Harry’s Bar Venice: History, Info, Interesting Facts

Giuseppe Cipriani and the birth of Harry’s Bar.

There is no doubt that Harry’s Bar is a very special place, starting with the events that led to its birth: events that, if they hadn’t happened, would be worthy to be part of a small fable.

It was the year 1928, the Veronese Giuseppe Cipriani was employed as a barman in Venice, at the Hotel Europa and Britannia. Among his most loyal customers, Harry Pickering, scion of a wealthy Boston family: he was spending some time in Venice with his aunt. It was probably a dispute with her that deprived him of all the money, including that needed to pay the hotel and return home.
Mr. Giuseppe, understanding the difficult situation of the boy, decided to help by lending him 10.000 lire. He showed most unusual confidence, since at the time this was a considerable amount of money, especially for the finances of a barman.
His trust was repaid a couple of years later, when Harry returned and gave him back the entire sum, adding to it 30.000 lire out of gratitude. Blessed money, used by Mr.Cipriani to realize his dream.

Harry’s Bar was inaugurated on 13 May 1931: not surprisingly, it took the name of its benefactor. The idea that inspired this business was to create a ‘neutral’ place, where guests from all the most important hotels in the city could meet, enjoying a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. An idea that quite soon achieved great success, as the history of the bar clearly proves.

Harry’s Bar, a very special ‘room’.

Giuseppe Cirpiani decided that, from its opening, Harry’s Bar should have a ‘discreet’ personality, avoiding, if possible, passing customers (*1). This choice, in addition to being imposed by the limited space available, responded to his desire to create a relationship with the guests. The fact that at the time of the inauguration, which took place in 1931, the bar was at the end of a closed road (*2), just in front of the Grand Canal, facilitated this particular decision.

Creating from scratch a place that, by its very nature, could attract a certain type of customers and gain their loyalty, was not an easy task. It was necessary to make sure that these people, while being in a public place, could enjoy an atmosphere at the same time elegant and familiar. Even if these characteristics are almost antithetical, Giuseppe Cipriani managed to successfully combine them.
Intriguing persons, often characterized by talent and wealth, have spent important moments of their existence within the walls of Harry’s Bar, leaving an impalpable and yet indelible sign of their passage.
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Harry’s Bar Venice: tradition and evolution.

When, in the early 1950s, Arrigo Cipriani inherited from his father the direction of the Harry’s Bar, he paid attention to make no significant changes to the place, apart from adding a floor to gain some space (*1). After all, why modify a winning formula? Why revolutionize the space that Mr. Giuseppe himself had designed with such care and that, over the years, had been further embellished by fascinating stories?
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Bellini Cocktail and Carpaccio beef: Harry’s Bar jewels.

Harry’s Bar customers have the chance to taste some of the most typical Italian dishes, prepared according to the original recipes. Particularly tasty are the specialties belonging to the Venetian tradition, such as ‘fegato alla veneziana’ (Venetian style liver and onions), ‘baccalà alla vicentina’ (Vicenza-style cod) and ‘baccalà mantecato’ (creamed cod).
Although this offer alone could satisfy the most refined gourmets, the real ‘jewels’ of Harry’s Bar, the specialties for which it’s worth to visit the restaurant at least once, are a drink, the ‘Bellini’, and a meat-based dish, the ‘carpaccio’. They’re both fruits of the creativity of Giuseppe Cipriani.

Notes:
*1: Some argue that it was originally made with Champagne, but this is not true, especially considering the recipe included in the book ‘L’angolo dell’Harry’s Bar’ by Giuseppe Cipriani.
The type of ‘Bellini’ made with Champagne is generally known as ‘Bellini Royal’.
*2: Also known as ‘Giambellino’.
*3: Nowadays, at Harry’s Bar, sirloin is preferred, since it’s tastier.
*4: This sauce is called ‘Universal’ because it can be used to flavor both meat and fish. It’s prepared with mayonnaise, Worcester sauce, lemon, milk, salt and white pepper.
*5: The sauce is sprinkled over the meat in such a way as to create something similar to an abstract painting, remembering the style of the famous painter Kandinskij.
*6: Vittore Carpaccio, Venetian painter (15th / 16th Century).

Not just Belllini drink: the Dry Martini.

Although Harry’s Bar is world famous for its ‘Belllini’, many cocktail enthusiasts visit this place and order a ‘Dry Martini’, as Hernest Hemingway used to do. It was the American writer himself to start this tradition, enjoying particularly its most alcoholic ‘variation’, known as ‘Montgomery Martini’.
This is prepared by mixing Gin and Extra Dry Martini, in the proportion of fifteen to one. The cocktail takes its name from the British general Bernard Montgomery: it is said that, during the Second World War, he always tried to achieve the same proportion between his troops and the enemy on the battlefield.

Harry’s Bar Venice and its famous guests.

Although Harry’s Bar guests, as such, have always been considered equal to each other and therefore worthy of the same type of care and respect, it’s undeniable that good part of the reputation of this place comes from the (many) celebrities who visited it.
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Notes:
*1: “True aristocracy and intelligentsia don’t know snobbery” (Arrigo Cipriani).
*2: The name that Mr. Arrigo likes to use referring to the main room of Harry’s Car.

Hemingway, a very special customer.

During the winter between 1949 and 1950, Hernest Hemingway became a regular guest of Harry’s Bar: his visits were a pleasing routine, deeply connected to the writing of the novel ‘Across the River and into the Trees’, whose protagonist, Colonel Cantwell, is none other than his alter ego.
It is said that the writer preferred a particular table: a corner table from which, while tasting a dry martini, he loved to observe the diverse people frequenting the Bar.
If it is true that Giuseppe Cipriani, as a serious professional, always tried not to establish friendships with his clients, recommending to his son Arrigo to keep a polite detachment, from this point of view, Hemingway was an exception.

Cipriani and the ‘trattoria’ spirit.

Although many believe, probably because of the name, that Harry’s Bar is a bar, this is only partially true: it’s in fact primarily a restaurant. A very particular restaurant, that’s for sure: as already mentioned in another paragraph of this article, its owners have managed to merge elegance, refinement and what can be called the ‘spirit of the trattoria’.
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Harry’s Bar overlooks the Grand Canal, one of the symbols of Venice, city famous all over the world, located in the Italian region of Veneto.

‘Arrigo’, the translation of ‘Harry’.

It’s plausible to think that Giuseppe Cipriani, as a sign of gratitude for Harry Pickering, gave his name not only to his Bar but also to his son.
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Harry’s Bar Venice: the documentary.

Music for Harry’s Bar Venice.

Predictably, an iconic and fascinating place like Harry’s Bar is mentioned in many songs: the ideal soundtrack of this article.

Note: join Spotify and listen to the full song.

1938, Giuseppe Cipriani and the insult to fascism.

In 1938 the fascist regime started to apply the so-called ‘Racial Laws’, therefore imposing to the owner of Harry’s Bar to exhibit a sign prohibiting the admission of Jewish people.
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Harry’s Bar in literature.

Harry’s Bar is mentioned in at least a couple of famous novels: ‘Across the River and Into the Trees’, by Hernest Hemingway, and ‘Brideshead Revisited’ by Evelyn Waugh.

The books about Harry’s Bar Venice.

Those who want to know something more about Harry’s Bar should read the books written by its owners. Who better than Giuseppe and Arrigo Cipriani could describe this place and its guests?

Harry’s Bar spirit in the world.

The Cipriani’s ability to treat customers has made their fortune. Harry’s Bar philosophy has been successfully exported around the world.
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Harry’s Bar Venice: information and contacts.

Getting to Harry’s Bar is very simple. Starting from the Basilica of San Marco, head towards the Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro. Turn right, go along ‘Riva degli Schiavoni’ until you reach the ferry stop.

HARRY’S BAR