Ok, there is the history of Harry's because it use to cater to rich Americans on their grand European tour, and it is home of bellini. The allure of this old bar is undeniable, everyone is in white coats, very classy but what this place is, is a very small bar in need of a major renovation/cleanup that charges over $20 for a bellini, and is as pricey for other drinks as well. Sure the bellini is really good, but $20 for a small drink is little too much. read more

stunned by the hate toward Harry's! The price definitely skyrocketed since my first Bellini there in 2006 but hey, that's inflation for ya. the place is extremely small with low ceiling and maybe a 4 seated bar if I recall correctly. The exterior door alone adds to the character of the place. The servers are all in white coats which further adds to the charm of the experience. I found the staff to be very friendly and attentive but they are extremely busy. This place just has a sense of history to it that's different than San Marco's square or the truly historical sites. It's a more modern history but you can tell there've been great stories and adventures had here. You can just feel it. As for the Bellini's themselves, they're knock your socks off. I won't ever drink another Bellini because nothing else compares to the flavor of Harrys. I adore this place and will continue making it a regular stop when in Venezia. read more

My absolute favorite thing about Venice. Harry's bar is a legend for many reasons: the drinks, the clientele, the ambience, the understated decor....and then there is...the BEST cuisine. I love everything about this place. If money is not an issue, this is a great place to enjoy a nice evening. read more

I don't get it. I know that this place is famous but it's just not worth it. The food is mediocre and everything is beyond overpriced. There is a $25 (Euro) sitting fee, a $5 (Euro) fee for bread, a sizable gratuity will be included in your bill whether you want it to be or not, and the prices of the menu items are nothing short of obscene. We went here for our first anniversary dinner and regretted our decision afterwards. I guess we should have known that our meals weren't going to be out of this world when we looked around both the bar downstairs and the restaurant upstairs and did not see a single Italian customer in the joint. It was entirely filled with wealthy American tourists. My husband and I each ordered bellinis which were served in those tiny juice glasses you get at breakfast---$15 (Euros). We had a bowl of boring bean soup that equated to over $40 American dollars. (The "authentic Tuscan bean soup" was not at all like the traditional bean soups we had in Tuscany, but instead, tasted like someone added water to refried beans and ladled it into a bowl.) There was a hamburger on the menu (nothing special-- no kobe beef or brie or anything) that equated to approximately $70 American dollars. Looking at the menu (or the prices, rather) and expecting the most fantastic meal of my life, I thought I'd splurge and get something nice, instead of scouring the menu for an item that would do the least damage to our bank account. I ended up ordering a veal dish recommended by our server. It was completely underwhelming. It was simply chunks of meat in an unexciting sauce with some artichoke hearts, served alongside the most boring and flavorless rice pilaf I've ever had. I think it equated to about $120 American dollars. What a waste. My husband ordered pasta, which was just adequate. If you order pasta in Italy and start to count all of the Italian American restaurants in your hometown that make a way better dish, that's a bad sign. We were both regretting coming to Harry's when we could have gone to one of the countless other restaurants in Venice that serve really good, authentic Italian cuisine. Harry's is overrated and overpriced. It completely banks on its history to get customers in the door. I have no problem with having an expensive dinner now and again, especially for a special occasion, but the meal has to justify the price. The food should be delicious and memorable. It just boggles my mind that people still flock to this place, given it's very average food and unconscionably high prices. My advice: Peek your head inside of Harry's if you want to catch a glimpse of this "historic" bar, but don't waste your Euros. read more

Well...what can i say. If you want a jaw dropping $24 WARM Bellini, then here's your spot! Arrogance erupts from behind the bar, in a weird robotic disdain. And, sound the horns! We are seated. Warm bread, gratis. Great. mmm, bread where i can get in Minnesota. Ordered beef carpaccio, hold on to your hats folks, yep $83 (74 . After a-just-cold-enough- t0-not-complain-about- Prosecco (value priced @ $18). Girlfriend had tagliatelle pasta, a Sling Blade presentation, was honestly great. Lasagna deconstructed if you will. Oh, and still pissed about the carpaccio. Heavy Mayo destroyed any nuance of the beef, which in retrospect, was painful. Beef extremely tender. If in Venice, say addio to Harry's. read more

This place exceeded our expectations! We only had drinks but the vibe was incredibly warm and friendly (despite some saying differently). We managed to get three seats at the bar and Marco, the bartender was knowledgeable and very charismatic so I can't imagine anyone having a bad time around him. Sure the drinks are next level expensive, but it's not a place you stumble into- you know what you're getting yourself into and it's well worth it. The bellini's are truly amazing and I would have stayed for dinner if plans permitted. Being that I'm from an Italian American from NYC and never went to a Cipriani makes me reconsider avoiding what I just was a bunch of overpriced hype. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND COMING HERE!! read more

Went here on our honeymoon because we wanted to try a Bellini in the place that invented it. The bottom line is that it's worth the experience just to be able to say you've done it. The Bellini is actually quite good...and INSANELY EXPENSIVE. The place is also insanely crowded...apparently, with tourists like us who really wanted to try a Bellini in the place that invented it. Go once...say you've been there, convince others it makes you as cool as Hemingway, order a Bellini, pay the bill...and then run like hell out of there. read more

We were staying in Venice for 4 days and were travelling with our black and white poodle (a standard one weighing about 50lbs), when we asked our hotel concierge if they could find out about us getting into the famous Harry's bar. This local place has been the watering hole of the rich, famous and of course many a politician and royalty. So we were uncertain that the we would get in with our dog, the hotel assured us that they had spoken to his contact there and we were all set. The actual outside is non descripte and the entrance is actually hidden from the outside view by a big velour curtain. The doormen pulled back the curtain to the room and led us to the small lounge area in the front. They must have been curious about said dog, because we were greeted by a standing row of impeccably dressed waiters standing at attention leading us to a table in the centre of the room. What a way to make an entrance! We sat and nibbled on some olives and had some cocktails made by an expert barman. We only stayed for the cocktail hour but while we were there we struck up conversations with some really nice ladies from the UK. They were quite funny because they were regulars and has been going there for years and they told us they had never seen an entrance like that before (plus they were dog lovers). It is a place that can seem intimidating but it is a must do so add it to your bucket list, and bring your dog for extra vavoom. read more

The one star is for the history and the bragging rights. I'm sure it was once a wonderful place to hang out and rub elbows with the blah, blah , blah... Unfortunately it is now only a claustrophobic, sad little space filled with bored , arrogant waitstaff and wannabes. I don't think a local would be caught dead in here. The 25 dollar Bellinis were good but certainly not worth the price, which would have been ok if the atmosphere had made up for it. Disappointing. read more

Hemingway would probably hate this place today... No character, no laughter, no friendly barman... Just a bunch of stupid tourists thinking their experiencing the 'real' Bellini... Yawn read more

The fact that i'd paid 28.5 Euros for a medium dry martini (top shelf) served by the most professional wait staff i've ever had - including Michelin rated establishments, or that they actually stand by their dress code (declined a couple entry because the guy had flip flops and shorts), or it could be that it was the original place where the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Arturo Toscanini had once dined there....it just has that Cool Cat feeling! I didn't eat there, but did have a several drinks there......just an awesome place! read more

The only good thing to do at Harry's is to score a corner table, or at least a table against the wall, order an astronomically overpriced gin and tonic (or two) and watch the people. Not quite the bar in star wars, but close. DO NOT EAT ANYTHING! read more

Just go! No complaints. I agree with Stephanie L. as I to am stunned by the attitudes of of the reviewers. So what if a Bellini if 20 euros......are you going to go this far and miss this place? At least if you go once home you can tell your friends all about it and they don't care what is costs they will be jealous that you went and not them. And the great part; Harry's is always crowded so do they really care if you don't like the price. They could probably double it and still be crowded............so come on if you are going to complain then just stay home. read more

We went for an 'aperitivo' after sightseeing on a Saturday afternoon. It is all about the ambiance and the history of the place. We sat at the bar; it was very entertaining to watch the barman. The Bellini seems to taste better at its birth place! The staff was very attentive and friendly. I consider a visit to Harry's Bar a 'must' stop if you are in Venice :) read more

Harry's is a great restaurant!!!! The service is superb; among the finest anywhere. The food is always fantastic. Portions are large and the extremely professional waiters are more than happy to split your order. We have been coming there for years and are treated well because we respect what they do and they respect us for being courteous and appreciative of their fine cooking. To those who complain about the prices....well, what did your last really good sushi meal cost? Likely, more than Harry's and you probably did not walk away smiling. Now that fall is upon us, it is time for white truffles. One will not find better white truffles than those at Harry's. Order one pasta for two as an appetizer and you will find the largest portion of shaved white truffles you have ever experienced. I love the restaurant, the ambiance, the clubby feeling of the downstairs bar and the warm welcome. Harry's Bar deserves its legendary, iconic status. read more

We only popped in here for a drink on a recommendation from a friend who rated this as one of 'the' places the visit in Venice. We paid £20 each for a bellini, EACH. The bellini itself was perfectly nice but nothing to write home about. The restaurant looked really good, we didn't eat there, but for the price, I don't think it's worth it. I mean, how much does a bit of fizz and orange juice actually cost. read more

My date and I went for drinks at noon and the next day lunch at one thirty. The sleepy, wooden, almost nautical bar serves "the best" bellinis my date has had, and later in the day it transforms into an energetic restaurant serving a fun lunch. Great people watching, good service, quality food. The food alone would not be worth four stars, but when combined with the atmosphere the experience is a lot of fun (although the saffron pasta is delicious). Both my date and I agreed we'd love to go back, and it's one of the most fun lunches we've ever had. read more

Very expensive!! We came here being it is the home of the Bellini, however it was €16 for one very small Bellini. Cool to say you've been there but not worth the money. read more

Amazing food, absolutely decadent. Dont go if you won't spend 100 plus per person with drinks. Everyone complains about the price, not the food. We went three days in a row and loved it. Desserts are also amazing, lots of table side service. read more

Atmosphere is grand. Bartender makes a smooth dry Martini and a very fine Belini. He served olives and chicken brochettes with our drinks. Highly recommend this to everyone. read more

A tourist trap. Really expensive drinks in an average not so great bar. Go stand outside and take a photo if you must, then go somewhere good. read more

Great Belinis, very low kep and small bar.

Honestly, this place is really pretty good. HOWEVER, it is waaaaay overpriced for what you get and I spend some dough on food, this is a statement I rarely make. A drink or two with some light munchies will set you back about a $100. The place is really tiny, hard to see from the pictures. This IS NOT a comfortable place for a fat or larger person. Seriously, its really hard to squeeze by people and furniture to get to your seat. Visiting the bathroom up the tiny, narrow stairs is also not fun. Should you head over to this famous place for a drink and to check it out? Sure, but not if you are on a strict budget. read more

Greatly over-rated and greatly over-priced. I've been to much fancier places with much better food, better service, and better views, for noticeably less cost. The food here was fairly good, but not amazing. The service was quite good (except when they forgot for a LONG time that we wanted the bill), but not top-notch. The bill was ridiculously over-inflated. I would almost give this place 2 stars for how inflated the prices are. Go to Bistrot de Venise instead. Better food, better service, better decor, but cheaper. read more

Supposedly the oldest bar in Venice, I had to check it out. Very classy, small dining area downstairs. We headed upstairs just to have a drink. Waiters were very professional, drinks were stiff. read more

Stopped in to get a Manhattan for "mio morito" on the way to our hotel. We were told no shorts after 6 pm. It's Venice and a tourist trap but no shorts? FYI my husband had on Bermuda shorts. I was in a dress. Harry's in Rome was very nice. read more

World famous...you have to go in for a Bellini...nice cream walls and hint of art deco but very overpriced with snooty staff. Do it to tick it off your list then head for the Gritti Palace hotel nearby, as at the desk: "Non stiamo qui, ma possiamo avere qualcosa da bere?" They'll let you have a swift one in the beautifully mirrored bar with it's own private jetty, great view and worth every penny. I love this place. One day, when I win the lottery... read more

There's a dress code and the hostess snobbishly told us we had to sit upstairs. We then asked if there was any correlation between this Harry's and the one in Paris (having just gone there and having a great time) and she said with great dignity that her location was the original which is not true at all. Finally, the prices are outrageous, don't waste your time when stepping into this place. read more

It is the thing to do to come to this historic spot so that you can experience the spot where Hemingway would often visit. If you keep that it mind you won't be disappointed by all the tourists, the ordinary exterior/interiors, and the expensive food and drink ($24 for the famous Bellini!). We weren't allowed to take photos inside and had to leave after 15 minutes of sitting in Hemingway's booth because another large party with reservations was coming in ( okay by me as 15 minutes was more than enough). Our waiter gave us postcards to commemorate our visit. read more

outrageous pricing. we came here for a lovely dinner and ended up paying way too much money for sub par food. the place was full of sugar daddies and sugar babies and it had an awful atmosphere. i would not recommend, not at all worth the money. very upset with the results. read more

I'm giving Harry's 4 stars with the caveat being - If you don't mind spending 14 Euro on a small bellini in the place where they were created, it's worth a look for that simple bit of history. We chose not to stay and eat at Harry's (though I'm told it is the upstairs you want to go to rather than the downstairs where the bar area is) but came in to try and Bellini and ask some questions about the venue. Our bartender was really helpful and shared with us the story (that he must repeat about 20x a day) of the restaurant. Though you could tell he's been asked questions 100x before he humoured us with a chat. There are definitely other bars I would recommend over Harry's to sit and spend time (and pay equivalent or less) but worth the check if you're only once in Venice. read more

This place is awesome, the atmosphere is something out of a movie and the scene is very upscale and proper. The wife and I had some excellent cocktails, she had the famous Bellini and I went with an old fashion. The drinks were prepared from super fresh ingredients and reasonably priced. Not sure what some reviewers are complaining about it terms of costs here. We didn't eat dinner here but the food looked really amazing and definitely recommend you check out dinner and do some drinks while visiting Venice at this historic place! read more

Is it pricey? Yes. Is it absolutely delicious and worth the experience? Without a doubt. I walked in just as they opened and was seated in the downstairs lounge. Many people were being either turned away or led upstairs because they were wearing shorts. We were not. The Maitre d. Came right over, introduced himself and took our cocktail order. I said "I will have white wine, and he said "you must have a bellini!" And out it came with a beautiful basket of bread, grissini and rolls. Te bellini was delicious and we ended up ordering 2 more....I had the bean and noodle soup which was so rich and comforting I could not finish it. It was 19 euros, but similar to eating a steak dinner. My husband had the tartar, and said it was excellent. I mentioned to the waiter that I had read the Harry's bar biography a year earlier while in the caribbean, and before I knew it 84 year old Arrigo Cipriani was at my table thanking me for my patronage. Surely a kind gesture I will remember all my life. read more

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