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$$ | San Marco |
Florian is not only Italy's first café (1720), but also one of its most beautiful, with glittering, neo-Baroque decor and 19th-century wall panels depicting Venetian heroes. The coffee, drinks, and snacks are good, but most people—including Venetians from time to time—come for the atmosphere and history: this was the only café to serve women during the 18th century (hence Casanova's patronage); it was frequented by artistic notables like Wagner, Goethe, Goldoni, Lord Byron, Marcel Proust, and Charles Dickens; and it was the birthplace of the international art exhibition that became the Venice Biennale. There's a surcharge for music; those in the know opt for the comfortable back bar.
Piazza San Marco 57, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Prime location on St. Mark's Square
- Beautiful, historic interior
- Hot chocolate, coffee, and quick nibbles
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed early Jan.
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$$ | Cannaregio |
This is the most famous restaurant in Venice for the city's working class; if you can get a table for lunch, you'll eat, without any choice, what Marisa prepares for her local clientele—generally, enormous portions of excellent pasta followed by a hearty roast meat course (frequently game, more infrequently fish), for an inexpensive fixed price. Dinner is a bit more expensive, and you may have some choice, but not much; for the authentic “Marisa experience,” go for lunch. In good weather, you'll have a better chance getting in, because tables are set up along the fondamenta. Reservations aren't really taken, and locals and steady customers are given preference for seating. Don't be put off by the occasionally gruff service—it's part of the scene.
Fondamenta di San Giobbe 652B, Venice, Veneto, 30171, Italy
Known For
- Venetian classics like baccalà mantecato
- Limited menu choices and cramped inside
- Genuine local atmosphere and gruff service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues., Reservations essential
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$$ | San Marco |
Come for breakfast, a predinner aperitivo, or anything in between at this always lively historic coffeehouse—opened in 1775 and taken over by the famous culinary Alajmo family in 2011—in the center of the action on Piazza San Marco. Choose from a wide selection of pastries at breakfast (though the cappuccino and brioche combo is always a classic), pizzas at lunch, and tramezzini all day long, including one with lobster.
Piazza San Marco 121, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Extensive (though pricey) aperitivo
- Celebrity owners
- Prime people-watching
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$$ | |
It's all about the views at this classic, informal wine bar–restaurant, where tables perched on the water’s edge are often filled with chatty patrons, particularly at lunchtime. The homemade pasta and fish dishes are highly recommended, and although they don't really serve dinner, a filling selection of cicheti is offered in the evening.
Isola della Giudecca 448, Giudecca, Veneto, 30133, Italy
Known For
- Sea bass ravioli, grilled seafood, and baccalà
- Good, affordable wine list
- Superlative views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | |
Set by the Palanca waterside with lagoon views and clean, contemporary interiors, Majer is a reliable, quality bet at any time of day. Start as early as 7 am for breakfast cappuccino and pastries or arrive later for brunch bites, leisurely pasta lunches, picnic bakes, aperitvo (aperitif) with vino, or dinner dates until 10 pm.
Fondamenta Sant'Eufemia 461, Giudecca, Veneto, Italy
Known For
- All-day snacks
- Sbrisòlona (a traditional crumbly almond cake), biscotti, cakes, and semifreddi (dessert with a texture between ice cream and mousse)
- Grilled seafood and wagyu steak for dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Cannaregio |
Anchored on peaceful Campo Widman since the '90s is Ostaria Boccadoro, where purist chef Luciano Orlandi brings fresh seafood from the Chioggia market to the plate raw or lightly cooked with the subtlest of seasoning. Ask Luciano to suggest a wine from his carefully edited Veneto-dominated selection, then peruse the menu of Boccadoro classics like succulent canestrelli (tiny Venetian scallops), daily homemade pasta, tuna tartare, a crispy frittura (fritter), and perfectly grilled fish of the day like orata (gilt-head bream) with zucchini sauce; there are meat options as well. The interior decor is elegant, with traditional linens and contemporary art.
Cannaregio 5405/a, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Professional, friendly service
- Simply prepared seafood
- Romantic setting
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$$ | Dorsoduro |
A beautiful and atmospheric bacaro, Alla Bifora has such ample, satisfying fare that most Venetians consider it a full-fledged restaurant. Offerings include overflowing trays of cold, sliced meats and cheeses; various preparations of baccalà (cod); and Venetian classics, such as polpette (croquettes), sarde in saor, and marinated anchovies. La Bifora also serves up a couple of excellent hot dishes; the seppie in nero (cuttlefish stewed in a sauce made with its ink) is among the best in the city. Owner and barman Franco Bernardi and his sister Mirella are warm and friendly—after a few visits, you'll be greeted like a member of the family.
Dorsoduro 2930, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Good selection of regional wines by the glass
- Seppie in nero con polenta (cuttlefish in ink with polenta)
- Warm and friendly owners
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Jan. and Aug., Reservations essential
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$$ | Castello |
Almost an institution, the "Tiny Anchovy" (as the name translates) doubles as a pizzeria-trattoria, but the real reason for coming is the bar's tasty cicheti (finger foods), like the eponymous anchovy minipizzas, the arancioni (stuffed fried rice balls), and the polpette (meatballs or croquettes). Wines by the glass change daily, but there is always a good selection of local wines on hand, as well as some Tuscan and Piedmontese choices thrown in for good measure.
Castello 4357, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Pizzetta con l'acciuga (minipizza with anchovy)
- Mix of traditional and more modern cicheti
- Good selection of Italian wines by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Santa Croce |
Locals drop into this friendly bacaro to explore wines from this region and elsewhere in Italy, which accompany a carefully chosen selection of meats, cheeses, and other food from small, artisanal producers, used in tasty panini like the porchetta romane verdure (roasted pork with greens) and in elegant cold platters. A young, friendly staff reel off the day's specials with ease. There are a few tables in the intimate back room, and when the weather cooperates, you can sit outdoors on the lively campo, watching the Venetian world go by.
Santa Croce 1503, Venice, Veneto, 30135, Italy
Known For
- Great selection of biodynamic wines, including prosecco
- Lovely meat and cheese platters
- Outdoor seating on the lively campo
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | |
If you're shopping for glass on Murano and want to sample some first-rate home cooking for lunch, you can't do better than stopping in this unpretentious trattoria in the island's central square. Friendly waiters will bring you ample portions of pasta, with freshly made seafood-based sauces, and a substantial variety of carefully grilled or baked fish. There are some decent meat dishes, too, but this is essentially a fish restaurant.
Campo Santo Stefano 3, Murano, Veneto, 30141, Italy
Known For
- Tasty local fish and seafood
- Reliable lunch stop in Murano
- Outdoor dining on a square
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | Castello |
At this contemporary cantina and hip hangout in a very Venetian neighborhood, the owner pairs enthusiastically chosen wines and artisanal beers with select meat, savory cheese, and seasonal vegetable combos. With outside-only seating (not particularly comfortable), it's more appropriate for an aperitivo and a light meal. In temperate weather, this tiny enoteca's exuberance bubbles out into the city's broadest street well into the late evening. It's named after a play by turn-of-the-20th-century emancipated lady Amalia Rosselli—look for the framed title page inside.
Castello 1580, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Good selection of wine and beer
- Filling meat and cheese plates
- Boisterous atmosphere outside in nice weather
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | San Marco |
A short walk from the Ponte di Rialto, this bar has been around since 1936, and the satisfying cicheti and primi have a lot to do with its staying power. Grab a table out front, or take refuge in one of the two small, dark rooms with a ceiling plastered with wine labels that provide a classic backdrop for simple fare, including a delicious risotto that is served daily from noon, plus a solid wine list of both Italian and foreign vintages. If you stick to a panino or some cicheti at the bar, you'll eat well for relatively little. If you take a table and opt for one of the day's exceptional primi, the price category goes up a notch; however, this is still a good bargain for San Marco. There are, of course, traditional secondi, such as a very good seppie in nero. Al Volto is open every day of the year but Christmas (and closes a bit early on Christmas Eve).
San Marco 4081, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Great local and international wine selection
- Tasty and inexpensive cicheti
- Fantastic main courses, including risotto and pasta with seafood
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$$ | San Polo |
Despite its name "the devil and holy water" (a common way of describing a person whose personality swings between these two extremes), this small bar and restaurant has a reliable kitchen and a homey, neighborhood atmosphere. Go on Saturday morning, when old friends tend to stop for an ombra (small glass of wine) and cicheto. Try the breaded fried baccalà, meat or tuna meatballs, cubes of frittata, and in cold weather, sometimes musetto (sausage) or testina (meat from the head of a pig). At lunch or dinner, apart from standard favorites, such as spaghetti carbonara and fegato alla veneziana (Venetian-style liver with onions), try some Venetian classics, such as bigoli in salsa (spaghetti with onions and anchovies), tripe soup, mixed boiled meat, or cuttlefish in sauce made from their ink, and sometimes even eel risotto.
San Polo 561, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Venetian classics like cuttlefish ink pasta
- Local favorite
- Small bites
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$ | Dorsoduro |
If you're hungry but don't know what you want, head to this bar, café, restaurant, and pizzeria for a bite. Here you can sample all types of southern Italian specialties from the Salento area of Puglia, the "heel" of the Italian "boot." Divided into two locations across the street from each other on Calle San Pantalon, the café has some tables inside, while the bakery focuses on takeout. Discover the puccia (POOCH-a), a delicious cross between a pizza and a sandwich that you order by ticking the options on a list of ingredients, or try the homemade pasta dishes, especially the orecchiette ("little ears"), the most famous pasta from the Puglia region. Skip the usual croissant with your cappuccino and try the pasticciotto pastry filled with lemon custard. "Mamafe'" refers to Mamma Federica.
Dorsoduro 3743 and 3755, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Cappuccino
- Puccia (cross between a sandwich and pizza)
- Takeout snacks and pastries
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$$ | Santa Croce |
This friendly neighborhood restaurant named for the old well nearby offers a wide selection of favorite Italian dishes. The pizza is made with locally milled flour that is left to mature for two days, and the pasta is handmade every day. Recipes use seasonal ingredients; this could be your only chance to try a pizza with pumpkin cream or with truffles in the fall. There are lots of meat and vegetarian dishes, and very little fish.
Santa Croce 656, Venice, Veneto, 30135, Italy
Known For
- Seasonal pizza toppings like truffle and pumpkin
- Outdoor dining
- Local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Dorsoduro |
This small eatery hides a historic secret: indoors are the visible underground remains of three medieval brick vats that were used for dying cloth, discovered during renovation work years ago. A menu for the whole family varies from cicheti (appetizers) to pasta to dessert. It's a fine place for a coffee or spritz under the umbrellas outside.
Dorsoduro 3426, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Historic past
- Fine setting for a coffee or spritz
- Umbrella-covered outdoor seating
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$$ | Dorsoduro |
It wasn't long after this lovely little wine bar (not, as its name implies, a restaurant) appeared across from Squero San Trovaso that it became a neighborhood—and citywide—favorite. The Venetian owner has created a personal vision of what a good bar should offer: a variety of sumptuous cicheti, panini, and cheeses to be accompanied by just the right regional wines (ask for his recommendation). You can linger along the fondamenta outdoors, and there are places to perch and even sit inside, in front of a sunny picture window that brings the outside view in.
Dorsoduro 943/944, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Tasty cicheti
- Good veggie options
- Pretty canal views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Cannaregio |
Far from the maddening San Marco crowds, this tiny eatery nestled under a grapevine on a remote campiello charms before you even taste the seafood (think: grilled seppie [cuttlefish], canoce [mantis shrimp], excellent baccalà mantecato, or sarde in saor [sweet-and-sour sardines]). Wines are an important part of the meal here; ask for a recommendation from the ample list of predominantly regional selections. With limited indoor seating, La Frasca encloses and heats their outdoor terrace to accommodate winter diners.
Cannaregio 5176, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Small, pricey plates
- Outdoor terrace
- Seafood staples
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$$ | San Polo |
This small corner bar/café is a vibrant spot full of personality with a remarkable menu, thanks to the highly enterprising Simone Lazzari and his nephew, Devis. Along with a selection of tempting, original cicheti, it serves more classic Venetian bites, such as sarde in saor (marinated sardines), baccalà mantecato (salt cod), seppie (cuttlefish), and nervetti (boiled beef cartilage with raw onions). There are also more substantial plates of food that will fill you up, even if you are seated on one of the high stools at the small tables. Their specialty is boiled octopus. It's not cheap when you add up the cost of all those delectable bites, but flavor and originality make it worthwhile.
San Polo 255/A, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Neighborhood staple
- Cicheti
- Boiled octopus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Cannaregio |
Join locals at the banco (counter) premeal for an ombra (small glass of wine) and cicheti like polpette or violet eggplant rounds, or reserve a table for a full meal in the dining room or the intimate courtyard. A varied, seasonal menu includes local standards like calf's liver or grilled canestrelli, along with creative variations on classic Venetian fare, such as homemade ravioli stuffed with radicchio di Treviso or orecchiette with a scrumptious minced-duck sauce. The service is friendly and helpful, but it's very popular among locals, so be sure to make a reservation (later is better for a more relaxed environment).
Cannaregio 4367, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Creative cicheti and wine
- Regularly changing menu with both traditional and modern choices
- Friendly, helpful service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon., Reservations essential
