The Terrazza Aperol in Venice is a Modern Venetian Dream

At the new Aperol bar and restaurant in Venice, a peculiar design concept drives a new way of experiencing the city’s characteristic Italian aperitivo ritual

Housed within a historic Venetian palace in Campo Santo Stefano, just a short distance from the Accademia Bridge in the heart of Venice, Terrazza Aperol is an exciting new bar and restaurant from the iconic Campari Group’s Aperol brand. Spread over 200 sq m, of which 90 sq m are outdoors, the space designed by Italian studio Vudafieri-Saverino Partners combines Venetian values and the brand’s distinctive style. The interior captures both Aperol’s century-long heritage and the contemporary spirit of the Aperol Spritz all at once.

Originating from the narrow back streets of Venice, the iconic Aperol Spritz has become a global ritual, an essential moment that brings people together spontaneously. Aiming to establish itself as a major focal point for the entire city, Terrazza Aperol revisits Venice’s traditional bacaro, the typical Venetian bar, while adding a cosmopolitan vibe in a fluid continuity between different indoor and outdoor settings. The restaurant bar is a fusion rooted in true Venetian tradition that seeks to become a big name in the city’s social scene.

Design Concept
Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino have designed a space that combines Venetian roots with a vibrant cosmopolitan feel, giving shape to a place that acts as a point of contact between past and present, traditional and contemporary. For the interiors, traditional elements have been reinterpreted to bring the space into the 21st century. Venetian mirrors become digital monitors for sharing photos with other Aperol bars around the world. Hand-crafted stucco and wood flooring reclaimed from Venetian ‘bricole’ (navigation poles from the lagoon) are combined with pops of orange. There is a mid 20th century-inspired bar with 3D-produced recycled polycarbonate panels, while benches with classical forms are paired with neutral fabrics and contemporary style. In celebration of Aperol’s iconic colour, the restaurant bar features plenty of orange details, from the edging of the seating and the orange bathroom to the shelves and mirrors. This orange fil rouge flows through the different spaces and lends a truly distinctive touch.

Terrazza Aperol is a fluid, interactive and dynamic space with two areas that join together but have their own separate entrances:

• the Bacaro bar, a traditional space offering an authentic Venetian aperitivo
• the restaurant area, with an extensive menu of food and drinks that makes it the perfect destination for any moment, whether it’s coffee time or late evening.

Both spaces blend seamlessly with the large 90 sq m outdoor terrace that looks out onto Campo Santo Stefano. The different types of spaces here reflect different ways of being together—from the informal outdoor Bacaro bar to the more comfortable restaurant area with table service.

The Bacaro Bar
This intimate yet dynamic and convivial space is characterised by a traditional Venetian wood ceiling with exposed beams called the Sansovino ceiling. The atmosphere evokes a feel of the city’s traditional local bars. For this area, the architects have designed a particular seat ad hoc—a long micro bench leaning against the wall with small integrated folding tables that help create an informal and lively ambience. The digital mirrors are particularly distinctive and their shape draws from traditional Venetian ones. These virtual touch points are connected in real time with other Aperol bars around the world, creating digital points of contact between cities in different countries. The Bacaro bar offers an informal Venetian menu at all times of the day, with Aperol Spritz and cicchetti, traditional Venetian finger food.

The Restaurant
The central feature of this space is the large serving bar with its distinctive 3D-produced recycled polycarbonate panels (back-lit in Aperol orange) and warm white corian top. The shape of the bar and the ribbed fronts are a nod to 20th-century Italian tradition, yet one that has been brought into the 21st century through the use of recycled materials and 3D printing. On the wall behind the bar is an impressive floor-to-ceiling display of bottles with an antique mirror backdrop, orange-edged shelving, and recesses for Magnums and dynamic spotlighting. LED strip lighting illuminates the space and reminds us of the lines of the exposed beams in the period ceiling nearby, here designed only by the light, with stunning bespoke pendant lamps crafted from Murano glass.

The restaurant area has different types of tables and seats, from casual benches and stools to bistro-style tables and chairs for a more relaxed dining experience. All the seats have been made to a bespoke design or as part of a series with special Terrazza Aperol finishes and fabrics. Aperol orange is a feature of other elements too—from the contours of the glass shelving to the lighting and even the bubble mirrors, which pop up throughout the space and evoke the fizz of the cocktails.

   

Outdoors at the Terrazza

The outdoor space blends seamlessly with the indoors through large glass panels and has two distinct areas that represent different ways of enjoying the Aperol world. The exterior of the Bacaro bar features tall tables, perfect for enjoying an aperitivo while standing, and a welcoming and versatile lounge area with custom-made seating for evenings of conviviality. The external area of the restaurant meanwhile has traditional bistro-style tables and director’s chairs, and is an elegant and comfortable space where guests can enjoy food and drinks brought to their table. Transparency, openness and a strong connection between indoors and outdoors are the main characteristics of the Terrazza as seen from the front.

Materials & Lighting Design

The space takes its inspiration from Venice’s traditional social scene, such as its coffee shops and historic palazzi, with materials and processing techniques reinterpreted to create a contemporary feel. The oak flooring is made from reclaimed ‘bricole’ navigation poles; grey Venetian stucco—that brings to mind the colours and atmosphere of the lagoon waters—features beautiful Murano glass mosaic tiles in distinctive Aperol orange. The traditional exposed-beam ceiling with decorated joints (called ‘Sansovino ceiling’) has been restored and illuminated, and a contemporary reference is made to this in the main room through lines of LED lighting. The contours of the mirrors recall those found in Venetian coffee shops of days gone by. The space is lit with a combination of soft lighting and concentrated spots of light. Tables, merchandising and counters are highlighted with ceiling spotlights and LED strip lighting. The result is a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with iconic Murano glass chandeliers that add to this extraordinary setting.

An Iconic Food Concept

Special attention has been paid to the food concept. Ranging from breakfast to after-dinner, the menu has been created specifically for Terrazza Aperol by Alessandro Negrini and Fabio Pisani (chefs of the Michelin-starred restaurant Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia in Milan). They have designed a menu based on the Venetian tradition, with excellent Italian ingredients and modulated on seasonality, with uncomplicated and informal suggestions. Terrazza Aperol will also host the first Aperol merchandising line, entirely “Made in Veneto” and inspired to celebrate moments of conviviality and togetherness.

Photo credit: Santi Caleca

FACTFILE

Project: Terrazza Aperol, Venice, Italy
Architects: Vudafieri-Saverino Partners, Milan and Shanghai
Client: Aperol
Principal Architects: Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino
Built-up area: 120 sq m + 90 sq m outdoors
Year of completion: 2021