Caffè Florian- Venice

In 2013 we were charged 9€ each at Cafe Florian during the afternoon as we were seated outside. Since it was a once in a lifetime event we paid the price. The waiter pointed the fee to us before we ordered and probably did so out of self defense.

Buon viaggio,

I believe that is per-person. In addition to the high coperto, the prices are astronomical and, if I remember right, there is a separate service charge (tip) on top. An espresso that costs 1-2 € around the corner is €6.50. It's a very high-rent district...

The cost of the memories of having a sit down drink while the orchestra is playing is priceless. It's something everyone should do at least once if not more. Maybe even do a little dancing. Everyone needs a little romance in their soul no matter what the cost.

Thanks so much! We are a party of 6, so that will be an expensive cover charge...though perhaps worth it.

I think it would be great with a party of six - no one is going to rush you away from the table, you can dance and people-watch.

I did this with a friend a few years ago - I am in the 1E caffe group normally, but I knew she would appreciate the experience. I enjoyed it, too.

1. The service charge is not a tip, it doesn't go to the waiter. Of course you are not supposed to tip.
2. There is a little benefit in paying a cover charge: you can stay at the table as long as you want. They can't ask you to go away.

It sounds like it is very much worth the experience!
Thanks!

One of the most fascinating travel threads I ever read was on Fodors. Someone asked the question, There are three famous and expensive and "touristy" things to do in Venice: have a Bellini at Harry's Bar, ride in a gondola, and go to Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco to hear the orchestras. Did you do these and were they worthwhile?

The range of answers was all over the map. Some found them worth every penny; some found them disappointing or a rip-off; some avoided them and regretted it; some were happy to skip them. And which ones people chose to do and chose to avoid, and why, was equally wide-ranging.

Here's the thread; it's long, but worth a perusal to help you decide: http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/venice-tourist-traps-cafe-florian-harrys-bar-and-gondola-ridewould-you-or-wont-you-did-you.cfm

If you have lots of money and don't mind spending it, then sitting at the patio tables in front of the highbrow orchestras is certainly an option. The service charge is only a small part of the bill. The drinks are priced at astronomical levels! I did an informal survey on my last visit and can't remember the exact numbers, but a coffee may have been around €20. If you want a cheaper option, go inside Caffè Florian and stand at the bar, as you can get an Espresso for €5 (which is what I did).

If you want to enjoy a Belliini at Harry's Bar, you'll also be paying a small fortune for those. It's been several years since I've been there, but I recall they were about €16 each.

The bottom line is how much are you willing to pay for the "experience" in an over priced tourist trap?

Well, we were willing to pay a lot....and I'm so glad we did. It was one of our favorite things to do. How is being at the oldest cafe at San Marcos listening to an orchestra play on a warm, balmy night be a trap? After dinner, we wandered over to the square. Decided to sit and enjoy the evening for awhile. Paid 117 euros for 2 proseccos, 2 coffees andc2 desserts. The experience was beautiful and worth it. I would have paid that going to any performance.

This really smells like an overpriced tourist trap - I'm glad other posters have brought this up. I guess to each his own, but there are plenty of other lovely places (like churches or concert settings) where one can hear live music. Places like these really exploit a lot of expectations and fantasies that tourists have - but where's the value? There are literally countless other "romantic" places that don't require expensive drinks/food. Anything can be rationalized I suppose...but Venice is chock full of stuff like this because it's so (overly) touristy that they can simply rip people off. I learned my lesson to avoid places in heavily trafficked tourist zones.

As a professional musician, I would view the charge as a cheap concert ticket in a breathtakingly remarkable venue, with very expensive drinks. We'll probably sit outside Caffè Florian at least once during our stay in Venice in September, but we won't get more than an espresso each. The online menu lists a music charge of €6 per person.

Agnes, true, the food and drinks are marked up because of the location and the history, but as for the charge to listen to the music, how do you think they pay for the band? As someone who also plays for diners from time to time, I don't begrudge paying for the live music - that's how I make my living. I also get cranky when people don't respect how many years of music school, how many degrees, and how many thousands of hours of practice it takes to get to the level to play in a venue like that and then have the audacity to want musicians to play for little or nothing at all. At €6 per person, those musicians aren't making much. Maybe not even what would be union wages here in the U.S.

Caffè Florian has a big staff, a 53 page menu with an impressive list of food and drink, an amazing location, historical mojo that bests most any other caffè, and good musicians as well. I say, toss some shekels to the band. Venice is an expensive place to live. And from time to time we need to stick crowbars in our wallets and enjoy the romance of a place - even if it is occasionally molto costoso.

One note on stopping at the Florian, yes, it is expensive, but as was said, once you have a table, it's yours. Yes, you can dance in the Piazza, but you will get some minor annoyance of people trying to sell you flowers in the middle of that romantic dance. Just firmly say No, or Yes, if the spirit moves you. You can always retreat to your table, where the waiters keep these "paparazzi" away. It's your "safe" space.

And the only time I ventured into Harry's Bar, I ran into Jerry Stiller, and I must say he treated me a lot better than he treats his son-in-law in "King of Queens". But then he pays the big bucks to get away from people like me. :-)

It is definitely worth it (to us) - we do it every time we are in Venice. But then we only go when we have saved up money enough to afford it.

Agnes and others: the "value" is in the fantasy fulfilled.

I would probably never do this by myself, but I wouldn't criticize anyone who does.

P&G.....exactly! We felt we were paying for a symphonic concert in one of the most iconic places in the World! I have paid more just going out to dinner on a cold winters night in the Midwest. Plus, it was at night, so not crowded. You are paying for the entire experience....not food and drink.

P&G, what a fantastic way of explaining that! Where else could you see a beautiful concert at a historical venue for that price!

Where else could you see a beautiful concert at a historical venue for that price!

Believe it or not, there are many places around the world where this is possible (just not San Marcos Square in Venice). Since you ask, Buenos Aires and Istanbul come to mind. I've been to several amazing concerts in both places that didn't have massive food/drink markups (it was just music in different music venues). I think my point is being missed though....I have no problems paying a cover charge for music (I love live music in fact, and a 6 EUR cover charge is very reasonable), but the heavily marked up drinks/food on top just because it's a touristy "iconic" place in a very expensive part of a city and covered in every guidebook as a "must see" is a bit much. If a lot of locals frequent that cafe, then I humbly retract my comments. I agree with other comments that everyone sees value differently and that's OK.