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There are literally hundreds of restaurants in Venice; TripAdvisor lists 1,119 (as of September 2023) on its site.
This article from The FT is a great guide the delights of cicchetti. For the best cicchetti go to Enoteca Schiavi.
The following are some of our favourite restaurants and bars in Venice.
A word of warning, be careful where you go for your espresso and paste, some of the bars in the more touristy areas will rip you off. In November 2021 I paid €5 for a not particularily good café doppio in a bar just off the fish market, when that morning after my run I had paid €3.30 for a double espresso and a paste.
Further, go to the more "up market" places and expect to pay nose bleed prices for your coffee. Cafe Quadri on Piazza San Marco charged me €12.00 for an espresso and €14.00 for the same at the Bar Dandolo in the Danieli. Florian's charges €11.50 for a cappuccino, though this drops to €5.50 at the bar inside.
In the immediate vicinity of the apartment we can whole heartedly recommend the coffee at Bar Ducal.
Bar Ducale
Calle delle Ostreghe, 2354, Venice
W3W: What3Words Location
T: +39 (0)41 712 4231
Last tried: November 2021
This is our go to place for a quick coffee and paste. Both are sublime and the people behind the bar are delightful. Just three minutes from the apartment.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Florian's
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Piazza St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: https://www.caffeflorian.com
T: +39 (0)41 520 5641
Last tried: November 2021
This truly historic cafe has been serving visitors since 1720. It is the most extraordiary place. Make sure you take one of the small tables at the back where the price of a cappuccino drops from €10.50 to €5.00. Our favourite is through to the back in the corner and to the right next to the display cabinet.
Florian's does serve breakfast, brunch (€60) and light snacks but for us this is the place to go for a faultless caffe doppio or capucino and that is why it is in the cafe section here.
You can find the menu here.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Le Café
Campo San Stefano, 2797, Venice
W3W: What3Words Location
T: +39 (0)41 523 0002
Last tried: November 2021
Just four minutes from the apartment in the lovely Campo San Stefano, this is a nice place for breakfast if you looking for a bit more than just a coffee and a brioche (croissant). Serving egg dishes, fruit juice as well as paste.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Pasticceria Rizzardini
Calle dei Meloni, 1415, Venice
W3W: What3Words Location
Last tried: November 2021
The Pasticceria Rizzardini is the oldest pastry shop in Venice that is still active. It has been baking cakes, pastries, sanmartini, focaccia and donuts since 1742. Well worth a visit to soak up some history as well try the delicious pastries.
Fourteen minutes from the apartment and a good excuse to use the Traghetto di San Toma!
TripAdvisor Reviews
Rosa Salva
Calle Fiuba, 951, Venice
W3W: What3Words Location
Last tried: November 2021
Rosa Salva is a fabulous pasticceria (founded in 1879) just north of St Marco and ten minutes from the apartment. Wonderful pastries and a small cafe area for a reviving coffee or hot chocolate.
TripAdvisor Reviews
For some excellent reviews of five Venetian Restaurants visit andyhayler.com, the web site of the man who has eaten in every Three Michelin Star restaurant in the world!
Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisti
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Fondamenta della Toletta
W3W: What3Words Location
W: enotecaartisti.com
T: +39 (0)41 523 5310
Last tried: November 2021
If you have lunch or dinner in one restaurant when you are Venice it must be at Ai Artisti. It is so friendly and the food sublime. Expect to pay around €140 for two for three courses including a good bottle of wine.
If you are there towards the end of lunch service you will see Francesca making the pasta by hand in a manual pasta machine.
Vegan and vegetarian friendly. Booking is essential.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Trattoria da Fiore
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Calle delle Botteghe
W3W: What3Words Location
W: dafiore.it
T: +39 (0)41 523 8944
Last tried: November 2021
This is a delightful little trattoria just off Campo Santo Stefano, just 350 metres from the apartment, serving delicions Venetian food, with a menu that changes with the seasons and what is available at the market. We particularily like what is written at the bottom of the menu: "We have no wifi. Talk to each other".
TripAdvisor Reviews
Harry's Bar
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Calle Vallaresso 1323
St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: cipriani.com
T: +39 (0)41 528 5777
Last tried: October 2023
Harry's is probably the most famous bar in the world. I adore this place. It is not cheap but the drinks and food are superb and the service as close to perfection as you could want. You can be seated on either the ground or first floor but ask to be seated on the ground floor (booking essential), this is where the buzz is! Don't feel obliged to have Bellini, have what ever is your favourite cocktail, as long as it is on their cocktail menu. Please note they will not serve wine as an aperitivo apart from champagne and prosecco.
TripAdvisor Reviews
La Caravella
Cuisine: Bar with snacks
Calle Larga XXII Marzo 2396
St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: restaurantlacaravella.com
T: +39 (0)41 520 8901
Last tried: March 2022
This is a little but atmospheric bar (with a restaurant attached) not far from the apartment, which we tried when we arrived late in Venice one evening. The initial impression was that it was a little sleazy and the music a bit loud but we ended up really enjoying our Americanos (cocktail not coffee). The service was just lovely and the pizza snack just what we needed.
There is a restaurant and a hotel attached to the bar. Neither of which have we tried. The restaurant is quite highly rated on TripAdvisor.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Grancaffè Quadri
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Piazza St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: alajmo.it
T: +39 (0)49 630303
Last tried: October 2020
Grancaffè Quadri was first opened in 1638 and was purchased by Giorgio Quadri in 1775, so this place oozes history. However it is not cheap. Indeed it served me, in October 2020, the most expensive, at €12.00, double expresso I have ever had. So check the menu here before you go to avoid having a heart attack when they present the bill. If it is open I would still go to Florian's.
See below for my review of the one Michelin Star restaurant Quadri.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Un Mondo di Vino
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
5984A Salizada San Canzian
W3W: What3Words Location
W: FaceBook Page
T: +39 (0)41 521 1093
Last tried: November 2021
This delightful bacaro is worth searching out. We usually go at least once and usually twice when we are in Venice. Wines are lovely, food delicious and it is full of local colour. It is tricky to find but its What Three Words location is: point.another.gets.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Quadri
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Piazza St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: alajmo.it
T: +39 (0)49 630303
Last tried: March 2015
Restaurant Quadri boasts a Michelin Star. A truly wonderful restaurant that overlooks St Marks Square. If you have a special occasion to celebrate or are a foody, you won't be disappointed. You can find a link to the current menu here.
TripAdvisor Reviews. NB most(all?) of the "terrible" reviews relate to the cafe downstairs. Visit Andy Haylers' web site for a review which ends: "This was my second meal here, and it was again lovely. Quadri is the best restaurant in Venice by a wide margin."
Il Ridotto
Cuisine: Modern Italian/International
Campo SS. Filippo e Giacomo, Castello 4509
https://w3w.co/
W3W: What3Words Location
W: ilridotto.com
T: +39 (0)41 5208280
Last tried: March 2022
Il Ridotto is a one star Michelin Restaurant and rightly so in our opinion (though Andy Hayler doesn't agree). We really enjoyed our meal here in March 2022 when we tried the five course vegetarian tasting menu. Everything is done with care, from the fabulously mixed Americano to the food to the service. The head waiter missed it a little, and used the word "enjoy" as a sentence a little too often but our waitress (a student studying film at Venice University) was delightful. This is not a cheap restaurant and a meal for two came in at €250 but if you are into your food and have had enough of authentic Venetian, Il Ridotto is highly recommended.
The restaurant only has about 20 covers so booking is not only essential but required, either online or by telephone on +39 (0)41 520 8280
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Osteria Enoteca
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Calle Frezzaria
W3W: What3Words Location
W: osteriasanmarco.it
T: +39 (0)41 5285242
Last tried: November 2021
Calling itself an Osteria but Enoteca is more towards the fine dining end of the spectrum, just 200m from Harry's Bar, Enoteca is great if you are looking for something a little more refinded ("authemtic" can get a bit tiring after a while after all).
We had an excellent meal here in November 2021, with great service and wines. The puddings were very disapointing but the antipasti and primi piatti were excellent.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Osteria Santa Giustina
Cuisine: Venetian, Cicchetti & Italian
Campo Santa Giustina, Castello 6553
W3W: What3Words Location
W: Facebook page
T: +39 (0)41 296 0212
Last tried: November 2021
We stumbled upon this delightful osteria while getting deliberately lost in Cannaregio and Castello. Delightfully warm and friendly in a little square, Campo Santa Giustina. They prepared a simple vegetable pasta dish for us, without demure and the rosemary panna cotta, tiramisu and coffee that rounded off the lunch were delcious.
We got the impression that it was frequented by a lot of locals. Being 1.8km/23 minutes from the apartment, one wopuld probably not make a special trip but if you find yourself in this part of Venice, we would highly recommend it.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Locanda Montin
Cuisine: Venetian, traditional specialising in fish
Fondamenta Borgo, 1147, 39125, Venice
W3W: What3Words Location
W: locandamontin.com
T: +39 (0)41 522 7151
Last tried: June 2022
Locanda Montin is a bit of a Venice institution and has barely changed, according to friends of ours, in 40 years (they have been coming to Venice since the 1980's). And this unassuming place has been visited by many of the famous from the world of arts (Amedeo Modigliani, Erza Pound), politics (President Jimmy Carter) and entertainment (Uto Ughi, Mick Jagger). This delightful restaurant was recommended to us by our architect who is helping with the renovation of our apartment. This restaurant has the most wonderful (and enormous) garden. The service is very good and the food amazing particularly if you like fish. At €50 a head (including a two bottles of wine among the five of us) I don't think Montin can be faulted.
That said, the more recent reviews on Trip Advisor are quite luke warm but we very much enjoyed our first visit in June of 2022.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Sullaluna
Cuisine: Vegan and Vegatarian Italian/Venetian Cicchetti
2535 Fondamenta Misericordia, 30121 Venezia
W3W: What3Words Location
W: sullalunavenezia.it
T: +39 (0)41 722 924
Last tried: November 2021
Again we stumbled upon this delightful little bistrot and bookshop while in the Cannaregio visiting the churches of Santa Maria dell'Orto and the Chiesa di San Marcuola. By the side of the rio della Misericordia this little restaurant may not be everybody's cup of tea but it hit the spot for us, with deliciuous vegan and vegetarian crostini and main dishes to enjoy while whatching canal life go by. Rounded off with great vegan/vegatarian puddings and delicious.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Trattoria Dona Onesta
Cuisine: Venetian/Italian
Dorsoduro, 3922, 30123 Venezia
W3W: What3Words Location
W: TrattoriaDonaOnesta
T: +39 (0)41 710 586
Last tried: November 2021
This delightful little restaurant is less than two minutes from the Frari and yet you could very easily miss the entrance to the Calle Stretta Lipoli at the end of which it lies, as the entrance to the Calle is tiny and on a kink by a caffè & wine bar Adagi. I was looking for a restaurant for lunch, while our friends visited the Frari and the Scuola Grande (to must do's on a first trip to Venice), and this little restaurent is rated 13th out of 1,282 restaurants on TripAdvisor and as it turns out deservedly so. The restaurant is incredibly good value (€10 for a fish soup my wife is still in ratures about!). When you visit the Frari, this is the restaurant for you lunch stop!
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Taverna San Trovaso
Cuisine: Venetian/Italian
Dorsoduro, 1016, Venezia
W3W: What3Words Location
W: tavernasantrovaso.it
T: +39 (0)41 520 3703
Last tried: November 2021
Recommended by friends and frequented by locals this is a lovely little restaurant only 140 metres from the Accademia serving very good Venetian food at very reasonable prices.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Locanda Cipriani
Cuisine: Venetian
Torcello
W3W: What3Words Location
W: locandacipriani.com
T: +39 (0)41 730 150
Last tried: November 2021
Locanda is still family owned by the Cipriani family as it has been since 1934. Serving guests for over 80 years, the only restaurant where Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip ever dined in a private capacity. Where Hemingway stayed for a whole season and where he wrote "Across the River and Into the Trees". For a full history of Locanda visit the web site.
Locanda is a delight and I think as close to perfection that you could come to for a restaurant. We cannot believe that after nearly 20 years of visiting Venice, our visit in November 2021 was our first.
Torcello is a sublime little island and the 10th century basilica di Santa Maria Assunta is truly special. Combine this with a trip to Murano, Burano and (if you start earlier enough) Mazzorbo. Really not to be missed.
Highly recommended
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Estro
Cuisine: Modern Venetian
Calle S Pantalon
W3W: What3Words Location
W: estrovenezia.com
T: +39 (0)41 476 4914
Last tried: November 2021
This abslutely fantastic restaurant and wine bar was founded by brothers Alberto and Dario Spezzamonte in 2014. Serving modern Venetian cuisine, the food, wine, service and restaurant are almost fautless. Very close to the Frari and Scola Grande.
Along with Artisti, this is another must go to in our opinion. Booking essential (so they say!)
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Enoteca Schiavi
Cuisine: Cicchetti Venetian
Fondamenta Nani
W3W: What3Words Location
W: cantinaschiavi.com
T: +39 (0)41 523 0034
Last tried: November 2021
We are very lucky to have this lovely cicchetteria only 10 minutes from the apartment. Serving a wonderful selection of cicchetti (just point and say "uno di questi" [one of those]) and wine by the glass. Schiavi is also a wine merchant with a selection of more than 100 wines.
We have lunch here at least a couple of times a week when we are in Venice.
If you stop by here don't forget to take the opportunity to see the Squero di San Trovaso, a 17th century boatyard, one of the oldest in Venice, where Gondole are built and repaired.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Pizzeria Sansovino
Cuisine: Pizza
Calle Zaguri, 2628
W3W: What3Words Location
W: cantinaschiavi.com
T: +39 (0)41 528 6141
Last tried: November 2021
This little pizza place is 200m from the apartment and is perfectly placed if you get a little peckish on the way back "home", perhaps after cocktails at the Gritti! It offers delicious, made on the premise and served with care pizza. Simply yummy!
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Poste Vecie
Cuisine: Venetian
San Polo 1608, Rialto Mercato Campo Delle Beccarie
W3W: What3Words Location
W: cantinaschiavi.com
T: +39 (0)41 523 0034
Last tried: Not tried but on the list
The Poste Vecie is the oldest restaurant in Venice dating back 500 years. As one online guide put it "the historic décor alone is enough reason to pay a visit".
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Cips Club
Cuisine: Italian
Giudecca 10, 30133 Venice
W3W: What3Words Location
W: belmond.com
T: +39 (0)41 240801
Last tried: September 2023
Cips Club is whole different level of price point, and to be honest I am not sure it is worth it. One can take the complimentary private Cipriani transfer from St Mark's to the restaurant, which is lovely and you walk through the hotel gardens, which are delightful, to access the restaurant. The views of St Mark's and the Doge's palace are stunning and the service is lovely (if not on the level of Harry's) but the food is not particularily special. Don't get me wrong it is all right but at €200 a head for three courses, wine, water and coffee, you going to want to have deep pockets to do this more than once. I wouldn't!
We were lucky enough to get a tour of the public parts of the hotel and it is a huge complex but in definite need of a refurbishment.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Osteria Venissa
Cuisine: Modern Venetian
Mazzorbo
W3W: What3Words Location
W: venissa.it
T: +39 (0)41 527 2281
Last tried: Not tried but on the list
Venissa looks absolutley extraordinary and is situated on the little known island of Mazzorbo but is joined with its more famous neighbour, Burano, by a wooden footbridge.
It has one Michelin Star and the chef, Chiara Pavan, was awarded Best Female Chef in Italy by Espresso Guide 2019 and International Chef of the Year by Elle Gourmet. Condé Nast Johansens awarded Venissa Wine Resort as Best Hotel for Sustainability in Europe.
TripAdvisor Reviews.
Venissa
Cuisine: Modern Venetian
Mazzorbo
W3W: What3Words Location
W: venissa.it
T: +39 (0)41 527 2281
Last tried: June 2022
The Osteria Venissa is an adjunct to its fine dining cousin Venissa and the setting, service and food cannot be faulted. The restaurant is situated on the little known island of Mazzorbo but is joined with its more famous neighbour, Burano, by a wooden footbridge.
The only "mistake" was that my son's (who is vegetarian) tempeh dish just didn't work. But we would still definitely go back.
The Osteria Venissa cannot be faulted and at €53 a head (including a glass of Venissa Bianco 2015 at €25, I had to try it and to be honest I am not sure what the fuss is about!) Venissa is a bargain. If you are in Venice for a few days, we would recommend eating here and at Locanda Cipriani on Torcello (see above). TripAdvisor Reviews.
Harry's Bar
Cocktails
Calle Vallaresso 1323
St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: cipriani.com
T: +39 (0)41 528 5777
Last tried: October 2023
Harry's is probably the most famous bar in the world. It is now more a restaurant and the bar is quite small and to some extent you have to take pot luck as to whether will room for you to stand, have a cocktail and be able to soak in the atmosphere. If you go early enough (6 or 7 o'clock) you might even be seated at a table, the place is less atmospheric. Don't feel obliged to have Bellini, have what ever is your favourite cocktail, as long as it is on their cocktail menu. Please note they will not serve wine as an aperitivo apart from champagne and prosecco.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Florian's
Piazza St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: https://www.caffeflorian.com
T: +39 (0)41 520 5641
Last tried: October 2023
For an early evening spritz, Campari Soda or whatever takes your fancy, the bar to the rear of Florian's is perfect.
Caffe Lavena
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Piazza St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: caffelavena.it
T: +39 (0)41 522 4070
Last tried: October 2023
This a lovely bar frequented by locals and those in the "know". Make sure you order standing at the bar.
Bar Longhi, Gritti Palace.
Cuisine: Venetian & Italian
Piazza St Marco
W3W: What3Words Location
W: caffelavena.it
T: +39 (0)41 522 4070
Last tried: October 2023
This a lovely bar frequented by locals and those in the "know". Make sure you order standing at the bar.