Exploring Drinks and Drinking Out in Venice, Florence, and Chianti

Il Mercante, Venice

Located in the Shadow of a church. Appears to have originally been a cafe called Cafe Dei Frari that dates back to 1870. Nikola guided us through the menu that had 12 drinks on it, divided into groups of 3 each, and linked to techniques like Distillation, Savoury, Fat Wash & Fermentation

Pictured here is an off-menu drink, the Hanky Panky made with a batch of Fernet from the 70’s.

3 cocktails later, we had an amaro shot on the house to end and a referral to Ae Sorache, a classic Venetian fish restaurant where we had spaghetti and sardines.

Spritz and Cichhetti.?

Can’t get more Venetian than that. This one was enjoyed sadly enough at a bar called Tappo, located near the Jewish ghetto, dating back to 1188 and the oldest in Europe, with a striking memorial to the Jews taken from here to the gas chambers.

Harry’s Bar at the Cipriani

Birthplace of the Bellini, which serves it up in a large thimble and the Martini in a glorified shot glass. Go figure! Both are equally delicious.

The Arts Bar at the iconic St. Regis Hotel, Venice.?

Overlooking the Grand Canal. Their menu is inspired by famous folk who lived in Venice and every cocktail has a glass custom designed and made in Murano. Pictured here is the beautiful riff on a Negroni.

Giacosa, Florence

The Garibaldi- one of the best drinks so far of 2024. At Giacosa where famously (or thereabouts), Count Negroni switched seltzer for gin in an Americano and created the eponymous cocktail.

The Negroni - I could not not have had a Negroni at its birthplace.?

The Atrium Bar - Four Seasons Hotel, Florence.

No one does it better when it comes to hospitality and service, and that mini martini was a surprise. Take a look at the glass too, made in the Czech Republic.

Santa Cocktail Club, Florence

With a menu based on the Divine Comedy, written by Dante, one of Florence’s most famous sons, it was hard to resist the Selva Oscura, with Bulleit x Bitter Umami x Angostura x Momordica x Sugar.

L’eroica?

The hills of Tuscany are beautiful and laden with vines. L’eroica is a cycle race started in 1997 in the province of Sienna, where cyclists have to use vintage bikes, made up to 1987. I’m sure they must recover with a lot of wine after that!