We are flying to Venice tomorrow and I've been told that most restaurants, shops etc. will be closed except perhaps for the main tourist areas.

We are staying on the Lido (Villa delle Palmeif anyone knows it).

I don't care if we don't find a "great" restaurant on the first day, but a decent one or even small convenience store would be great. I would also love to be able to have a bottle of wine to celebrate our arrival.

Thanks.

There's a Billa supermarket on the Lido on Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta or Piazzale S.M.E. (or at the corner of the two) that is open until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Billa Web site. The Web site says it does not have fill-it-up wines or a wine shop, but I'd be surprised if it had no wine at all.

Just stay away from the restaurants right along the grand canal that cater to tourists and whose food is very standard. You would do better walking through the back alleys and finding an out of the way cafe for something more authentic.

Re: post by Zerlina,

I have been to the Billa on Lido on the main street, Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta that goes straight from the vaporetto stop to the beach side. No worry, they do have wine and other alcohol. Billa's website says (I can find only the one on Dorsoduro on Venice proper but I suppose it's the same with other Billas in Cannaregio & the one on Lido): No to "Vino Sfuso" and "Enoteca". I've been to all these Billas and they all had enough wine stock to choose from, although they were proper "enoteca".

> although they were proper "enoteca".

I meant to say they were NOT.

Take the vaporetto over from the Lido to San Zaccaria and San Marco, and there will be loads of shops and virtually all restaurants will be open as well.