Laurajay

So my husband and i are going to Venice in August for 5 days to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. We are on a budget as we are in the process of buying our first home. My parents went to Venice two years ago and said that the food and eating out is very expensive, and my husband is now worried. Breakfast will be provided by the hotel, so it's really only four dinners we will be eating out and then a lunch/lunchtime snack everyday.

Can anyone suggest some places for dinners and lunchtime snacks that are affordable within the centre of venice?

Thanks

jamierin

Laurajay,

I too am going to Venice with my family and am on a budget. Can you tell me in which area you are staying?

Some of the suggestions that I have received for dinner from friends include La Zucca (Santa Croce) and Anice Stellato (Cannareggio), though I think that they are moderate in price and not inexpensive.

If I were you I would take a look at the Chowhound website as well. I believe that I saw a post there for "cheap eats in Venice" or something like that which may help.

Have fun.

basingstoke2

For downright cheap in Venice there is the Brek cafeteria. From the train station turn left and walk about 100-200 yards. It is on your left - you have to walk through a coffee shop to enter the cafeteria. It is not quite a cafeteria but more like Italian fast food. The hot dishes are made as you watch. If you go there, stay away from the wine on tap which IMO is awful.

For better help, please define what you mean by inexpensive. There are plenty of places that I would not call expensive but not cheap either.

JoanneH

Brek is not that bad, meals are cheap they do offer salads and as stated the tap wine is not the best, they also have a stand up coffee bar with pastry that is quite cheap by Venice standards and not bad.

hkto

Brek also sells regular bottled wine which is inexpensive and perfectly ok. 20-25 euro per couple should do it for a complete meal.

giannetta

My husband and I have spent many weeks in Venice - the last trip being last October when we rented an apartment for 6 weeks. In our experience it was not difficult to eat @ moderately priced trattorias or pizzerias. I would simply wander the streets and stop at places where you can always take a look at the posted menu and decide if it meets what you're looking for. There are places near and around Campo Santa Margherita that are quite reasonable as it is a student neighborhood, being close to the university. We found a small trattoria in Campo San Giaccomo Del Orio - close to the recommended Zucca - We love Zucca but it is not inexpensive. My suggestion - not knowing where you are staying, however - is to stay away from places around both Rialto and Piazza San Marco. For lunches we enjoyed the triangular sandwiches known as "tramezzini." Not costly but tasty. It's not hard to save $$$ in Venice if you decide that a "great" recommended restaurant does not need your business! We were at a hotel a few years ago and asked directions to a particular restaurant that is on the list of "best Venice restaurants" called Da Fiori - or Fiore (?) The manager said "you don't want to go there." It's VERY expensive and NOT worth it!" We took his advice. BTW - it felt to us that a glass of wine was less $$ than a bottle of water!

basingstoke2

Lets hear it for fans of Breck. Yes, the food is decent if not downright tasty and we usually have a couple of meals there to bring down the overall average restaurant cost. My kids loved the place when they were teens.

isabel

Brek is a chain found in several Italian cities. The food is really pretty good, lots of selection, pretty fresh.

Sassafrass

We also like Brek. Desserts are very good, as are salads.

For lunch, there are great little sandwich stands with fresh shrimp salad, tomato and cheese, sliced boiled eggs, etc. Sometimes, we bought them early and took them to our room for later.

If anyone happens to be going to Verona, Brek, right on the piazza, has a lovely outdoor area.

ellenem

One way to avoid high prices in venice is to not eat near Piazza San Marco.

Another way is to have the tramezzini and panini (sandwiches) as suggested. You buy them at a bar. They will heat them for you if you like. The key is to get them to take away. If you sit at a table and order them, a higher rice is charged, if you order at the bar and eat standing (or take it to go) a lower price is charged.

My trip report from last year gives a good description of Venetian restaurants of various types and the prices you may find.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

Daneille08

You could also find a grocery store where more of the locals live - around the Canareggio area is good - and buy yourself some fresh bread rolls, cheeses and deli items and make up your own lunches and light dinners - go and sit in a square to eat - or take a vaporetto across to Lido - and take in the views. The grocers are also good place to buy wine and beer at much cheaper prices. This area is also good for restaurants where more of the locals eat so the prices will be more reasonable. You may get a little lost walking there and back but that's half the fun - these restuarants may close a little earlier at night too - so best not to leave it too late. Avoid the restaurants around San Marco and although many of these will include "tourist menus" which will appear to be good value the food is usually crappy to say the least - sloppy pastas served with fries!! It also costs more to sit in a cafe/bar and have a coffee or a drink - standing at the bar is usually cheaper.

Remember that a lot of what you do in Venice will be free anyway. Walking around costs nothing and you'll see plenty - or to go further afield and to the islands invest in a multi day vaporetto pass rather than pay for water taxis. You will want to do a gondola ride - just for the experience - but organise this for late in the day when many of the gondolas are being put to bed and you may find a gondolier willing to make a good deal that will include a ride to the gondola's berth.

Don't be too worried - You will find it's not that hard to enjoy Venice on a budget and by just walking a little further afield than the main tourist area you'll get a much more local experience - which is better anyway. Have a great time - Venice is such a fabulous city.

Surfergirl

It's actually really fun for atmosphere, to try and grab a spot on the canal around the Rialto Bridge at night, because the cafes that line the canal are all lit up with pretty lights. Some aren't expensive so long as you don't overdo it. Last time we were there, we had dinner outdoors at the Restaurante Cafe Orientale -- sat drinking, eating pizza and pasta, and watched the gondolas passing by. It was lovely and was not expensive. It's located on the other side of the Rialto Bridge (i.e. away from San Marco).

tuscanlifeedit

There are a number of good moderately priced restaurants in Venice. I think La Zucca is one, and if you order carefully, you can get good value there.

A la Madonna is another. I had wonderful fresh fish there at a moderate price.