What to drink at Christmas with eggnog, hot chocolate and the Florian cocktail

During the Christmas season, Italy celebrates through flavours that warm both the heart and the senses. From creamy eggnog (zabaione) to rich hot chocolate and elegant holiday cocktails, each drink embodies the beauty of Italian craftsmanship and conviviality.

These traditional Christmas beverages are more than festive treats, they are a reflection of culture, hospitality and art, brought to life each winter in places like
Caffè Florian in Venice, where taste and tradition meet in a moment of pure refinement.

The joy of festive drinks in Italian tradition

The holiday season brings aromas, flavours and rituals that wait to be rediscovered.

In Venice, as in the rest of Italy, there are drinks that simply must appear on the festive table. They are warm, rich and comforting. Small gestures that make the wait for Christmas feel even more special. Don’t you agree?

Let’s discover the must-have Christmas drinks together.

Eggnog and its golden warmth

One of the most beloved winter drinks is zabaione. Warm, creamy and velvety, it has been part of the sweetest holiday moments for centuries.

The Florian Zabaione is made following the original traditional recipe and is still served today in the same way: with fragrant biscuits. A recipe that smells of history, of ancient gestures and of that artisanal care that has made Florian a true Venetian institution.

Would you like to prepare it at home to surprise friends and family? You can, thanks to the original recipe included in the Florian recipe book. It lets you bring the flavour of the historic Caffè into your own kitchen.

And if you love liqueurs, there is also the Florian Zabaione Liqueur. Soft, smooth and elegant, it’s perfect as an after-dinner drink and makes a refined gift for the holiday season.

When an object becomes a story of identity

What is a bag? Far more than an accessory, it is a container of meanings.
Within this exhibition, the bag becomes a symbol of Caffè Florian, a way to enclose aesthetics, functionality and storytelling in a single object.

Students embraced the idea of “carrying a piece of the Florian with them”, reimagining iconic elements – room decorations, stained-glass colours, 18th-century patterns – into new shapes, sometimes surprising, sometimes conceptual, always expressive.

Hot chocolate and the comfort of winter

When thinking of winter, it’s impossible not to think of hot chocolate. It is one of the most loved drinks by visitors of Caffè Florian.

Thick, rich and full of character, it has always been a comforting treat on cold days, one that brings back childhood memories and festive moments.

Alongside the classic version — considered one of the five best in the world — Florian also offers a surprising and much-loved variation: the Casanova Hot Chocolate.

Made with hot chocolate, mint-flavoured whipped cream and chocolate flakes, it’s a seductive and aromatic mix inspired by the famous Venetian figure.

Whether you prefer it with whipped cream or in its pure form, you can easily recreate Florian’s Venetian Hot Chocolate at home thanks to its tin version.

Inside you’ll find a fine and aromatic blend that allows you to prepare a creamy, indulgent cup just like the one served in the historic Caffè in St. Mark’s Square. It’s perfect to enjoy with friends or during a cosy winter afternoon.

Caffè Florian’s new cocktail

For those who enjoy a special toast, the new Florian’s menu introduces a cocktail dedicated to the winter season: the Cozy Winter.
This elegant, velvety creation combines Florian Zabaione Liqueur, cognac, white crème de cacao and a touch of fresh cream.
Each sip recalls the magic of Venice during the holidays: illuminated calli, golden reflections on the Lagoon and the sophisticated atmosphere of the festive season.

The charm of the Venetian toast

Whether it’s a steaming hot chocolate, warm zabaione or a refined cocktail like the Cozy Winter, every sip carries a bit of Venice’s magic at Christmas.

It invites you to slow down, enjoy the glow of the lights reflected on the water, and share special moments with the people you love. Because at Christmas it’s not only about what you drink, but about the memories created around that toast. In the Lagoon city, this tradition takes on a unique elegance.

And while thinking about gifts and small tokens to place under the tree, it’s hard not to be inspired by Florian’s Christmas collections. Thoughtful details designed for those who want to bring home a taste of Venetian Christmas — or give it to someone special.