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$$$ | Castello |
The name is a reference to the old headboards that adorn the walls of this tiny, informal restaurant, but the food (not the decor) is undoubtedly the focus. Local foodies consider this one of the most refined eateries in the city thanks to chef Bruno Gavagnin's gently creative take on classic Venetian fish dishes; the chef's artistry seldom draws attention to itself, but simply reveals new dimensions of familiar fare, creating dishes that stand out for their lightness and balance. A classic black risotto of cuttlefish, for example, is surrounded by a brilliant coulis of mild yellow peppers; tiny potato gnocchi are paired with tender newborn squid. The menu changes regularly to capitalize on the freshest produce of the moment, and the wine selection is top-notch. To enjoy a more leisurely meal, be sure to book the second dinner seating.
Castello 5801, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Daily changing fish offerings, based on what's fresh at the market
- Excellent pasta with seafood
- Wonderful wine selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., 3 wks in Jan.–Feb., and 4 wks in July–Aug., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Castello |
Housed in the atmospheric, deconsecrated ecclesiastical buildings of the Chiesa di San Giovanni Novo, this special restaurant run by the attentive Giuseppe Calliandro marries classic Venetian cuisine with some inventive flavor combinations. In colder months dine amid magnificent wooden beams, religious artworks, and quirky objects; in warmer times, the pretty, plant-filled courtyard is the place to sit. There are set menus to choose from, including a good-value daily menu (€26), plus fish, meat, vegetables, Venetian classics, and the Antica Sacrestia (€80), if splurging.
Calle de la Corona, Castello 4463, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Pizza and pasta
- Quality meat and seafood platters to share
- Simple, fresh flavors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | San Marco |
For those who can afford it, lunch or dinner at Harry's Bar is as much a part of a visit to Venice as a walk across Piazza San Marco or a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal. Inside, the suave, subdued beige-on-white decor is unchanged from the 1930s, and the classic Venetian fare is carefully and excellently prepared. Harry's is not just a fine restaurant; it's a cultural institution. When founder Giuseppe Cipriani opened the doors in 1931, the place became a favorite of almost every famous name to visit Venice (including Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Ernest Hemingway) and still attracts much of Venetian high society as regulars. Today, many still remember Harry's as one of the few restaurants in town that continued to serve Jewish patrons during the period of the Fascist racial laws. Try the delicate baked sea bass with artichokes, and don't miss the signature crepes flambées or famous Cipriani chocolate cake for dessert. Because a meal at Harry's is as much about being seen there, book one of the cramped tables on the ground floor—the upper floor of the restaurant is the Venetian equivalent of Siberia (take heart if seated there: views from the second-floor windows look like framed paintings). Be sure to order a Bellini cocktail—a refreshing mix of white peach puree and sparking prosecco—this is its birthplace, after all. On the other hand, true to its retro atmosphere, Harry's makes one of the best martinis in town.
San Marco 1323, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Being the birthplace of the Bellini cocktail
- See-and-be-seen atmosphere
- Signature crepes flambées and famous Cipriani chocolate cake
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$$$$ | Castello |
In a simple yet charming setting with beamed ceilings and terrazzo floors, a sister and brother team oversee their "New Venetian Cuisine," where local ingredients are used to prepare reinvented traditional dishes, often with Japanese influences. It's tasting-menu only, with seven or nine courses (or a less expensive three-course option at weekday lunch), and wine pairings from their extensive list are a recommended treat.
Castello 3303, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Tiramigiù dessert: coffee, marsala, and mascarpone
- Ingredients from Italian producers and daily catch
- Highly attentive staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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Set by the Palanca waterside with lagoon views and clean, contemporary interiors, Majer is a reliable, quality bet at any time of day. Start as early as 7 am for breakfast cappuccino and pastries or arrive later for brunch bites, leisurely pasta lunches, picnic bakes, aperitvo (aperitif) with vino, or dinner dates until 10 pm.
Fondamenta Sant'Eufemia 461, Giudecca, Veneto, Italy
Known For
- All-day snacks
- Sbrisòlona (a traditional crumbly almond cake), biscotti, cakes, and semifreddi (dessert with a texture between ice cream and mousse)
- Grilled seafood and wagyu steak for dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | 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 |
The candlelit tables on this romantic campo are inviting enough, but it's the intimate restaurant's imaginative kitchen that's likely to win you over; you can order consistently excellent pasta, fish, or meat dishes à la carte or opt for one of the rewarding tasting menus. The wine list is ample and well thought out, and the service is gracious, warm, and professional.
Castello 5911, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Innovative and artfully presented modern Venetian food
- Charming setting
- Wonderful wine pairings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and 2 wks in Aug. No lunch Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Dorsoduro |
Pop into this canal-side restaurant at lunch for a satisfying primo or come for dinner to sample fine and fresh offerings; the candlelit tables that line the fondamenta (quay) suggest romance, and the service is friendly and welcoming. The posted menu—with choices like tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and tiger prawns, or a filleted John Dory with tomatoes and pine nuts—changes daily (spot the date at the top) and seasonally.
Dorsoduro 1169a, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Delicious pasta and seafood offerings
- Superlative tiramisu
- Truly helpful service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | San Polo |
The understated atmosphere, simple decor, and quiet elegance featured alongside Da Fiore's modern take on traditional Venetian cuisine certainly merit its international reputation. With such beautifully prepared cuisine, you would expect the kitchen to be run by a chef with a household name; however, the kitchen is headed by owner Maurizio Martin's wife, Mara, who learned to cook from her grandmother. The other surprise is that, while this restaurant is in a higher price category, it is hardly among the priciest in Venice. The menu is constantly changing, but generally fritto misto or Da Fiore's tender, aromatic version of seppie in nero (cuttlefish in ink) is almost always available. Reservations, made a few days in advance in high season, are essential for dinner, but you can try just dropping in for lunch. Da Fiore is consistently awarded a Michelin star, although—unlike many other honored restaurants—it does not publicize the fact. Do not confuse it with Trattoria da Fiore, which is in Campo Santo Stefano (San Marco).
San Polo 2202, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Sophisticated traditional Venetian dishes
- Delicious tasting menus
- Reservations required
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed 3 wks in Jan. and Sun. No dinner Fri. and Sat., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | San Marco |
Although the lavish interior has been updated by designer Philippe Starck, this restaurant above the famed café of the same name is still steeped in Venetian ambience and history (it was where Turkish coffee was introduced to the city in the 1700s). When the Alajmo family (of the celebrated Le Calandre near Padua) took over, they put their accomplished sous-chef from Padua in charge of the kitchen, resulting in the addition of dishes—best sampled with a tasting menu—that are complex and sophisticated, with a wonderful wine list to match. Downstairs, the simpler Quadrino (located next to the café)—with impeccably restored neo-rococo wall paintings—serves more traditional Venetian fare and some of the best martinis in town. As for Quadri itself, the prices, cuisine, and decor are all alta, so beware. Be sure, also, to book one of the few tables with a Piazza San Marco view.
Piazza San Marco 121, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Sophisticated and modern Italian cuisine
- Seasonal tasting menus
- Revitalized designer decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., and late Jan.–mid-Feb. No lunch Wed.–Fri.
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$$$ | Cannaregio |
A brother-sister team run this refined trattoria, where you're made to feel as if you've been personally invited to lunch or dinner. Indulge, perhaps, in rigatoni with duck sauce or arugula-stuffed ravioli, seafood risotto made to order, or sesame-encrusted tuna. Just note, though, that it's the meat dishes that steal the show: the steak with red-pepper sauce and the tagliata di agnello (sautéed lamb fillet with a light, crusty coating) are both superb, and you'll never enjoy a better fegato alla veneziana. This is a place for wine connoisseurs, as the cellar is one of the best in the city. Come for the second seating in the evening or at lunch for more relaxed service.
Cannaregio 3628/A, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Superb meat dishes like fegato alla veneziana
- One of the city's best wine cellars
- Helpful and professional service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Tues., and 2 wks in Aug., Reservations essential
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$$$ | |
Grab a seat among locals at this charming, intimate eatery—the perfect place to pop in for a lunchtime primo or to embark on a romantic evening. The name, referring to the tranquility of the lagoon at the turn of the tide, reflects this restaurant's approach to food and service, and you'll find such tempting seafood-based dishes as gnocchi with scallops and zucchini and curried scampi with black rice; tasteful decor sets the mood with exposed brick, iron and glass accents, and charming fish sculptures.
Fondamenta Manin 48, Murano, Veneto, 30141, Italy
Known For
- Light and fresh traditional food
- Focus on seafood dishes
- Relaxing atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner Tues.–Thurs. and Sat.
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$$$ | Castello |
For years, Diane and Cesare Binelli's Al Covo has set the standard of excellence for traditional, refined Venetian cuisine; the Binellis are dedicated to providing their guests with the freshest, highest-quality fish from the Adriatic, and vegetables, when at all possible, from the islands of the Venetian Lagoon and the fields of the adjacent Veneto region. Although their cuisine could be correctly termed "classic Venetian," it always offers surprises, like the juicy crispness of their legendary fritto misto (fried mixed seafood and vegetables)—reliant upon an unconventional secret ingredient in the batter—or the heady aroma of their fresh anchovies marinated in wild fennel, an herb somewhat foreign to Veneto. The main exception to Al Covo's distinct local flavor is Diane's wonderful Texas-inspired desserts, especially her dynamite chocolate cake.
Castello 3968, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Sophisticated Venetian flavors
- Top-notch local ingredients
- Diane's chocolate cake for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed., 3 wks. in Jan., and 10 days in Aug., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Santa Croce |
This friendly trattoria popular with the locals is only a short walk from the Rialto markets. The pizza—not a Venetian specialty, generally speaking—is pretty good here, but the star attractions are the generous appetizers and excellent shellfish pastas. In good weather, you can enjoy your meal in the pergola-covered courtyard (do reserve if you want to snag a table there). There's no English menu, but a server can usually help you out. The house wine is quite drinkable.
Santa Croce 2338, Venice, Veneto, 30135, Italy
Known For
- Traditional starters and pastas
- Quite tasty pizzas
- Pretty outdoor garden seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Jan., Reservations essential
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$$$ | San Polo |
"The Madonna" used to be world-famous as the classic Venetian trattoria, but in recent decades has settled into middle age. Owned and operated by the Rado family since 1954, this Venetian institution looks like one, with wood beams, stained-glass windows, and a panoply of paintings on white walls. Folks still head here to savor the classic Venetian repertoire, reliable if not inspired, with a strong focus on seafood.
San Polo 594, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Freshly prepared seafood
- Traditional Venetian cuisine
- Old-time atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Jan., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Cannaregio |
Off the main concourse on one of the most tranquil fondamente of Cannaregio, this small, family-run osteria is the place to stop for artful seafood and meat dishes in a romantic setting. Book a table among the wooden tables, columns, and mosaic floor of the rustic yet elegant dining room or right by the calming canal.
Cannaregio 3272, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Seasonal seafood
- Exuberant flavors and presentation
- Relaxed fine dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$ | Santa Croce |
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Santa Croce, with a few tables under an ivy shelter, the Antica Besseta dates from the 19th century, and it retains some of its old feel. The menu focuses on vegetables and fish, according to what's at the market, with some pasta and meat dishes, too. The fish is not all local, but it is served with a tasty sauce and is well prepared. The menu tends toward the elegant and original; speck made from goose, for example, or cheese foam, are not to be found everywhere.
Santa Croce 1395, Venice, Veneto, 30135, Italy
Known For
- Classic Italian pastas, like spaghetti con vongole (with clams)
- Simple menu of fish and meat choices
- Charming old-fashioned feel
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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A pretty square with olive trees and a well sets the stage for Da Lele, a favorite of the Muranese and returning travelers. On the ground floor of a dark-red building with a loggia, the restaurant stretches out on the campo, where you eat in the shade of large umbrellas. Check the blackboard for such daily specials as antipasto Busa, with granseola and garusol (sea snails); bavette alla busara (flat spaghetti with a hot, spicy shrimp and tomato sauce); and baked rombo or branzino with potatoes. Homemade cookies are served with fragolino, a sweet, sparkling wine redolent of strawberries.
Campo Santo Stefano 3, Murano, Veneto, 30141, Italy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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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
