Venice Cocktail Week 2025

Planning a fall getaway to Italy? If you're into cocktails, culture, and a splash of elegance, you’ll want to mark your calendar for Venice Cocktail Week 2025, taking place from Wednesday, October 22 to 26 in the one and only city of canals, Venice.

This isn’t just any cocktail event. Venice Cocktail Week (VCW) is one of Italy’s top-tier mixology festivals, offering five days packed with unique drinks, stunning venues, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re a cocktail aficionado, a curious beginner, or just someone looking to explore Venice beyond the usual tourist spots, VCW promises something special.

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What is Venice Cocktail Week?

Venice Cocktail Week is the Venetian spin-off of the much-loved Florence Cocktail Week, founded by Paola Mencarelli, a major figure in Italy’s cocktail scene. With the backing of the city of Venice and its tourism arm, Vela S.p.A., VCW first launched in 2021 and has been growing ever since.

Now entering its 4th edition in 2025, VCW has evolved into something much more than a bar crawl. It’s a full-on celebration of mixology, designed to shine a light on local bartenders, elevate cocktail culture, and bring together top talent from Italy and around the globe. The goal? To promote mindful, responsible, and high-quality drinking while highlighting the rich culture and heritage of Venice.

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Event Details for 2025

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Dates: Wednesday, October 22 – Sunday, October 26, 2025

Venues: 28 bars across Venice (including hotel bars, cocktail lounges, and classic cafés)

Curated by: Paola Mencarelli

Supported by: The City of Venice and Vela S.p.A.

Official Website: https://www.venicecocktailweek.it

Over five days, bars all across Venice will come alive with events, exclusive drinks, and collaborative programming that spans from casual to sophisticated.

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What to Expect

Each participating bar will offer two special cocktails created just for the event. First, there are Signature Cocktails whose unique creations capture the bar’s character and vibe. Second, there is the Midday Aperitif, a light and refreshing drink that is perfect for daytime sipping as you explore the city.

But that’s just the start.

There’ll be guest shifts by top bartenders, pop-up bars, masterclasses, brunch events, cultural talks, hands-on experiences, and more. Even if you’re new to cocktails, you’re welcome. VCW includes plenty of educational and beginner-friendly content. It’s a true deep-dive into the world of mixology, with something for everyone.

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Pop-Ups & Special Highlights

One of the new additions for 2025 is a series of ICW (Italian Cocktail Week) Pop-Up Bars, a collaboration with other regional cocktail weeks like those in Florence and Amalfi. Select bars in Venice will host guest bars from these sister events, creating special crossover moments.

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Opening Party: October 22 at Aman Venice, curated by head bartender Antonio Ferrara.

Closing Party: October 26 at The St. Regis Venice (Arts Bar). This grand finale, newly added in 2025, brings together bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts for one last celebration.

While some of these events are invitation-only, many others are open to the public, both free and ticketed. You can check the full lineup and make reservations via the official site.

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A Visual Feast

VCW isn’t just about taste, it’s a feast for the eyes too. The event’s visual storytelling is a work of art in itself.Portraits of the bartenders are shot by renowned Italian photographer Veronica Gaido. Cocktail and venue photography comes from award-winning food and drink photographer Michele Tamaccio. The event’s stylish logo, featuring a martini glass morphing into a Venetian gondola, was designed by global design icon Piero Lissoni based on a sketch by Marino Lucchetti, bar manager of LPV Bar.

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Why You Should Go

Let’s be honest, Venice is always magical. But Venice with cocktails? That’s something else.

Venice Cocktail Week gives you a chance to experience the city like a local, discovering bars you’d never find on a tourist map and connecting with a passionate community of bartenders and drink lovers. It’s immersive, inspiring, and unforgettable.

So if you’re planning a trip to Italy this fall, why not build your itinerary around October in Venice? It might just turn into the highlight of your year.

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*For full details, updates, and reservations, visit the official Venice Cocktail Week website.

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Cheers to discovering Venice, one cocktail at a time.

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Participating Bars List

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Hotel Bar

Alchemia Bar - Ca’ di Dio

Arts Bar - The St.Regis Venice 

Bar Biblioteca - Nolinski Venezia

Experimental Cocktail Club - Il Palazzo Experimental 

Il Caravellino - Hotel Saturnia & International

Il Piccolo Bar - Violino d’Oro 

Il Porto Lounge Bar - Palazzo Veneziano 

Lord Byron - Palazzo Keller

Orientalbar & Bistrot - Hotel Metropole Venezia

Santa Cocktail Club Venezia - Hotel L’Orologio Venezia

Skyline Rooftop Bar - Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

The Bar at Aman Venice - Aman Venice 

The “G” Lounge & Garden Bar - Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace

Venixino Lounge & Garden - Donà Palace 

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COCKTAIL BAR 

Blue Drop Venice

Caffè Florian 

Caffè Lavena

Grancaffè Quadri

Il Mercante

La Barrique Wine Bar  

Marciano 

Mirai 

Moro Venice

Rétro 

Rivoire

Tarnowska’s American Bar 

Terrazza Aperol

Time Social Bar 

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EVENT PARTNER

All’Angelo Art Cafè

Aurora Beach Bar 

Bar Colombina, Hotel Colombina

Hard Rock Café 

Heureka Bar, Hotel Heureka

San Giorgio Cafè

Tappa Bistrot

Venissa

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Photo Courtesy: Venice Cocktail Week