Caffe Aurora

Caffè Aurora, while not as widely known as the venerable Caffè Florian, holds its own place in Venice's rich coffee house history. Here's what I found about its history: Established in 1723: Caffè Aurora was founded in 1723 by Giuseppe Boduzzi, just a few years after the more famous Caffè Florian (established 1720). This makes it one of the very early coffee houses in Venice, a city that was at the forefront of introducing coffee to Europe. Part of a Coffee House Boom: The 18th century saw a significant rise in coffee houses in Venice. These establishments quickly became important social and cultural hubs, where people from various backgrounds could gather, discuss ideas, and enjoy the newly popular beverage. In fact, by 1763, Venice alone had 218 coffee shops. Piazza San Marco Location: Like many of the historic cafes, Caffe Aurora is situated in the iconic Piazza San Marco, underscoring its historical significance as a place for public gathering and commerce. Modern Day Atmosphere: While retaining its historical roots, Caffè Aurora has also evolved. Some sources suggest it's known for being a more trendy spot, especially at night, with art exhibitions, video projections, and DJ sets. This indicates a blend of its historical origins with a more contemporary vibe. In essence, Caffè Aurora is a significant part of Venice's long and fascinating coffee culture, standing as a testament to the city's early embrace of coffee and the role of coffee houses as vital social spaces. Caffe Aurora is located in Piazza San Marco, Venice. Here's some information about it: Address: P.za San Marco, 49/49/50, 30124 Venezia VE Opening Hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 11:00 PM Phone: +39 041 528 6405 Rating: 4 stars Location on Google Maps Menu Highlights: Caffe Aurora offers a variety of drinks and food. Here's a glimpse of the menu, with prices from a recent online menu: Special Coffees: These are around €21.00 each and include options like: Caffè al Babà (coffee, rum, sponge cake, whipped cream) Caffè Casanova (coffee, hazelnut, whipped cream) Caffè del Moro (coffee, macaroon, whipped cream) Caffè Orientale (coffee, cinnamon, whipped cream) Caffè Orso Coronato (coffee, mint, chocolate, whipped cream) Italian Beers: Nastro Azzurro (0,33 l): €18.00 Birra San Marco (0,33 l): €18.00 Nastro Azzurro (0,50 l): €21.00 Ducato Freeride (0,33 l): €18.00 Fresh Artisanal Products (Sandwiches): Classic Toast (cooked ham and cheese): €18.00 Sandwich “Lavena” (parma ham, French cheese and salad): €19.00 Sandwich vegetariano (mozzarella cheese, tomato, lettuce): €19.00 Club Sandwich (whole roasted pig, aubergine, tomato, mustard): €22.00 Club Sandwich (turkey, cheese, tomato, lettuce): €22.00 Wines (Bottle): Prices around €70.00 Pinot Grigio DOC S. Margherita Trentino Sauvignon Collo DOC Marco Felluga Friuli Gavi “Le Marne” DOCG M. Chiarlo Piedmont Ribolla Gialla DOC Marco Felluga Friuli Rosé Bertani Bertarose Veneto Red Wines (Bottle): Prices around €70.00 Cabernet Sauvignon e Sangiovese IGT “Col di Sasso” Banfi Tuscany Merlot DOC Villa Russiz Friuli Rosso di Montalcino DOC Banfi Tuscany Chianti Classico DOCG Lamole di Lamole Tuscany Ripasso DOC Bertani Veneto Sparkling Wines (Bottle): Prosecco Extra Dry di Valdobbiadene DOCG – S. Margherita: €80.00 Franciacorta Cuvée Prestige Ca' del Bosco: €120.00 Spumante Millesimato Ferrari Perlé A.: €120.00 Athesis Brut Rosé Kettmeir A.: €90.00 Franciacorta “61” Saten G. Berlucchi A.: €90.00 Please note that prices may vary. Would you like to know more about...

It's location should give you the hint that it should be expensive, we knew that.

BUT (there's always a but) 13 euro's for an aperol spritz, while the street next to it sells them for 5 is ridiculous . My drink tasted like they are dimming down on the alcohol - could be different for someone else. (They do give you olives and chips/crisps for "free")

-the food is mediocre and overpriced. The pictures on the menu make it look as if you'll get a big plate / big piece of food but it's way smaller when you get it. For that price, i expect to be full, or at least get something that tastes better than i can make at home.

-the staff looks under qualified, they stumble a lot and seem stressy. Don't get me wrong, good enough for a normal café, but when you pretend to be a high class restaurant then also make sure your staff acts like it.

-i do get the feeling that some of the positive reviews are from the staff themselves. I can't prove it, but just be cautious when reading them.

-a quick bite with an aperol wil cost you an almost wopping 30 euros per person

+They do speak good English +The staff is friendly +Location is great

=Conclusion, if you just want a quick bite, money is not that much of an issue and you love to sit somewhere with a view, go there. Overall it was a comfortable experience. But students,... Choose...

Saw a waiter hit a pigeon off a table with a menu and then hand that same menu to a customer, that is mean and grossly unhygienic. He is also handing out plates food with those same hands that are indirectly in contact with the dirty pigeons. The same waiter then refused to let a family with young kids sit down to drink their take away coffees which they bought inside, even though at least 95% of their tables were unoccupied, which seemed unnecessarily harsh given that they'd probably only have sat for a short space of time, but the conversation also ruined the atmosphere for the few customers they had at the time. As for the pizza, it seemed like a frozen base, it was stodgy and dense, worst food we've had in our entire 2 weeks trip in Italy. Upstairs there are 2 toilets, each clearly indicating male and female. The male one was empty and I waited on the female toilet to see a male staff member leave it. He obviously used it with the seat down and left drip marks all over the...