Looking for information on Venice Cocktail Week? We are the Bar Do Draghi of Venice, happy to tell you all about it.
Welcome or back to the Bar Do Draghi blog, located in the heart of the Dorsoduro sestiere: a place of creativity, conviviality and taste research. Here we will be during Venice Cocktail Week 2025, offering sensory experiences, new cocktails and meeting moments.
The guide is meant to be your trusted companion to navigate the wonders of Venetian mixology during the most fun week of the year. And not only: we will show you what’s good and beautiful if you come to us.
Find out everything you need to know about the new edition of Venice Cocktail Week 2025.
What is Venice Cocktail Week
Venice Cocktail Week - or VCW - is a cocktail event designed to promote the Venetian mixology scene, to stimulate the dialogue between bartenders, professionals and enthusiasts, and to turn the city into a cocktail tasting trail between bars, hotel bars and exclusive locations.
During the week, each participating location will offer two creations: a Signature Cocktail and a Midday Aperitif, plus masterclass, cultural events and guest bartender shifts.
The soul of the event is to explore Venice with a glass in hand, from bar to bar, discovering stories and ingredients that tell the city.
Birth of Venice Cocktail Week
The idea of turning Venice into a city-stage for the art of drinking was born from Paola Mencarelli, already creator of Florence Cocktail Week.The first edition of Venice Cocktail Week took place in 2021, with the aim of bringing the cocktail week experience to the Serenissima already established in other Italian cities.
Venice, with its architecture, alleys, canals and atmospheres, is perfectly suited to be a liquid itinerary that combines mixology, beauty and urban discovery.
Venice Cocktail Week history
Since its inception, VCW has evolved both in terms of content and organization. The event has structured itself year after year, from a few participating locations to dozens of cocktail bars and hotel bars, with a more and more rich and articulated calendar.
In previous editions, the formula included a “cocktail list” with three drinks (Signature, Midday and an Italian product cocktail). With the 2025 edition, there’s a new feature: the duration goes from 7 to 5 days to make the experience more concentrated and enjoyable.
Also in 2025, the Pop-Up Bars ICW (Italian Cocktail Week) formula debuts, with collaborations between the regional events to create crossover moments. The event also confirms its strong bond with the city, thanks to the patronage of the City of Venice and local support.
How does it work Venice Cocktail Week
How does Venice Cocktail Week 2025 work? Participation is structured in several ways:
- Each participating location will offer two exclusive cocktails for the event: a Signature Cocktail (original creation) and a Midday Aperitif (light and refreshing drink for the day).
- During the day, there will be free masterclass (booking required), literary events, product presentations and cultural moments.
- In the evening and at night, the cocktail bars open their “night shifts” with international guests: events often ticketed, where the cocktail is included and additional experiences are added.
Our tip from Bar Do Draghi: choose the bar that inspires you, discover the two cocktails, participate in the daytime activities if you want and live the night like a journey between shaker and stories.
Cocktails types
The main cocktail types for Venice Cocktail Week 2025 are:
- Signature Cocktail: original creation that represents the aesthetic and taste of the location.
- Midday Aperitif: light, fresh and accessible drink, designed for the daytime aperitif.
Not sure if there will be other mandatory categories, but for 2025 the focus is on these two.
Midday Aperitif
In line with the Venetian tradition of the aperitif, the midday aperitif will be a key moment of Venice Cocktail Week 2025.
The participating locations will offer the Midday Aperitif, a light and refreshing version, ideal for those who want to approach the world of cocktails also during the day. This type of proposal encourages participation at any time of the day, expanding the event’s accessibility.
Afternoon masterclass
In the afternoon, at the participating bars, free masterclass will be held on various topics: mixing techniques, use of specific ingredients, artisanal products and working methods. Booking in advance is required, as places are limited. The masterclass are for those already in the world of mixology as well as curious and enthusiasts.
Afternoon events
In addition to the masterclass, cultural events, book presentations, product workshops, producer talks and guided tastings will take place in the afternoons. These moments offer an added value not only gastronomic but also cultural and educational. All events are usually free but booking is required.
Night shift
As the evening arrives, the night shift starts at the participating cocktail bars: international guests, avant-garde mixology and liquid performances are the heart of Venice Cocktail Week 2025 at night. The event can be booked or free entry, but often with limited availability. During these nights, spirits, music, lights and a public eager to live the bar as a stage.
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 where
The Venice Cocktail Week 2025 will take place in several cocktail bars and hotel bars throughout Venice, with confirmed locations, plus partners hosting collateral events. The itinerary will wind through calli, campi and sestieri historic, offering hidden corners and intimate atmospheres.
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 when
The fourth edition of Venice Cocktail Week will be from 22 to 26 October 2025. This year the duration is reduced to five days to make the program more compact and enjoyable. The official opening is on 22 October with an opening event and the closing party on 26 October.
Why attend Venice Cocktail Week
Attending Venice Cocktail Week 2025 means:
- Discover exclusive and original cocktails, often created especially for the event.
- Live a sensory itinerary through the districts of Venice.
- Attend educational and cultural events, open to non-experts.
- Meet international bartenders and talk about trends and innovations.
- Enrich your knowledge of the world of quality drinks.
Who should attend Venice Cocktail Week 2025
Please note that Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is for:
- Mixology enthusiasts and “cocktail nerds”.
- Bar professionals, bartenders and beverage operators.
- Curious travelers who want to explore Venice in a different way.
- Beginners who want to get into the world of cocktails.
- Those looking for unique, cultural and social experiences.
How to get to Venice Cocktail Week 2025
Since Venice Cocktail Week 2025 takes place in the heart of Venice, the best way to move around is on foot or by vaporetto. The lines connect the sestieri, the islands and the central areas.
If you arrive from the mainland (Santa Lucia train station, Piazzale Roma, Venice Mestre), you can take the vaporetto to reach the Dorsoduro sestiere where our Bar Do Draghi is located.
Bar Do Draghi in Venice tip: plan your movements considering the schedules and the evening rush.
Events calendar and program Venice Cocktail Week 2025
The official calendar of Venice Cocktail Week 2025 will be published soon. Generally the daily structure is:
- Morning / Afternoon: light activities and midday aperitif
- Afternoon: masterclass, meetings, presentations, workshops
- Evening / Night: guest shift, themed nights and mixology performances
Venice Cocktail Week 2025: Hotel Bars, Cocktail Bars, and Event Partners
The participants of Venice Cocktail Week 2025 include selected cocktail bars from hotels and independent venues.
The event partners are spaces that, although not included in the official cocktail list, will host presentations, small cultural events, tastings or collateral initiatives.
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 Cocktail List
The VCW25 Cocktail List is the core of the experience: each venue will offer a duo of drinks created for the event. One is the Signature Cocktail, inspired by the identity of the venue; the other is the Midday Aperitif, lighter and designed for a wider audience.
Each proposal will feature high-quality ingredients and often Italian producers. The recipes will be published closer to the event date.
Venice Cocktail Week: what you need to know
The 2025 edition of Venice Cocktail Week is a key moment for the Italian and international mixology scene, turning Venice into an open-air laboratory for the art of drinking.
From 22 to 26 October 2025, the lagoon city will host for five days a rich calendar of events, tastings and cultural meetings for professionals, enthusiasts and curious people.The event will involve various cocktail bars, independent and hotel bars, as well as partner spaces that will host presentations, workshops and temporary installations. Each venue will offer two new creations: a Signature Cocktail, designed to represent the philosophy and style of the bar, and a Midday Aperitif, a lighter and fresher version ideal for daytime aperitif. This double approach will allow visitors to experience a full sensory journey, from discovering new combinations to reinterpreting classic mixology.
The VCW 2025 program has been designed to accompany participants throughout the day with new experiences. Morning and afternoon will be dedicated to the Venetian aperitif and informal socializing, while in the afternoon themed masterclasses, producer meetings and guided tastings will take place, precious opportunities to deepen techniques, ingredients and trends of the sector. As the sun sets, the city will change face: the evenings will be lit up with guest shifts of international bartenders, themed nights, new collaborations and pop-up bars created specifically for the event.
One of the most anticipated news of this edition is the introduction of the ICW Pop-Up Bars, born from the collaboration between the various Italian cocktail weeks, which will bring contaminations, styles and ideas from other cities to Venice. These temporary spaces will offer an even more dynamic and original experience, enrichening the calendar of events and making each night different from the previous one.
But Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is not just a drinks event: it’s a cultural journey through the city. Walking through the calli and campielli, visitors will be invited to discover Venice from a new perspective, to get in touch with the authentic atmospheres and the creativity of those who, behind the bar, turn ingredients and ideas into liquid stories. The event aims to highlight the identity of the places, the quality of the ingredients and the importance of conviviality as an art form.
In detail, Venice Cocktail Week promises to be much more than a cocktail festival: it’s an immersive experience where taste, culture and innovation come together, offering a unique opportunity to explore Venice and live the city like you’ve never seen it before, sip by sip. Whether you’re an expert bartender, a curious enthusiast or a traveller looking for new experiences, this is an event not to be missed in your autumn calendar.
We are Bar Do Draghi: join us during Venice Cocktail Week 2025
Our Bar Do Draghi is in the heart of Dorsoduro and during this special week we will welcome you with new creations, selected ingredients and cocktails that tell Venetian stories.
Join us and live the vibrant atmosphere of Venice Cocktail Week 2025: let yourself be guided by taste, curiosity and the desire to discover the city in a new light, sip by sip.
FAQ Venice Cocktail Week 2025
Can I participate if I’m not a cocktail expert?
Yes. Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is for a mixed audience: from enthusiasts to curious people.
Do I need to buy a pass for the whole week?
No, most events are bookable or buyable separately.
Can I just have the Midday Aperitif?
Yes. It’s part of the offer.
Do the bars participate every year?
No, the selection changes every edition.
Conclusion
Venice Cocktail Week 2025 is an opportunity to turn Venice into a liquid stage and to combine aesthetics, culture and taste.
For Bar Do Draghi, it’s a chance to shine, to stage original projects and talk to an international community of enthusiasts.
We’ll be there: with our heart, with our creativity and with our shakers ready. Let’s toast to this Venetian mixology journey.