| Dining reviews and photos of Harry's Bar posted by real travelers and Venice locals.
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 Harry's Bar by Krystynn
For the absolutely clueless, the Bellini drink consists of a mixture of white peach juice and sparkling prosecco, named after the fifteenth-century Venetian painter - Giovanni Bellini.
The Carpaccio is a plate of trimmed sirloin sliced wafer thin beef - dressed with a Jackson Pollock spray of mayonnaise mixed with lemon juice. It was specially concocted for an Italian Contessa (Countess) who was on a diet and I believe, anti-cooked meat. ;-) Like the Bellini, the Carpaccio dish was named after an Italian painter, Vittore Carpaccio.
Back to this legendary restaurant: Famous past diners include Ernest Hemingway (American writer), Maria Callas & Aristotle Onassis, Orson Welles, Aga Khan, Nicole Kidman and Helen Hunt amongst others.
And now, follow me up to the 2nd level for dinner.... (the ground floor is where the Bar is located).
If you come to Harry's Bar for dinner, you must be prepared to pay through your nose. The very first time we visited the restaurant (in the mid-1990s) with my girlfriends, they almost threw me into the lagoon when they saw the prices in the menu. But it was too late... so we had no choice but to go ahead and order some dishes. Fortunately for us, and being women, the waiter kinda believed us when we groaned that we were actually on a very strict diet. So, at the time, we ordered only soup and dessert. It wasn't cheap but I survived my girlfriends' wrath and lived to tell this story! ;-)
My most recent visit to Harry's Bar was in the summer of 2001. This time, a lovely guy paid for the entire meal. And so, I truly enjoyed this meal!
My recommendations:
Harry's Bar Minestrone Soup is molto bello. No wonder. Be prepared to fork out almost EUR 20.00 for the soup. Not joking.
My favorite Scampi all'Armoricaine (remember, I always order this dish) costs slightly over EUR 50.00 per dish. The must-try Carpaccio alla Cipriani dish which I shared with the guy I was with - cost approx. EUR 50.00.
If you have a full course meal (soup, antipasti, main dish, dessert, coffee, bellini) - expect to pay approx. EUR 180.00 (minimum) PER PERSON. If you drink wine... it'll cost more naturally.
Don't panic. I know the cost of a humble meal here can bankrupt a normal person.... So, come only for dinner to celebrate big events like birth of baby, engagement, weddings etc.
Because Harry's Bar boasts of an international clientele (including Asians - like the Japanese and Chinese), their Daily Menu comes with the exchange rate for 9 major currencies!!
Inspite of all these little signs that this restaurant is not going to be a cheap place to dine in, tourists and foreigners still throng to Harry's Bar whenever they come to Venice! Theme: ItalianPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: most expensiveAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 041 5285777
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Who knows if Harry's bar even serves food, but the Bellini's are to die for. A definite must for fans of Hemingway to visit this bar.
Gentlemen: no shorts are allowed in Harry's, the staff will ask you to leave.
It is kind of obsurely located so keep your eyes peeled.
A british/american style bar their claim to fame is the Bellini.
A Bellini is white peach nectar and prosecco. It is simply delicious but at 13 euro a piece it is an expensive treat but well worth it. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777
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If you happen to go to Harry's Bar, go straight to the bar and order the World's Best Bellini (peach & champagne). Don't sit to eat, though. My friend and I did and spent over $50 each on a club sandwich (the cheapest thing on the menu!). Although, it was the best club sandwich I've ever eaten... but $50?
Bellini Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: most expensiveAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777Directions: Right off the Piazza San Marco Vaparetto stop. Go left.
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We were coming to the end of a busy day, and tried to go up the Campanile - but it was closed - so we decided to go and have a relaxing quiet drink somewhere.
My tourist book highlighted that Harry's Bar was a famous watering hole of Ernest Hemmingway, so we headed towards it..
As the windows are glazed, we could not see inside, so we were shocked when we walked in and discovered that it was quite small and serviced by waiters in white jackets, one of which directed us to a table (with our wooly hats and big bags).
We knew it would not be cheap, but not that expensive! As we looked through the cocktail menu and took our hats off - to show fabulous hat hair - we noticed the Bellini....
The Bellini - A cocktail created in Harry's Bar by Giuseppi Cipriani
This was lovely.. just what we wanted - Peach nectar and Prosecco sparkling wine.
To know that it was created where we were sat was a brilliant feeling and made it taste even better...
And, the fact that I would have to be grateful considering it cost 14 Euros each!!
Suffice to say - we didn't eat there!! Theme: Wine Bar/Wine TastingPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: most expensiveAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777Directions: 5 mins from St. Mark's Sq - past the gardens
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We generally don't frequent "World Famous Restaurants". Having read an article in Saveur Magazine we thought we would take a shot.
I can't say that this is a horrible restaurant, but it's designed to milk every cent out of the eager tourist.
Food quality and presentations were right out of the 1950's. If you're going to charge $25 for Carpaccio the appetizer ,at least put it on a large chilled plate (not b&b size) with some garnish.
Had one of the Bellinis ($11) in the bar. It was presented in a 6 ounce juice glass. Tasty, but not particularly cold.
Service was uneven, slow at first even though the restaurant was not full. The entree was delivered before we finished half of our appetizers. We requested a window table but were told that they were not available. They were not occupied during our dinner. We were quite close to the kitchen door.
Waiters were pleasant and fun (bartender was a bit snobby).
The total bill for dinner (not including the Bellinis in the bar), was $239. 2 courses per person plus 2 beers.
The Scampi was flavorful, but again poorly presented and stingy with the shrimp. Overall the food was not memorable. Leave a Comment Theme: Eclectic/InternationalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: most expensiveAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777Directions: Waterfront
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 by fdrich29Leave a Comment Theme: LocalAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777
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 Harrys Bar Venice by suvanki
I'd walked past this famous bar/restaurant twice already without realising. When I'd decided to treat myself to one of their legendary Bellini cocktails, it took me a while to find again.
I was expecting something more distinctive. The side doorway and the frosted windows don't give many clues as to the interior.
As a female travelling alone, it's sometimes a bit daunting to enter a restaurant or bar, so I usually like to suss a place out from the outside first.
Well, it was Christmas Day, so decided that a Bellini at Harrys was in order. I had been in 2 minds - was this 'too touristy'? but then again, this was probably on one of those 'things to do before you die' lists.
The Bellini cocktail was invented here, as was the raw Beef dish Carpaccio in 1950, for Comptessa Amalia Noni Mocenigo, who's doctor had forbidden her to eat cooked meats. The dish colouring was reminiscent of Carpaccios paintings.
Harrys Dry Martini is also a speciality - 10 parts gin :1 part vermouth
Famed as Hemingways favourite bar, and host to decades of celebrities, royalty and 'the well heeled' I was expecting to step back into the 1930's!
Taking a deep breath, I entered through the side door - straight into a small light room, with a bar to the left, and small tables, where groups were eating, arranged around the other 3 walls. There appeared to be another room at least, reached up a few steps at the side of the bar.
I took a seat at the bar, and waited for the bar man to acknowledge my presence, which took a while - there was no-one else waiting to be served. I'd read so many reports about the prompt, polite service offered to all who entered the bar- Hmmm- not so!
I ordered my Bellini, expecting to see a skillfully made cocktail from fresh white peaches and prosecco. I was quite disappointed to find it was poured from a jug - I don't know how long it had been made. So I don't know if this was a good Bellini or not!
Looking around the room, there were diners in varying groups - families/ friends with a variety of languages/accents, mainly in the 60+ age range.
I'm afraid I did feel a bit disappointed, even if my drink had been free (instead of 14 euros) there wasn't the atmosphere or service that I'd understood was part of this legendary establishment. For a Christmas Day afternoon, it was particularly joyless!
A glass of Prosecco is about 7 euros
I've since read others comments about their experience here - Some rave about it, others had a similar experience to mine. this link gives some interesting comments
I had a Bellini - which was 'OK' I can't compare it to others as this was the only one I tried in Venice.
I was disappointed to see that it was just poured from a jug, standing on a shelf - I don't know how long it had been standing there
I did buy a pack of 3 'ready mixed' Bellini bottles from the airport - You can buy these or 'kits' from the Cipriani stand in the airport food shop - and they tasted OK too. Leave a Comment Theme: ItalianComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777Directions: VAPORETTO - SAN MARCO VALLARESSO
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The best way to describe the interior of Harry's Bar is that it reminds you of a working mans club. Small room with bare walls and reproduction prints complete with seats hugging the walls all the way round. To be fair, a working mans club would have more atmosphere and interesting people.
Any ambience the place might once have possessed has long gone. We glanced around the room to see stunned faces, all thinking the same as us "Why on earth have we paid £20.00 for two drinks to sit in here"?
This may have been a haunt for the rich and famous in the past, but you wouldn't find them in here now!! They're all well aware of what a hyped up tourist attraction this is.
Bellini - sweet, pink and mildy fizzy - think alcopop. Give this place a miss. Theme: OtherComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777
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 Harry's Bar Venice by cfuentesmTheme: LocalPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: San Marco 1323 Calle VallaressoPhone: 39-41-528-5777
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 Downstairs of Harry's Bar by KokeAC
I am not very brave, I had the chesseburger which was very good and different from American burgers. My husband had a pasta dish that was wonderful. Leave a Comment
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