In the heart of Portovenere, under the ancient brick vaults of the San Francesco Convent, Venus Bar seduces guests with an elegant ambiance and stunning views of Palmaria Island. Here, mixology blends Mediterranean flavors, Ligurian traditions, and modern imagination.
We met Giovanni, the manager of Venus Bar.
Where do you find inspiration for your cocktail menu?
Our inspiration is to refresh our menu seasonally. We keep the top-selling drinks, remove the slow movers, and introduce new cocktails that reflect market trends and emerging tastes.
Our mixology style is simple and efficient, always focusing on the best ingredients. We like to use fresh fruits and homemade infusions where possible—without overcomplicating things.
Is there a cocktail on the menu that holds special meaning for you? What’s its story?
One cocktail close to my heart is the Woman in Love. We created it in 2017 with its bold yet balanced flavor and striking appearance in mind for our female guests. It’s a twist on the classic Cosmopolitan: vodka, lime juice, liquid sugar, and raspberry syrup in place of cranberry juice, with just a touch of elderflower liqueur.
The recipe evolved over time. We substituted the raspberry syrup with fresh muddled raspberries and added a special foam for creaminess. As a finishing note, we replaced the raspberries with dried rosebuds as garnish. That’s how Woman in Love No.2 was born—a hit with our guests and still on our menu today.
What’s the most unusual request you’ve ever received from a customer?
We get many creative requests, from reinventing forgotten classics to crafting cocktails without key ingredients.
One memorable request came from an American couple who ordered Old Fashioneds. After enjoying their first two rounds, they told us that they had a special home-brew favorite variation: instead of the traditional cherry or orange peel garnish, they loved a slice of crispy grilled bacon!
I smiled, rushed to the kitchen, and brought back four slices of bacon to garnish their next round. Their reaction was pure joy—they even asked for another round!
The following day, they left their contact details along with a bottle of whiskey as a token of appreciation and invited me to visit them in America. Moments such as these make working here special.
Is there a local ingredient that foreign guests love the most?
Without a doubt—basil.
One of our standout favorites among our international guests is the Basil Smash Gimlet. It’s a refreshing, summer-style gin cocktail with lightly muddled basil to bring out its full aroma. Served over crushed ice with a lemon peel and fresh basil leaf garnish, it’s a true tribute to Liguria—and often leads to a second round!
At Venus Bar in Portovenere, every cocktail tells a story—a journey through Mediterranean flavors and scents. If you visit Portovenere, let Giovanni and his team surprise you. Sip by sip, you’ll be swept into the magic of the Gulf of Poets.
