Late October and signs of fall are evident across Venice. The weather is pleasantly sunny, and the much awaited thinning of the tourist crowds finally leaves the city to its locals.
At this time of year, as it has for the past five years, the city hosts Venice Cocktail Week, a celebration for those who appreciate drinks, culture, and everything in between.
The event is part of a series of Italian cocktail weeks, led and founded by Paola Mencarelli. This April, she will celebrate the tenth anniversary of her first event, Florence Cocktail Week (16-22.4). A source of pride and a draw for cocktail tourists, a fast growing segment in luxury travel.
Mencarelli's Italian Cocktail Weeks (ICW) have become a powerhouse brand in this niche, attracting savvy, high-end travelers who appreciate the Italian la dolce vita and its expression in a coupe glass.
Each week is a tailor-made project that honors the location's mixology scene, highlighting the distinctive character of the host venues and their bartenders. “We see cities buzzing with activity for an entire week, filled with cocktail enthusiasts and industry experts roaming 60 participating sites in search of the daily events that best suit their tastes", Mencarelli says.
Sono un Italiano
Tuscan born Consul of Italian Hospitality (Console dell’Ospitalità Italiana) Mencarelli established Italian Cocktail Weeks following a two-decade career as a food writer for the eponymous Gambero Rosso restaurant guide.
Her initial goal was to foster the growth of the Florentine mixology sector and promote the cultural heritage of the region.
"In the mid-2010s, my focus shifted from the plate to the glass. Hotel bars, with their special energy and guests, were my first passion, leading me to create an event that aims to elevate mixology, restoring the critical and cultural dignity it merits", Mencarelli says.
"The first to understand and approve of my vision was the Four Seasons Florence, its chef Vito Mollica and the staff. While it was initially difficult to obtain the patronage of the municipality, securing it over the years has given the event a sense of authority. The fact that several sponsors have supported us from the very beginning is a testament to the work we have done".
Over the past decade, she launched Venice Cocktail Week (2021), followed by Cortina Cocktail Weekend (2022) and Amalfi Coast Cocktail Week (2024), the latter a unique project dedicated to the finest cocktail bars of the coast and the Campania region.
Each cocktail week presents a golden opportunity to experience a world-class destination authentically. Visitors also enjoy low-season prices on hotels and flights, along with exclusive access to dozens of participating restaurants and bars, some of which are centuries-old institutions.
Each day in each destination offers numerous guided tours, local spirit tastings, chef dinners and guest shifts. A once a year chance to get an intimate glimpse into places such as the St. Regis Venice, where Emily in Paris was filmed, the adjacent Aman or Palazzo Nani Mocenigo.
"I am particularly proud to have opened hotel bars to the general public. Until a decade ago, these establishments were often open only to in-house guests; today, they are increasingly frequented by locals, curious visitors, and enthusiasts", Mencarelli says.
Last Venice Cocktail Week, for example, featured Caffè Florian in Piazza San Marco hosting guided tastings of its classic cocktails, as well as its neighbors, Lavena and Quadri. Arts Bar at the St. Regis hosted an aperitivo, while bartender Simone Covan of Santa Cocktail Club, who also takes part in the upcoming Florence Cocktail Week, hosted bartenders' nightly guest shifts featuring some of the world’s best bars.
All Italian extravaganza
In 2016, the inaugural year of Florence Cocktail Week, only 13 cocktail bars were involved. Today, a decade later, the event features more than 50 bars.
The exponential growth in the number of participating bartenders shows how the event has concretely contributed to the development, visibility, and professionalization of the Italian mixology community.
This path will be honored during Florence Cocktail Week 2026, which will celebrate the Italian bartender community practicing both in Italy and abroad, highlighting how Italian mixology is represented today by professionals worldwide.
"Over the past 10 years, FCW has contributed significantly to the development of the Florentine bar community," Mencarelli says. "In just a few years, Florence has leaped onto the scene as one of the capitals of contemporary mixology, with bars gaining fame both nationally and internationally."
Venice is also on the verge of branding itself as a mixology destination. "The municipality has supported Venice Cocktail Week since its first edition, showing us how much a city can contribute to the success of an event, both locally and internationally," she adds. "We also have received excellent feedback from the Amalfi Coast Tourist District after Amalfi Coast Cocktail Week—giving professional authority to bars that annually host some of the world's most celebrated people."
