Birreria Zanon – Bar Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"You've just walked in: What's your first impression? This hip, edgy dive bar on the outskirts of Cannaregio is full of young Venetians and good beer. Kitschy décor like framed, beer-oriented artwork, sassy signs, and fishing nets is hung throughout the wood interior. Outside, a few canal-side tables offer a more mellow ambiance. So who’s here? You can count on the blonde wood booths being filled with beer lovers of various stripes—from university students to construction workers, gondoliers to thirsty travelers who have tired of spritzes and merlot. How are the drinks? This drink menu rebels against the rest of Venice’s bar scene. Belgian, American, British, and local Venetian beer flows from the taps behind the bar. As such, beer geeks gravitate here for tall, cold suds consumed with friends in the booths are outside along the water. Is it worth ordering something to eat, too? A smorgasbord of vegan, vegetarian, and meat-centric cicchetti are on offer here. Try the porchetta with ricotta and mustard sauce or the peperonata and beef bites. What about the staff? The bartenders here have a reputation for serving up attitude—but in an endearing dive bar way. Play along, and you’ll be BFFs by the time you leave. What's the bottom line? Come for a refreshing break from the ubiquitous crowds and Aperol spritzes. The beer here is best enjoyed sitting outside by the canal on a sunny afternoon." - Jenna Scatena