Not so much a restaurant as a crazy-busy hole-in-the wall with mouth-watering cicchetti (bar snacks), All’Arco is the quintessential Venetian bacaro (traditional wine bar). There are bulging sandwiches and crostini topped with any number of goodies including creamed cod, anchovies and onions, salami, or vegetables. You’ll be talked through it all at breakneck speed and sent swiftly on your way with food sufficient enough to either tide you over or count for a full meal.

There's hardly room to swing a squid in this compact bar, where aside from a few tables in the lane outside, it's standing room only. That doesn't put off the Venetian punters who crowd in for some of the best fish-based cichetti in town, from baccalà mantecato (creamed salt cod) to crostini (mini-bruschettas) every which way. Wine is the beverage of choice, with a good selection of whites and reds, mostly from smaller producers in north-eastern Italy.

Old-style bacari are not only places to find authentic food, but also to experience the real, living city of Venice and its few remaining inhabitants. Visitors interested in hearing some Venetian dialect might stop by All’Arco, a place for stalwart residents and families. This bacaro may now be in many tourist guidebooks, but it has so far resisted the trivialising effects of mass tourism.

This tiny little bar near the Rialto Bridge is located near the Rialto Bridge is Weinreich Luppi’s “first and forever choice for cicchetti. It’s such a special little place and it’s amazing what comes out of their postage stamp-sized kitchen.” Baccalà mantecato, the classic Venetian cicchetti of creamed cod on polenta or toasted bread (it’s way better than it sounds), is a must-try here.

I started my little tasting tour at Bar All’Arco (Calle Arco, 436), and if you only have time to visit one place in Venice for cicchetti then this should be it. Most of their cicchetti come on thin slices of fresh baguette-style bread and their star topping is baccala mantecato, a deceptively simple spread unique to Venice that consists of salt cod whipped with olive oil into snowy peaks.

Located in San Polo, Bar All’Arco is hailed as the best place for cicetti in Venice. It’s busy and the punters spill out into the street but it’s a great spot for lunch or a pre-dinner aperitivo and snack. The noise and the busyness makes it unappealing to tourists, so you might find yourself one of the only English speakers in there!

Bar All’Arco is a popular bacaro in the heart of Venice, near the Rialto Market, and the Rialto Bridge. While they do have an a la carte menu of entrees, they are best known for their tasty cicchetti Venetian style tapas. The décor at Bar All’Arco is rustic, with the authentic trappings and woodwork of a classic Venetian bacaro.

Bar All’Arco (Calle Arco, San Polo 436) is another one of Venice’s most-loved spots. Located near the Rialto Bridge, it’s packed at lunchtime with shoppers from the local fish market. Everything from calamari to liver to shrimp is on offer, and if it’s available, don’t miss the hot sandwich of boiled beef sausage and mustard.

Just a 3-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge, Bar All’Arco feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of one of Italy’s busiest cities. All’Arco is known for its incredible variety of crostini (open-face sandwiches)made with the freshest seasonal ingredients. The combinations change daily, depending on what’s in season.

This popular Venetian staple will be part of every visit we make to the city. It's located quite central to the Rialto market and is just as popular with the locals as with tourists!. We kept things simple and had a glass of wine and various Cicchetti, the small bites that are traditional fare in Venice.

BAR ALL’ARCO | Easy to see why this cicchetteria is so popular and well-rated. You will see a long line in front of this tiny place, and as they don’t make reservations, you will probably don’t have the chance to sit down. But trust me, this place has incredible cicchetti that makes it all worthwhile.

Enjoy a glass in one of the campi (squares), or standing at a bar counter at the popular Cantine del Vino già Schiavi. Take a sweet break at pasticceria Rosa Salva sitting in Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo – but watch out for the crafty seagulls hoping to steal your treat.

Un bar vibrante y auténtico que sirve deliciosos vinos locales y Prosecco por copas. Es bastante económico en comparación con otros sitios en Venecia. No te pierdas sus cicchett i, elaborados con ingredientes de temporada procedentes del cercano mercado de Rialto.

While I had originally planned on skipping Bar All’Arco (the interior didn’t look too inviting), I sat and observed locals coming and going. I decided that a place where locals hang out is a place that I want to try. Luckily, I was far from disappointed.

This hidden gem in Venice is tucked away in the San Polo area on your way to the Rialto Bridge. Bar All’Arco is the oldest Cicchetti place in Venice. Cicchetti is similar to Spanish tapas where fresh or cooked ingredients are added to fresh crostini.

Bar All’Arco – A popular place for cicchetti as it’s been on travel and food shows. It lives up to the hype. All’Arco only has a couple of tables, so it’s not a good spot to bring a large family.

If not, standing room only, as I always do when at Bar All’Arco. Their cicchetti are some of the best in Venice, boasting classics like baccalà mantecato on rounds of crisp bread.

Bar All’Arco: try the cicchetti at this small bacaro serving some of the evergreens: crostini con baccalà mantecato and sarde in saor!

Bar All’Arco has fantastic cicchetti (Venetian tapas) and a great atmosphere. The garden in Hotel Flora is a hidden gem.