As exquisite, fresh and wholesome as Venetian cuisine may be, it is unfortunate that many travelers report unpleasant experiences of being ripped off or having bland meals when eating out in Venice. Figuring out where to eat in Venice can easily become a tourist trap for eager visitors who go looking for the most stereotypical meals, and in return get low quality dishes at grossly inflated costs. Venetian cuisine dominated by abundance of seafood is not what travelers typically associate with Italy, yet it is incredibly tasty if you happen to run into the right place. Good coffee can absolutely be enjoyed outside of Piazza San Marco’s expensive restaurants, and freshest seafood you ever tasted can be found in many unassuming local eateries called osterie.
The first and best tip is to avoid any “tourist menus” as they have limited food choices, often not of the freshest kind, and dishes that aim to please tourists en masse rather than offer authentic local experience. These kinds of menus in restaurants situated in crowded touristic areas just concentrate on one-time tourist crowds that will most likely never come back, and therefore pay less attention to quality and exclusivity. It is easy to recognize these places: they all have explicit pictures of every dish, waiters in bow ties loudly inviting customers to come in, and frequently no Italians inside.
Another thing to keep in mind is that pizza is not a specialty of Venice. Fire has always represented a hazard and many restaurants do not have traditional wood-fired ovens needed to make good pizza. Only a lucky few are allowed to cook pizza in a traditional brick oven. Meat is also not a venetian staple (as it can be in Tuscany), so odds for finding well-prepared meat dishes are lower in Venice. When in doubt, opt for seafood or a vegetarian choice.
Below are just a few of many wonderful Venetian eateries where locals and tourists alike can enjoy fresh, authentic, Venetian cuisine in great atmosphere and at reasonable prices.
Taverna del Campiello Remer
Sestiere Cannaregio, 570
This charming restaurant is a little hidden gem near the Rialto Bridge. When Venice’s weather turns gloomy and gray, this place offers comfy atmosphere to stop and have a bite. With wood and brick interiors, the low candlelight and warmth of this place blend in with live music, offering customers the perfect place to relax with family or friends. Its location is a bit hard to find, since it is not a restaurant operating with tourists in mind, but those who make an effort to find it will pay reasonable price for enjoying some good local appetizers, pasta and rice washed down with a glass of good local wine.
MuroVenezia Frari
San Polo 2604 B/C
With all the bars and tourist-friendly restaurants in Venice, it is hard to decide on a nice simple choice to maybe grab a quick drink or take a pause after a long walk around the city. This trendy contemporary restaurant is just around the corner from Rialto market, and is always full of locals around noon and aperitivo hour (time when Italians have their pre-dinner drinks). Members of the staff are young and kind, and the little tables outside provide a nice relaxing ambiance while sipping Prosecco (a small extra charge is assessed for sitting outside). During dinner hours, the piazza where this bar is located is buzzing with nightlife and music, offering fun and entertainment. The menu includes all sorts of seafood cooked in the form of polpettine, bruschette, fritture and bocconcini, all in generous amounts for a perfect afternoon snack. Muro Frari is also a good choice for a quick Italian breakfast, with excellent cappuccino and warm cornetti (croissants) straight out of the oven.
Al Vecio Forner
Campo San Vio, Dorsoduro 672
If you happen to be on your way to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum just crossing the Accademia bridge, then this homey restaurant could be an excellent choice. It doesn’t have extensive menu, but the seafood and snacks are not to be missed. The trick in this nice little restaurant is to ask for an assorted plate of all the little seafood appetizers that include shrimp, mussels, octopus, fish, calamari and vegetables, all cooked and presented in many different ways and always served with a bit of polenta. This is certainly not a place for fancy service and a heart-warming welcome as some tourists may expect, but it is a place frequently visited by locals, and if you happen to eat there more than once, the charming barman with red glasses will likely remember you and greet you.
Vivaldino
Calle Dello Spezier 2765
This attractive bakery is hard to miss if you’re on your way to Campo Santo Stefano. Right at the beginning of Calle Dello Spezier, this bright and joyful place will inevitably attract the attention of any passerby thanks to the colorful macaroons and yummy cookies set on display. This alluring bakery is what anyone with a sweet tooth craves for, offering traditional Italian bread, sweets, chocolates, jams, macaroons, cantuccini, and delicious croissants filled with Nutella and fruit.
La Zucca
Santa Croce 1762
A perfect alternative for vegetarians, La Zucca is a small cozy restaurant with a lovely view next to a canal. This place’s uniqueness lies in its sophisticated way of preparing vegetables, pumpkin being the most important (la zucca means pumpkin in Italian). Customers can enjoy delicious pastas, soups and even a flan made with pumpkin as the main ingredient. Many of their antipasti (or starters) are based on mushrooms, potatoes, eggplants and cheese. This charming restaurant is definitely an inviting alternative to all the fish and seafood options around Venice.
Like any other city, Venice is full of countless culinary options for both locals and visitors. Most Venetians are used to snacking all day, and the area around Rialto Market is packed with small unassuming bars and restaurants teaming with delicious appetizer options (called cicchetti in Venice). There are also fancier choices like some cafes in Saint Marc’s Square, such as Florian or Quadri, offering sumptuous meals with amazing service in historic and opulent settings, or expensive coffees and cappuccinos for those who can’t afford the full meal. There are also famous places with glorious past such as Harry’s Bar, which many tourists feel they have to visit. In reality, the best places in crowded touristy Venice are those off the beaten track, and especially those in less touristy areas such as far-flung corners of Arsenale or Dorsoduro, or even on the lagoon islands such as Murano and Burano.