetti at almost any bar or cafe, and they usually cost anywhere from 1.50€-3€ per piece.  Happy wallet AND happy stomach?! Sign me up. 

A glass of ombra (again, wine) is also very cheap due to the fact that the Veneto region where Venice is located is famous for wines. These usually range somewhere between €0.60-€2 per glass.

If you aren’t a wine fan, you can always opt for an Aperol or “Select” Spritz instead of ombra. In fact, Venice is famous for Spritz, so you shouldn’t expect to pay much more for a spritz in Venice if that’s more your speed.

Another one of the big reasons that I personally love doing a self-guided Bacaro tour is that you can go completely on your own and on your own time – you don’t need to do a guided tour to experience life as the local Venetians do. 

This means if you strike up a conversation with locals at bacaro A, you don’t have to rush off with a tour group to make it to bacaro B at a certain time. Dreams.

It’s traditional to either stand or sit outside of the bacaro and enjoy the company of others while enjoying your snacks. Or you can take it outside and walk around while you snack and head to the next bacaro.

My friend Maddy and I opted to take a gondola ride with our cicchetti and a spritz in hand. I hiiiiighly recommend adding this to your bacaro tour – yes, it’s touristy, but hey, you’re in Venice, and pairing the touristy things with the local traditions gives you the ultimate Venetian experience. 

Simple, delicious, and truly so much fun!

Where to go on your Bacaro tour

After living in Italy for a while and sampling my fair share of bacaro cuisine (it’s quite the sacrifice, I know), I’ve curated my own list of stops to guide you on your way!

As you’re creating your itinerary, consider adding these to the list:

• Vineria all’Amarone
• Cantine del Vino gia Schiavi
• Bacareto da Lele
• Osteria All’Arco
• Osteria Al Squero

Venice’s streets and waterways are some of the most unique in the world, and experiencing the city with a yummy snack or drink in hand is always a favorite of mine.

In summary…

A self-guided bacaro tour is cheap, easy, and fun. And it’s great for groups, families, couples, and solo travelers alike.  In my opinion, it’s one of the best ways to explore Venice like a Venetian, and I always love the warm and inviting feeling of this magical city. 

If you’re looking for other top tips for navigating Italian food culture, you can find my guide to proper coffee etiquette here . 

And whether you’re in the beginning stages of planning a visit to Italy or already have your tickets booked, I’m always happy to answer any questions you have along the way. 

To book a call with me, simply follow this link to get some time on my calendar. And if you’re planning to city-hop while you’re in Italy, be sure to check out my blog on how to spend a day in Florence , too. 

Happy traveling! ❤️

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What is a Bacaro: let's discover the Venice experience you cannot miss

Visiting Venice you will immediately recognize these tiny places , where locals and tourists have their glass of wine and eat their cicchetti . These places, the true symbols of Venice traditions , are called bacari .

In this article, we'll explore what a bacaro truly is and, above all, we'll discover the great Venetian tradition of the bacaro tour . So, let this tasty journey begin!

Inside a bacaro tour: what are the Venetian bacari

The bacaro (also called bacareto ) could be translated as tavern . However, Bacari are not just taverns or bars . They are tiny places, part of the Venetian traditions . Here you can find all kinds of wine, spritz and food ( cicchetti , typically).

Usually there are not many seats inside and people stand outside the bacari drinking their ombre and eating their cicchetti (or cicheti) .

Nowadays, bacari are seen both as a dining place for lunch and as an aperitif place .

Tourists tend to use such establishments to make a full-fledged meal out of it (even a dozen pieces), while Venetians mostly use it as a drinking hangout , and the food is only an accompaniment.

Before telling you more about what you could call the " pub crawl ", actually "the bacaro tour", we shall share with you some more info about the Venetian terms you should use to live the experience at its best, shall we?

Quick lessons of Venetian dialect: what's a ombra ?

Ombra (or ombre if you are referring to the plural version) means " shadow " in English. Are you asking why?

Because in the past the wine vendors used to sit at the base of St. Mark's bell tower and used to follow its shadow to protect the wine from the sun!

... And why is it called Bacaro?

We are not sure about the origin of this Venetian word.

It could derive from " Bacchus ", the Roman god of Wine . However, "bacaro" could also refer to the Venetian expression " far bàcara ", which means " to have fun ", " to go and have some fun ".

Another hypothesis instead dates back to the late XIX century when the trade of Apulian wines employed to "cut" and strengthen local wines (poor in alcohol) began.

In this case, " Bàcaro" was the hard, dark and bitter wine and the term was used to distinguish this kind of local wine from the "malvasia", a valuable wine coming especially from Greece .

And what is the cicchetto?

If you are interested in the "Venetian tapas", as sometimes they are called, we have prepared a full guide to the best cicchetti of Venice .

And now, we are ready to explore the true essence of being a Venetian...

What is a bacaro tour?

We are finally ready to reveal what this great Venetian tradition actually is . In fact, you can't leave Venice without having attended a real bacaro tour!

But what is it practically?

To tell you in simple words, a bacaro tour is the expression we use to describe the tradition we have of "going bacaro after bacaro" .

You can drink excellent wines, as well as home ones, or spritz (like the famous spritz misto with Aperol and Campari) and eat your cicchetto , like polenta, crostini, and everything you like.

The atmosphere is so amazing and you can have the chance to chat with Venetians, but also workers and tourists .

Is it expensive?

Of course not!

This kind of experience is not expensive at all, but it also depends on how much you drink and which bacaro you select .

However, the price for a glass of wine ranges from 1 euro to 3 euros . The price for a cicheto starts from 1/2 euros to 3/4 euros per piece.

When is the best time to do this kind of tour?

In Italy we also organize many bacaro tours to celebrate particular occasions , like bachelor parties or hen parties .

Anyway, you can organize them whenever you like . In fact, it's a great moment, full of joy and fun, that you can spend together with your friends .

Where can you find the best bacari?

Bacari are spread all over the city. However, instead of looking for them close to the Santa Lucia train station, you could discover many of them in the Sestiere of Cannaregio, Castello and Dorsoduro .

The latter is also the most favorite area for students. Usually they gather in Campo Santa Margherita after their lessons at the local university.

Would you do a bacaro tour while in Venice?

This is certainly one of the most traditional experiences you could do while in Venice!

Let yourself wander through the city and find the best place for your aperitif . It is the typical Venetian experience you definitely won't miss !

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What is a bacaro tour and why you should try one

"bacaro" is the term venetians use for bars, those bars that offer the typical venetian aperitif with an "ombra" and a "cicchetto"..

You may have heard about this Venetian word “bacaro” , perhaps in our last blog post about the Venetian aperitif or just surfing the web. “Bacaro” is the term Venetians use for bars, those bars that offer the typical Venetian aperitif with an “ombra” (small glass of wine) and a “cicchetto” (something typical to eat). Venetians love to take a bit of time after work to enjoy the summer vibes near the canal, with a glass of wine or maybe a spritz . We usually stop by 3-4 bars before going home and this is what we call “a bacaro tour”. There a lot of reasons why you should do a bacaro tour at least once, during your time in Venice and we are here to tell you what these reasons are.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj7EXiEhz2G/?utm_source=ig_embed

1.   Having fun with locals

The very first reason why you should try a Bacaro Tour is that is a way to meet locals and have fun with them. A bacaro is a place where people meet to spend a nice couple of hours together, which is something you might want to do too, during your holiday time.

2. You’ll taste amazing and typical things

We wrote an entire blog post about this subject since the Venetian cuisine is full of these chicchetti. Here are two examples of what you can find and taste. Our favorite cicchetto is the classic half-egg with anchovies, but we don’t dislike a plate of sardines with onions, the so-called “sardele in saor”.

3. Experience a unique way of having happy hour

A bacaro tour is like what you call “a pub crawl” with the difference that you start it at 6 pm and not at night. https://www.instagram.com/p/BjqohsHgWky/?utm_source=ig_embed Venetians are used to it; they mostly prefer this way of having happy hour instead of sitting in a single bar for ages. Walking is part of Venetian culture and, in some way, it’s quite a consequence they include it in their aperitif-time too. We are sure you’ll enjoy having happy hour in the Venetian way. If you need any help in finding these typical and original bacari we will be happy to show those we love the most. And if after your bacaro tour you haven’t enough of the Venetian food and you’d like to have a dinner like a local , in this article you’ll find our best suggestions.

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What is a bacaro tour and how is it organised?

“ Going to bacari ” is a typical Venetian expression that refers to the tradition of spending a few hours in the company of friends and family enjoying the famous Venetian spritz and typical cicchetti. But what should you keep in mind when organising a bacaro tour ? Let’s see what this Venetian custom consists of.

What is a Bacaro?

First of all it is important to start from the basics, namely understanding what a bacaro is. There is no real definition of a bacaro, but the thing that comes closest to its meaning is a tavern. It’s a typical Venetian tavern with simple and rustic decor in which glasses of wine (in dialect “ ombre “) or spritz are served, accompanied by typical “ cicheti “. “Cicheti” are small appetisers made from fish or salami. They can be both cold and hot and are often served with bread or polenta.

But what makes a bàcaro unique is not only the typical specialties that you can sample, rather the main feature is the atmosphere that is created there. Most Venetians have always frequented the bàcari for the custom of meeting, chatting, talking, discussing and creating a pleasant moment of socialising. In fact, it is no coincidence that the term “bacaro” derives from the Venetian expression “far bacara”, that is to say to party, to have fun .

The etymological origin of cicheti and ombre also has a precise meaning: “ ombra ” (shadow), which is synonymous with wine glasses, is derived from the typical custom from Piazza San Marco according to which itinerant wine sellers moved following the shadow of the bell tower, so that the wine did not heat up and always remained cool; the “ cicheti ” (cicchetti in Italian), are derived from the Latin “ciccus”, which means small quantity. They are in fact small appetisers, such as meatballs, croutons with creamed cod or the typical polenta with sardines in saòr.

Bacaro Tour: what is it?

This expression refers to moving from one bacaro to another , selecting the various stops and at the same time taking advantage to stroll along the Venetian streets. You can often find several bacari next to each other, but sometimes it’s necessary to walk a little to reach the next destination. Some bacari are more spacious than others, so you can have your spritz inside. Other bacari have porticoes, tables or pergolas directly on the canal, so you can accompany your aperitif with a wonderful Venetian sunset.

How can I organise a bacaro tour?

Venice is full of taverns and bacari where you can sample cicchetti and a spritz, so it is always possible to find the right bacaro that’s able to satisfy everyone’s requests. Often, people get caught up in chatting and end up spending the evening in one place; at other times, however, it can be enjoyable to stop in the bacari that most capture our attention during a walk, so as to be guided by the sensations. It is not just a question of good food and fine wine, but a real group ritual open to all those who wish to join the company.

The city of Venice is unique from many points of view , starting from the historical monuments and then moving on to the unique landscapes immersed in the streets and canals. The capital of Veneto is ideal for a romantic weekend, an outing with friends or a week to treat yourself to discover the wonders of a city on the water that is truly unique. The Venice airport is now part of almost all national and international routes and is 20 minutes from the city centre , which can be easily reached with transfer services .

Happy Bacaro Tour!

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What is a “Bàcaro”

We can say simply that a bàcaro is a tavern, this could be too —— and not completely correct to say.

Bàcaro is a typical tavern, featured by simple forniture, where mainly glasses of wine ( ombre ) are served along with small appetizers ( cicheti ),showed in the display window over the counter.

But, the main feature that characterized a real “Bacaro” is that is attended by local people, they have always used this place for chatting, laughing and speaking about the different aspects of life, under the control and conviviality of the bar-tender .

The name ‘ bàcaro’ seems came from a Venetian expression as “ far bacara ” that means to have a party, to make noise, so in the end to have a fun. We have to take into account that in the past the tipical customer of the above mentioned places, is used to leave himself with the beverage, typical of “ Dio Bacco “ ( as said overdrunked), and so he didn’t use to respect public peace as it is nowadays.

Also the names of the typical products of bàcaro , “l’ ombra” and “ cicheto” , have their roots; and as regarding as “ ombra” its comes from the attitude of wine’s merchants,that in the past, used to keep the wine in a cool place, and so they moved the wine following the shade of the main tower in Saint Marco Square. ‘ cicheto’ cames from the latin word “ ciccus” that means “small quantity”, and still nowadays is used an italian version, as “cicchetto”. The classic “ciccheto” are: meatballs or fishballs, and’ sarde in saòr’ , or codfish in butter and small octopus “ fòlpeti “ ,they came into a wide range : from fried ones to those are on a slice of bread with a great variety of ingredients.

This pages will bring you to discover the most authentic ‘ bàcari ‘, where is still possible to find out the real Venice, and where you can taste the typical food, listening to the conversation of the local people and take part of this fascinating stage that ‘Venice is.

The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

• Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
• by Kings of Russia
• 8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM  you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

Related Topics

• moscow girls
• moscow nightlife

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