There’s something about the magical floating city of Venice that seems to transcend time and trends. It oozes romance from every cobblestone, bridge and square, and is a dream holiday destination even in the middle of August, when it is completely overrun by hordes of tourists from all over the world.

Having said that, there is a way you can steal a little quiet corner of this most treasured Italian city all to yourself. Book your a Venice apartment in the northern area of Cannaregio and not only will you be just a stone throw away from all the major sites, but you’ll also have the chance to experience the most genuine part of the city.

Away from all the hustle and bustle of St. Mark’s Square lies a suburb enriched in history, culture and authenticity. Cannaregio is home to the historic Jewish Quarter (the first of its kind in Europe); and this most eclectic residential sestiere is brimming with unique and non-touristy restaurants, cafés, boutique and a host of fresh produce markets. So if you’re looking for an epitome Venetian holiday off the beaten path…this may just be the place for you.

While we could all agree that there’s no better way to end a day of exploration than with a relaxing drink or two, bars and pubs are a bit challenging to find in Venice. When vacationing in Cannaregio, don’t waste hours trying to find a place that’s open after dinner (let alone a nice one), but head to one of the following local favourites instead.

Irish Pub Venezia, Campiello Testori
If you happen to be suffering Guinness withdrawal symptoms, you’ll be happy to know that Cannaregio is home to the best Irish pub in Venice. All right…it’s one of only two Irish pubs in Venice, but we promise you this is the better one!

Now don’t be suspicious about finding an Irish pub in Italy. Sure, the Italians would probably rather die of thirst than down a Guinness, but here is where they come to savour the very best ‘spritz’ in town. A typical Venetian specialty, the spritz is an aperitif made with either Campari or Aperol, and mixed with Seltzer and Prosecco. The Irish Pub Venezia offers amazingly delicious Italian bar food, Harp on tap, a relaxed and super friendly atmosphere and every football match shown on large screens. Trust us, you couldn’t dream up a better version of an Irish pub if you tried.

Taverna del Campiello Remer, off Calle del Camin
This taverna is one of those golden gems that’s hard to find and quite impossible to forget. A brilliant restaurant in its own right, it’s one of the few in town which stays open late and seamlessly morphs into one of the coolest bars around. Just a few tricky corners will see you enter a heavenly courtyard right by the Canal Grande, and there you’ll find a bar which serves aperitifs along with delicious food and, amazingly, the price actually lowers on your second round. Yes… in case you’re wondering, you are still in Italy.

Happy hour is from 5.30pm to 7.30pm (that’s an Italian hour obviously) and includes both food and aperitifs! For a mere 8 Euros you can feast on squid ink risotto, bruschetta, various other cicchetti (hors d’oeuvre) and all you can drink spritz and wine. Enjoy the live music, fantastic atmosphere, top location and unbelievable deal on drinks and food and you’ve got yourself a fantastic night out in Cannaregio.

The Taverna is found on a nameless side alley off Calle del Camin, so we suggest you head there with plenty of time to spare and an Italian phrase book so you can ask for directions.