Caffe Florian claims to be the oldest café in Italy, and the second-oldest in Europe. It's also the stuff of legend. The Venetian café was where some of history's most revered writers — including Goethe, Lord Byron, and Charles Dickens — hung out. And in more recent years, modern celebrities — from Elton John to Clint Eastwood — were spotted.
The café, founded in 1720, has had a reputation for being where the bourgeoise socialized. So, as a tourist in Venice, walking up to the corroded, gilded entrance of the café felt intimidating.
I spent three days exploring Venice in late February. Unlike during the summer when the streets are often crowded, there weren't many people around at the time. It was frigid cold outside, with a light fog drifting over San Marco Square. I was freezing, but after perusing the café's menu — where I caught a glimpse of the sky-high prices — I began to have second thoughts about heading inside.