So after a few disappointing and unbelievably expensive breakfasts at local hotels (typically below 5 stars), when we were in Venice, we decided to stop paying for those uninspiring hotel breakfasts and explore the city early in the morning. During our morning photography session in Venice with Luka, we discovered Farini.

I remembered it was rather early in the morning, perhaps around 730 AM. And the store was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the enchanting buttery aroma of baked pastries was so inviting. Listening to my instinct, we made a stop and it was the best decision ever!

The racks and glass display counters were filled to the brim, with a wide array of artisanal bread, sweet pies and pastries. I couldn’t hide my excitement and quickly ordered something simple – as we still have a few more locations to shoot before crowds of visitors flocked to the nearby Rialto bridge. (by the way, it is only 3 mins. away from the cafe!)

It turns out to be super satisfying! Their warm, buttery croissant has a flaky exterior and is soft and pillowy inside. Their coffee was divine. You can taste the natural sweetness of the beans – Order their espresso if you’re a fan of this mini cup of gold liquid! I enjoyed it very much.

Coffee time in the morning is one of my favourite moments of the day. Be it a quiet morning all to myself, or a morning coffee session, just the two of us. Though we’d love to do slow morning coffee sessions every single day, the truth is we don’t have the luxury to do this as much as we can. Crazy mornings, working late, or house chores… you name it.

And I was glad that Luka managed to capture the wonderful serenity of our morning coffee time in Venice. The moments of contentment, happiness, and joy that are fully available to us but usually left unnoticed as we get busy, tired and depressed by the mundane daily routine. The photos would serve as a constant reminder that happiness is a daily choice in the time to come.

By the time we completed our photoshoot and walked passed Farini again, it was already 1130am. The cafe was bustling! Trays of freshly baked pizza filled the racks, and they look really appetizing. As we had plans at the 300-year-old Caffè Florian, we gave Farini’s pizza a miss. But according to our local photographer Luka, Farini’s pizzas are amazing and judging from our breakfast experience in the morning, you should totally give it a try!

Contact Details

Farini
Calle Seconda de la Fava, 5602, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9pm
https://farini.com/

As a cafe junkie, not paying homage to this historical cafe would be a grave disappointment to this trip to Venice. Hence we decided to spend a leisure afternoon with all things coffee and alcohol here at Caffè Florian when we were at La Serenissima.

Everything here is dreamy and romantic. The grand entrance, the gilded hall with hanging chandeliers, rich wood panelling, intricate wallpapers and the beautiful paintings from the 19th century, marbled tabletop with the antique carved wood chairs… I  dare say that this is one of the most opulent coffeehouses in Europe.

There are 6 beautifully adorned halls in total. We were seated at one of the halls decorated in powder green and blue – with sights of Piazza San Marco & the live orchestra outside the coffeehouse.

A table pamphlet was handed over to us explaining the brief history of the cafe and the playing orchestra. Other than the Coperto, a “table service charge” widely practised in Italy, sitting down in the hall or outdoor terrace while the performance is going on would incur a £6 “music surcharge” per person. This may sound offensive to some, but I figured that at Caffè Florian, the experience and ambience is what it is all about. So we went ahead anyway.

We had a signature hot chocolate, and an alcoholic coffee beverage. The drinks were excellent, albeit with a hefty price tag. The total damage of the coffee session was £40 with 2 drinks. All of their signatures drinks cost at least £16, cocktails at £20 and above. The simplest coffee at Florian costs about £6 while a cappuccino would only cost about £1.5-2 elsewhere. But drinking coffee at Florian is more than just an ordinary coffee break. It involves all senses.

The beautiful ornaments in the hall whenever you look up to the ceiling, the scents of the coffee, the hustle and bustle and the atmosphere of a 300-year-old cafe… The scent, the light, the music and wonderful atmosphere and the memories in the cafe are things that I vividly remember until today. And this was what I was paying for – Travel memories that I’d remember all my life.

Writer’s Note: Caffè Florian is not your everyday coffee shop. It is a living museum of Venetian’s coffee culture. While pricey, it is no doubt a quintessential experience in Venice. We enjoyed ourselves at the cafe. It was dreamy and beautiful.

While I remembered the first opinion published on my IG was that it wasn’t impressive enough to warrant a second visit (probably due to the price tag and the lack of service) but when I revisited the photos and my travel notes, I was actually yearning for another visit.

#venicehacks Insist on sitting at the bar at the back of the cafe where you pay bar rates instead of the table rates. You’ll miss the quartet and the music but hey, the bartenders’ performance is in your full view. I can’t tell you which is a better option as it all depends on your budget and the experience you’re looking for, but I am sure the memories of dining in a historic cafe would be worthwhile!

Contact Details

Caffè Florian
Piazza San Marco, 57, 30124 Venice VE
Opening Hours: 9am – 12am
Tel: +39 041 520 5641
https://www.caffeflorian.com/en/

How about signing yourself up for an exclusive rooftop sunset view? I got a tip-off from a local photographer about this beautiful rooftop at T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS, where visitors sign up for access to a 360-degree view of the beautiful Venetian city. #venicehacks  The building is located right behind the Rialto bridge and the iconic riverside view at dusk was amazing.

T Fondaco dei Tedeschi, or in English, the Fondaco Rooftop Terrace is a historical-building-turned-modern-department-store located at this prime location of Venice. As DFS Group’s first store in Europe, you can find a curated collection of products here, from local produces like balsamic vinaigrette, truffle oils, to a decent lineup of luxury apparel brands here at this department store. It is a perfect site to visit if you’d like to do some shopping before soaking in the grandeur of Venetian’s sunset from the Rialto Bridge.

Pre-visit sign up to enter the rooftop is a must but it is free of charge, and you get to enjoy this scenery for 15 minutes, more than enough for a couple of photographs, selfies, and quick video snaps. You’ll be sharing this 15 minutes with another 40 to a maximum of 60 pax on the rooftop, which was alright. No shoving, not fighting for space. Peace.

The Fondaco Rooftop Terrace is located right behind Ponte di Rialto. Hence you’ll get a very identical view as you are on the bridge. While seeing the sunset right on the bridge is a nice experience, the rooftop offers a more organised experience, especially during the golden hours.

The only thing you should remember is to check your iPhone or Google to find out the estimated time for sunset and book early. Sunsets come way earlier in the winter so please take note of this too! We were there during the end of April (a relatively low season) and I was able to book a 615pm session on that day right in the morning. But I’d consider myself lucky. And we managed to catch the sight right at the magic hours!

The terrace opens from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm, with 6:15 pm being the last slot of the day, it would be the most popular slot of the day. The reservation of the slots opens one month in advance and is free of charge. Please go earlier than your reserved time as the sessions run on time and there’s usually a queue! Reserve your preferred timeslot here.

Attraction Details

T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS
Calle del Fontego dei Tedeschi
Opening Hours: 10 am – 7 pm.
Reservation to visit Fondaco Rooftop Terrace