20 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
A Veronese institution on Corso Porta Borsari, open until midnight. The Veneto wine focus tilts heavily toward small producers and natural winemakers. Cicchetti and cheese plates complement the glass pours.
The list: Rotating list of around 300 bottles with a strong Veneto and natural wine emphasis; 15-20 by-the-glass pours daily
Tip: The Bugiardo is the meeting point for Verona's wine community; the staff change the by-the-glass list daily and are happy to pour a comparison between a classic Valpolicella and a natural-leaning expression.
25 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
A narrow-alley enoteca near Piazza dei Signori, specialising in Verona and Veneto wines. An unusually deep Amarone back-list; the by-the-glass selection rotates to showcase new arrivals against classics.
The list: Over 500 labels in the cellar with a curated 25-by-the-glass rotation; specialist in Amarone and aged Valpolicella verticals
Tip: Ask the sommelier for an Amarone vertical going back five to ten years; the list runs from fresh Valpolicella Classico through Ripasso to prestige Amarone Riserva.
12 by the glassSan Polo, Rialto, Venice
The most celebrated cicchetti bacaro at Rialto market in Venice, open since the 1950s. Tiny standing room only; quick wine pours with exceptional cicchetti bites from the owners Francesco and Matteo Pinto.
The list: Short but precise by-the-glass list; majority Veneto and Friulian whites and reds; the focus is on the cicchetti snack pairing
Tip: All'Arco closes early by nightlife standards but is the essential bacaro experience; the Soave and Valpolicella pours pair perfectly with the daily-changing cicchetti.
8 by the glassCannaregio, Venice
One of Venice's oldest bacari, in operation since the 19th century and still serving the traditional cicchetti and ombra wine pours from the bar in Cannaregio. The wine list is simple and local.
The list: House carafe wines (Veneto reds and whites) plus a short bottle list; cicchetti paired with ombra pours
Tip: Order the polpette (fried meatballs) and a small ombra of Soave or Valpolicella at the bar; this is old-school bacaro culture at its best.
15 by the glassCentro Storico, Verona
Verona wine bar and restaurant on the historic Piazza dei Signori, with a strong Veneto wine focus and late-night hours in the summer season.
The list: 350-label list focused on small Veneto producers; 15 by-the-glass pours at any time; open terrace on Piazza dei Signori until midnight in summer
Tip: The terrace directly on Piazza dei Signori is one of the best outdoor wine spots in northern Italy; summer evenings start with Prosecco Superiore and pivot to Amarone as the night progresses.
22 by the glassSan Marco, Venice
One of Venice's most wine-serious bacari in operation since 1936 near the Rialto. The 1400-label cellar is far beyond typical bacaro scope; by-the-glass pours rotate constantly.
The list: 1400-label cellar; 20-plus by-the-glass pours; one of Venice's deepest bacaro wine lists; open until midnight
Tip: The late-opening Venetian bacaro with the most serious wine list; staff recommendations at the counter are reliable for uncovering smaller-production Veneto bottles.
10 by the glassSan Zeno, Verona
A neighbourhood wine bar beside the Romanesque Basilica di San Zeno in the quieter western quarter of Verona. Solid Veneto wine list with a bias toward small family estates in Valpolicella and Soave.
The list: Veneto-focused wine list with around 250 labels; 10 by-the-glass; tucked beside the basilica of San Zeno in a quieter Veronese neighbourhood
Tip: An alternative to the crowded Arena district bars; the wine list features many small Valpolicella estates not found in the centro storico enoteche.