I'll travel to Italy in July and I'd like some suggestions on how to spend the night in Venice, apart from the gondola. What are the most interesting and fashionable places at the moment (bars, restaurants, etc.)?

We were in Italy in May and enjoyed drinks in the San Marco piazza. There are 3 different bands playing music (they take turns so everyone can enjoy them) throughout the evening. Drinks ARE EXPENSIVE but worth the outdoor experience. For 4 drinks we paid L50,000 (about $28 which included a "music" charge). Quite enjoyable.

Monica: I assumed the Plaza is very large, so how does one know where to sit to hear the music? Also, what kind of drinks for 50.000 L? Cocktails? Sodas? Wine? Do they push you to constantly replenish your drinks or is one round enough?

I agree that St. Mark's Square (or Piazza San Marco) is the place to be at night. As someone said above, usually 3 four-piece orchestras are playing outside in the Piazza at night. One plays in front of Florian's and one plays in front of Quadri's. These are two of the oldest most famous and opulent cafes in Venice -- people such as Byron and Dickens, among many others, frequented these cafes. You can stand and listen to the music, or you can sit in front of the cafes (outside in the Piazza) and order something. It's expensive, but worth it at least once in my opinion. The third orchestra is usually in the part of the Piazza near the water across from Doges Palace...they play in front of another cafe, less famous than the others. I didn't sit at this cafe, and it may be that this one is cheaper than Florian's or Quadri's. But the Piazza is definitely a popular spot to be at night. Right near St. Mark's Square is Harry's Bar -- made famous as Hemingway's hangout. We unfortunately never got a chance to go there, but I heard that it's a great place to go for a drink at night (it's where the Bellini cocktail was invented). They also serve dinner, but it's expensive. By the way, for anyone going to Venice I recommend the book "Venice and the Veneto" by Eyewitness Travel Guides. I took it on my 3rd trip to Venice last summer and used it all the time -- it has detailed street maps in the back, information on landmarks, restaurants, hotels, etc.

Arline, you can't miss the bands. They are outside and lots of people usually stand and listen walking from one to the next. You can order any drink you want. I had two glasses of wine and my husband had 2 Martini Rosso drinks (not the martini's you're familiar with). And we sat as long as we wanted. In fact it took a while to get our bill. Splurge and have a good time. Go for just one drink if you want to.

Although it wasn't at night we sat (on different days) at both Florian's and Quadri's at afternoon tea time. At Florian's we had high tea (tea or coffee with little sandwiches, cakes and biscotti) for only L20,000 each. A drink at Quadri's a couple of days later (non alcoholic cocktail) cost us about L12,000 each - both cafes included a percentage for the music. <BR> <BR>Some of the churches in Venice have concerts at night, particularly Vivaldi (being a local). It's a lovely, atmospheric experience, especially if you are into pre baroque to early classical period music. <BR>

Most of the locals go to a city nearby called Jesolo (sp?). By day a quiet town, by night a night-clubbers paradise. You would probably need a car to get there (I think it's about 30-40 km away from Venice) and the road is very treacherous especially with all of the returning clubbers who have been drinking all night.

Joanna is right re concerts which include Mozart. <BR><BR>THere are costumed students on the streets that <BR><BR>accept credit cards for these performances & are a <BR><BR>delightful source of info. Tickets are cheap & <BR><BR>if offered a school or a church, select the church <BR><BR>as we thought the acoustics were great (these <BR><BR>performances are in costume which adds to the exper- <BR><BR>ience).

Good evening, what to do in Venice at night. <BR>#1Casino Municipale, Venezia, splits half the year, the summer on the Lido and the winter in Venice proper. call 041.529 71 11 for details have the usual run of games including slots, video poker, also has bar and ristorante.. <BR>#2 Piano Bar MARTINI SCALA , open 10P to 330A Clos Tue. <BR>#3.THE FIDDLERS ELBOW IRISH PUB, Cannaregio, 3847 near Strada Nuova, tel 5239930 <BR>#4 Discoteche CLUB EL SOUK ?Accademia 1056/a. tel 52000371 <BR>ACROPOLIS , Lido di Venezia Lungomare Marconi, 22, tel 5260466 <BR>Richard of Hickory Hills...

HI,

I am travelling to Italy with my husband next week, 6th July 2011. We will be going to Venice for 2 days and then continuing our journey to Florence and Rome. We are taking the train from Venice to Florence which leaves Venice at 3 am from Mestre. Can you sugeest what can we do from 11pm to 3 am next morning in Venice or Mestre? Also if we stay in Venice would we get transportation to get to Mestre at that time in the morning? We have very little time left and still a lot more to organise. All the help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Regards,
Neha Muchhal.

I agree completely with the recommendations to spend evenings in St. Mark's Square. Every time I visit Venice, one of the highlights is sitting in St. Marks, having a drink and listening to the wonderful music. I'm transfixed by the lights and sounds and could sit there forever. It's magical!

Just don't expect the prices to be the same as they were when this thread was active. It's been a while since anything was charged in lira!

Neha_Muchhal- said: "We are taking the train from Venice to Florence which leaves Venice at 3 am from Mestre. Can you sugeest what can we do from 11pm to 3 am next morning in Venice or Mestre?".............You're kidding right?? Husband....wife....? Honey, just go to sleep.

Kidding...