Arrigo Cipriani, the patron of the very famous Harry's bar in Venice decided to give an incentive to the customers of his restaurant, one of the most exclusive and expensive in Venice, applying a discount of 20% to American tourists because of the weakness of US $ compared with euro.
I think it is very amazing because, IMO, the customers of the Harry's bar are not very worried about the exchange dollar / euro.
Anyway, a nice news.

Vincenzo

We were quite ready to go to Harry's and spend some US dollars, but the place was so packed we couldn't even get inside the door. That was just 2 months ago - so I don't think getting customers into the place is a problem!

Hey, the Australian dollar to the euro is just as awful, and has been for years. I wonder if he could give us a discount too??

Well, I guess Mr. Cipriani simply doesn't care about people from other countries whose currency has always been weak compared to the Euro and who often travel to Venice.

Whatever, if I used to think that Harry's Bar was a trap for tourists, now I know it's a trap for Americans.

Don't get me wrong and, please, don't take it personally because I have nothing against americans or the US (I love Miami and New York City) and the americans living in my country are the nicest people I've met or worked with, but I think this is just too much.

Castellanese.

P.S. Non te la prendere male Vicenzo perché non ce l'ho con te o con gli americani, man tutta questa considerazione riguardo loro è una terrificante maniera di dire: "ce ne freghiamo delle altre citadinanze che visitano Venezia".

For someone who wants to try Harry's just to say they did it, a 20% discount would be quite a nice gesture.

I think 20% is a nice gesture...but honestly I was there several years ago before the dollar changed and spent a whopping $12 for his famous peach bellini!! So he has quite a mark up on his drinks!!!

Oh, I say again, I think that it is only a way for Mr. Arrigo to enable talking about him and his restaurant.
That's all !

Vincenzo

Mr. Cipriani was also quoted in the article as saying that he would not ask to see the passports of clients claiming the 20% discount.

So Aussies, Brits, Canadians - go for it!

>one of the most exclusive and expensive in Venice,...

Expensive, yes. Exclusive?

well, let's cancel exclusive and let's say "charming".
Who cannot know that Hemingway "lived" there every night ?!?!
Zerlina is right, let's say that discoun is for every English speaking, he will never ask to show passport !


Vincenzo

Just came across this post while browsing. We were in Venice in May and ALL of the restaurants in St Mark's Square were practically deserted, despite hot days and gorgeous balmy evenings. Perhaps they all need to take a long, hard look at their "exclusive" attitude and pricing! Surely it makes better sense to lower the prices and fill the restaurants??

As with anywhere in Venice, evening is the best time to go out for a meal or a drink --- when all the day-trippers have been collected!!

Roger
http://www.fermedecandeloup.fr

DH just read that a club sandwich at Harry's costs 52 EUROS! Multiply that by $1.57 and you get a whopping big price. So a 20% discount still means it costs about 41.5 Euros. or over 60 bucks!!

What a big favor they are doing!