Want to live a different Venice - made of soft lights, shaker, author’s glasses and surprises around the corner - the Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is the event for you.
In this guide we of Venice Insider Guide will walk you through everything you need to know: what is, how it works, who participates, where and when, useful details to plan your mixological stay in the Serenissima.
So, welcome to the ultimate guide to Venice Cocktail Week 2025 by Venice Insider Guide, where you will find: dates, participating bars, formula, program and practical tips to participate with awareness and pleasure.
What is Venice Cocktail Week
Venice Cocktail Week (VCW) is an event dedicated to contemporary mixology, designed to highlight the cocktail bar, hotel bar and refined venues of Venice, and at the same time promote a culture of conscious and quality drinking.
It’s an opportunity to discover exclusive cocktails, attend masterclasses, themed events, collaborations with international mixologists and experiential paths in the city, all in the name of high mixology.
The event is part of the Italian Cocktail Weeks network, created by Paola Mencarelli, which includes similar initiatives in other Italian cities (Florence, Amalfi, Cortina).
Since the first edition, VCW has wanted to highlight the bartender as a creative and central figure of the experience, not just an executor, and to link the culture of drinking with art, food, design and experiential tourism.
4th edition
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is the 4th edition. Compared to previous editions, the format has undergone some changes: the duration is slightly shorter to make the experience more concentrated and there will be collaborations with pop-up bars “twin” from other ICW events.
Already confirmed the consolidated formats (exclusive cocktail list in participating venues, educational events, guest shift, experiential moments) but with an added luxury: the closing party at The St. Regis Venice.
How does Venice Cocktail Week 2025 work
Understanding the formula is key to living Venice Cocktail Week 2025 to the fullest.
- Spread out: the event takes place in multiple bars across the city (hotel bars and cocktail bars), each with its own program of events, tastings and proposals.
- Special cocktail list: each participating bar will offer cocktails dedicated to the festival. In 2025, bars will offer two creations: a Signature Cocktail (characteristic, creative) and a Midday Aperitif (light, also thought for the day).
- Events & masterclass: besides just drinking, there will be educational moments: masterclasses, meetings, guest shift (bartenders performing in bars not their own), brunch, aperitifs and cultural events. Some events will be free (with reservation), others will require ticket or invitation.
- ICW pop-up bars: one of the new features of 2025 is the introduction of pop-up bars from the Italian Cocktail Weeks network. Some Venetian bars will host bartenders or formats from Florence, Amalfi, etc.
- Opening and closing event: the opening party and closing party are confirmed in prestigious locations.
- Access and reservations: educational events will be free but with mandatory reservation; events in bars will be paid or invitation only for the public and operators.
You as a visitor can move from one bar to another, taste dedicated cocktails, book masterclasses and live Venice as a city of evolved drinking.
Who participates in Venice Cocktail Week 2025
The stars of Venice Cocktail Week 2025 are:
- Selected bars and hotel bars: in 2025 we expect 28 bars to participate in the city.
- Resident and guest bartenders: the bartenders of the selected bars will interpret their creative vision; national and international bartenders will also arrive for guest shifts.
- Beverage industry sponsors and partners: companies producing spirits, distillates, ingredients and equipment will participate as sponsors, suppliers and partners for the activities. In 2025, the main sponsors include Altamura Distilleries, Nonino, Select, Sospiri Botaniche Veneziane and others.
- Institutional and local operators: the event is promoted with the patronage of the city of Venice and with the support of Vela S.p.A.
- International public and cocktail enthusiasts: tourists, cocktail enthusiasts, curious, industry professionals and hospitality professionals. The goal is to attract an international audience focused on quality and experience.
So it’s a ecosystem where art, business, tourism and drinking culture coexist.
When is Venice Cocktail Week 2025? Dates
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 will take place from October 22nd to 26th 2025.
This means it will be a 5-day version, compared to the 7 days used in previous editions.Remember: the reduction of days is to make the festival more compact.
Where is Venice Cocktail Week 2025? Location
There is no single main location: Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is all over the city. The activities will be spread across:
- Historical and innovative cocktail bars in the city center
- Luxury hotel bars in Venetian palaces
- Partner locations and pop-up events
- Some guest bars that will host formats from other cocktail weeks (ICW pop-up)
Examples of participating bars (hotel bars and cocktail bars) include:
- Arts Bar, The St. Regis Venice
- Bar Biblioteca, Nolinski Venezia (where a special creation “From Paris to Venice” will be available)
- Skyline Rooftop Bar, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 Program
The full Venice Cocktail Week 2025 program is packed with events:
- Opening Party: Wednesday October 22nd, opening event at Aman Venice (invitation only)
- Closing Party: Sunday October 26th, at the Arts Bar of the St. Regis Venice, to close the event in style with the bartenders and enthusiasts.
- Masterclass & workshop: afternoons dedicated to cocktail theory and technique, products, tools, trends; free events with reservation.
- Guest Shifts & Pop-up Bars: guest bartenders working in bars not their own or temporary installations.
- Brunch, aperitifs, daytime events: lighter moments for those who want to participate during the day.
- Cultural events & collateral: book presentations, producer meetings, art activities related to drinking and territory.
- Tastings & Cocktail List in the bars: each participating bar will offer its dedicated drinks, available during specific hours of the day.
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 Information
Here are some practical details for those who want to participate in Venice Cocktail Week 2025:
- Cost & reservations: free events require advance booking; bar events might require tickets or invitation.
- Hours: evening events (guest shifts, nightlife) usually start after dinner; daytime events (brunch, masterclass) in the afternoon.
- Accessibility: bars are located in the historic center; walking or vaporetto might be necessary to move around.
- Languages: given the international audience, many masterclasses and presentations will be bilingual (Italian/English).
- Communication & updates: follow the official social channels and the website for updates, schedules, maps and last minute changes.
- Visual theme & branding: the event logo was designed by Piero Lissoni, with an elegant interpretation of the cocktail glass and the Venetian gondola.
- Visual storytelling: bartender portraits will be shot by Veronica Gaido, while cocktail photos will be taken by Michele Tamasco.
- Local promotion: the event aims to connect the beverage world with the urban, artisanal and cultural identity of Venice.
Everything you need to know about Venice Cocktail Week 2025
So here’s a summary “all in one” to help you navigate Venice Cocktail Week 2025:
- You’re in an artistic urban context: don’t expect a festival in one space, but an itinerary spread across streets, canals and historic locations.
- Book in advance the most popular masterclasses and events: many have limited seats.
- Be flexible: part of the experience is discovering “surprise” bars along the way.
- The audience is mixed: from experts to curious. You don’t need to be into mixology to enjoy the event.
- Live Venice beyond the festival: between tastings, take time to visit the lagoon, canals, museums and hidden corners.
- Bring a good map or an app that shows the participating bars: it will help you navigate the movements.
- Dress well but comfortably: there’s movement, walking and photo opportunities.
- If you’re open to new things, grab the cross-event collaborations (ICW pop-ups from other cities) and try cocktails outside the “mainstream”.
What to expect from this edition of Venice Cocktail Week
So what to expect from Venice Cocktail Week 2025?
- A more focused and concentrated experience thanks to the 5-day duration.
- A stronger emphasis on quality, novelty and conscious drinking.
- More exchange between Italian cocktail weeks thanks to the ICW pop-up bars.
- A rich offer for enthusiasts and newcomers to the world of cocktails.
- The charm of Venice as a unique setting, with hidden bars, lagoon views, magical atmospheres that combine with the art of mixology.
- The opportunity to discover emerging bars, creative bartenders and new trends in drinks.
This edition of Venice Cocktail Week 2025 seems to focus not only on consumption but also on discovery and culture.
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 itinerary
To make things easier for you, we at Venice Insider Guide have collected some practical tips to live Venice Cocktail Week 2025 like a local, with a full itinerary.
Day 1, Wednesday 22 October: Welcome to the floating city
Morning / afternoon
- Arrive in Venice and get settled in the historic center, preferably between San Marco and Dorsoduro: you’ll be close to everything.
- Introductory walk between Rialto, Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal to get into the city mood.
Evening – Opening Party & first toast
- Opening Party at Aman Venice (invitation only or book in advance): an author cocktail welcomes you to the heart of the festival.
- Continue the evening at Arts Bar – The St. Regis Venice, one of the temples of Venetian mixology. Try their Signature Cocktail created for VCW.
Day 2, Thursday 23 October: Masterclass and author’s routes
Morning
- Guided visit to Scuola Grande di San Rocco or Palazzo Ducale to immerse yourself in Venetian art.
Afternoon – Learn from the best
- Free masterclass (book in advance) at Il Porto Lounge Bar – Palazzo Veneziano: learn about mixing techniques, spirit history and 2025 trends.
- Light aperitif with Midday Aperitif at Lord Byron – Palazzo Keller.
Evening – Cocktail Safari
Evening tour between 2 or 3 iconic bars:
- Orientalbar & Bistrot – Hotel Metropole: oriental cocktail and lagoon view.
- Santa Cocktail Club – Hotel L’Orologio: young and dynamic atmosphere.
- Time Social Bar: contemporary experience with creative mixology.
Day 3, Friday 24 October: Pop-Up and guest shift
Morning / early afternoon
- Visit Murano or Burano: half day between glass factories and colored houses.
Afternoon – Italian Cocktail Weeks Pop-Up
- Back in the city to attend an ICW Pop-Up Bar: guests from Florence or Amalfi reinterpret the Venetian classics.
Evening – Guest Shift Night
- Book a spot at Skyline Rooftop Bar – Hilton Molino Stucky: international guest bartenders will propose new creations with stunning views.
- To finish, author cocktail at Bar Biblioteca – Nolinski Venezia with the cocktail “From Paris to Venice”.
Day 4, Saturday 25 October: Taste culture and slow time
Morning – Mixology and territory
- Workshop with local liquor and botanical producers at Santa Cocktail Club or partner location (limited seats).
- Walk to Rialto Market to discover ingredients used in Venetian cocktails.
Afternoon – Lagoon aperitif
- Floating aperitif on a bricola boat (some tours include cocktail on board).
Evening – Themed bar-hopping
- Choose a theme (gin, vermouth, tiki) and build a route between 3 themed bars.
- Tip: end the evening with a drink at Il Caravellino – Hotel Saturnia & International, known for its reinterpretation of Italian classics.
Day 5, Sunday 26 October: Grand finale
Morning
- Slow breakfast and stroll through Dorsoduro streets for souvenirs.
Afternoon – Mixology Talk & closing
- Attend a talk or editorial presentation on responsible drinking.
Evening – Closing Party at Arts Bar – The St. Regis Venice: celebratory cocktails and closing party with bartenders from all over the world.
Practical tips to live Venice Cocktail Week 2025
Finally, here are some practical tips to help you live Venice Cocktail Week 2025:
- Book in advance masterclasses and guest shift: seats are often limited.
- Walk: Venice is meant to be explored on foot, every bar is part of the route.
- Be mindful of your alcohol intake: alternate cocktails with mocktails or water, so you can enjoy everything without getting tired.
- Follow the official social media profiles for last minute updates: sometimes pop-up events are announced just a few hours in advance.
Conclusion
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 will be an unforgettable experience for those who love art, taste and urban discovery.
If you’re planning to visit Venice in October, this festival can be the backbone of your itinerary: walking between canals, stopping at the most iconic bars and author cocktails, with a pinch of culture and depth.
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