El Refolo

El Refolo is a canalside bar on Via Garibaldi in the Castello district of Venice, Italy, in the Veneto region. Via Garibaldi is a wide, tree-lined street, unusual for Venice, that runs along a filled-in canal and forms the social spine of eastern Castello, far from the crowds of San Marco. The bar is popular with local residents, and the clientele is a relaxed mix of neighbours, families in the daytime, students and visitors staying in the quieter eastern sestiere. Dress is casual, there is no door policy, and the age range is broad, from young adults through retirees. The atmosphere is neighbourly and informal, with outdoor tables on the street that fill on warm days and evenings, and it is one of the better places in the city to watch everyday Venetian life. Music is not a feature, and conversation and street noise dominate. The drinks programme is straightforward: wine by the glass, spritz, beer, coffee and simple cocktails, with light snacks such as cicchetti and sandwiches available. Prices are at the budget end and typical for a local bar rather than a tourist venue. Opening hours are daily from 8AM to midnight, which lets the bar serve as a morning coffee stop, a lunchtime break and an evening aperitivo venue in one. Weekends and warm early evenings from about 6PM are the busiest, when the outdoor tables are hard to come by. There is no cover charge, no reservations for drinks and no bottle service. Visitors typically walk in and take whichever table is free or stand at the counter. The location makes it a natural stop after a walk through the Giardini della Biennale or the Arsenale area, and it offers an inexpensive alternative to the central bars for visitors who want a taste of residential Castello.