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$$$$ | San Polo |
In a small dining room made warm and cozy by its pleasing and unpretentious decor, proprietor Giordano makes all diners feel like honored guests. Unlike many elegant restaurants, Al Paradiso serves generous portions, and many of the delicious antipasti and primi are quite satisfying; you may want to follow the traditional Italian way of ordering and wait until you've finished your antipasto or your primo before you order your secondo. Pappardelle "al Paradiso" takes pasta with seafood sauce to new heights, while risotto with shrimp, Champagne, and grapefruit puts a delectable twist on a traditional dish. The inspired and original array of entrées includes meat and fish selections, such as salmon with honey and balsamic vinegar in a stunning presentation.
San Polo 767, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Large appetizer and pasta portions
- Tasty meat and fish mains
- Central location near the Ponte di Rialto
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed 3 wks Jan.–Feb., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Cannaregio |
Established in 1950, this restaurant along the quiet, northern outlier of Fondamente Nove has grandstand views of the San Michele island and various menus showcasing seasonal fish, meat, and pasta dishes. The friendly staff also serve ice cream, drinks, and sandwiches, making its modern bar, chic dining rooms, and lagoon-side platform restful environs to pause any time of day.
Cannaregio 5039, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Airy respite for lunch or a snack
- Romantic spot for dinner
- Lovely waterfront seating with views of the Dolomites
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues., Reservations essential
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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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$$$$ | San Polo |
Judging by its rather modest and unremarkable appearance, you wouldn't guess that Piera Bortoluzzi Librai's trattoria is among the finest fish restaurants in the city both because of the quality of the ingredients and because of the chef's creative magic. You can choose from a selection of classic dishes with a modern and creative touch. The perfectly grilled fish is always freshly caught; in spring try the fried local soft-shell crabs.
San Polo 1911, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Superlative fish and seafood
- Modernized Venetian dishes
- Popular with visitors and locals (so book ahead)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., 10 days in Jan., and 3 wks July–Aug., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | San Marco |
Florian is not only Italy's first café (1720), but also one of its most beautiful, with glittering, neo-Baroque decor and 19th-century wall panels depicting Venetian heroes. The coffee, drinks, and snacks are good, but most people—including Venetians from time to time—come for the atmosphere and history: this was the only café to serve women during the 18th century (hence Casanova's patronage); it was frequented by artistic notables like Wagner, Goethe, Goldoni, Lord Byron, Marcel Proust, and Charles Dickens; and it was the birthplace of the international art exhibition that became the Venice Biennale. There's a surcharge for music; those in the know opt for the comfortable back bar.
Piazza San Marco 57, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Prime location on St. Mark's Square
- Beautiful, historic interior
- Hot chocolate, coffee, and quick nibbles
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed early Jan.
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$ | Dorsoduro |
A mainstay for anyone living or working in the area, this beautiful, family-run, 19th-century bacaro across from the squero (gondola boatyard) of San Trovaso has original furnishings and one of the city's best wine cellars, and the walls are covered floor to ceiling with bottles for purchase. The cicheti here are some of the most inventive—and freshest—in Venice (feel free to compliment the signora, who makes them up to twice a day); everything's eaten standing up, as there's no seating. Try the crostini-style layers of bread, smoked swordfish, and slivers of raw zucchini, or pungent slices of Parmesan, fig, pistachio, and toast. They also have a creamy version of baccalà mantecato spiced with herbs, and there are nearly a dozen open bottles of wine for experimenting at the bar. You'll have no trouble spotting the Cantinone as you approach; it's the one with throngs of chatty patrons enjoying themselves. Avoid the temptation to sit on the bridge's steps -- this is a common touristic behavior that inconveniences, and thus annoys, anybody who needs to pass.
Dorsoduro 992, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Excellent quality cicheti
- Plenty of wine choices
- Boisterous local atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and 3 wks in Aug.
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$$ | Cannaregio |
This is the most famous restaurant in Venice for the city's working class; if you can get a table for lunch, you'll eat, without any choice, what Marisa prepares for her local clientele—generally, enormous portions of excellent pasta followed by a hearty roast meat course (frequently game, more infrequently fish), for an inexpensive fixed price. Dinner is a bit more expensive, and you may have some choice, but not much; for the authentic “Marisa experience,” go for lunch. In good weather, you'll have a better chance getting in, because tables are set up along the fondamenta. Reservations aren't really taken, and locals and steady customers are given preference for seating. Don't be put off by the occasionally gruff service—it's part of the scene.
Fondamenta di San Giobbe 652B, Venice, Veneto, 30171, Italy
Known For
- Venetian classics like baccalà mantecato
- Limited menu choices and cramped inside
- Genuine local atmosphere and gruff service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Dorsoduro |
Wine lovers shouldn't miss this cozy and compact eatery run by the Spezzamonte brothers, which offers a fantastic selection of organic wines along with modern takes on classic Venetian dishes, such as scampi in saor (marinated langoustines) and grilled local amberjack. If you can't choose, let the helpful servers suggest the perfect vino from their list of more than 700 bottles to pair with your à la carte dishes or tasting menu. Snacks are available at aperitivo (aperitif) hour.
Dorsoduro 3778, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Extensive natural wine list
- Ambitious local cuisine
- Vibrant atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$ | San Marco |
Come for breakfast, a predinner aperitivo, or anything in between at this always lively historic coffeehouse—opened in 1775 and taken over by the famous culinary Alajmo family in 2011—in the center of the action on Piazza San Marco. Choose from a wide selection of pastries at breakfast (though the cappuccino and brioche combo is always a classic), pizzas at lunch, and tramezzini all day long, including one with lobster.
Piazza San Marco 121, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Extensive (though pricey) aperitivo
- Celebrity owners
- Prime people-watching
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$$$$ | San Marco |
For those who can afford it, lunch or dinner at Harry's Bar is as much a part of a visit to Venice as a walk across Piazza San Marco or a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal. Inside, the suave, subdued beige-on-white decor is unchanged from the 1930s, and the classic Venetian fare is carefully and excellently prepared. Harry's is not just a fine restaurant; it's a cultural institution. When founder Giuseppe Cipriani opened the doors in 1931, the place became a favorite of almost every famous name to visit Venice (including Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Ernest Hemingway) and still attracts much of Venetian high society as regulars. Today, many still remember Harry's as one of the few restaurants in town that continued to serve Jewish patrons during the period of the Fascist racial laws. Try the delicate baked sea bass with artichokes, and don't miss the signature crepes flambées or famous Cipriani chocolate cake for dessert. Because a meal at Harry's is as much about being seen there, book one of the cramped tables on the ground floor—the upper floor of the restaurant is the Venetian equivalent of Siberia (take heart if seated there: views from the second-floor windows look like framed paintings). Be sure to order a Bellini cocktail—a refreshing mix of white peach puree and sparking prosecco—this is its birthplace, after all. On the other hand, true to its retro atmosphere, Harry's makes one of the best martinis in town.
San Marco 1323, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Being the birthplace of the Bellini cocktail
- See-and-be-seen atmosphere
- Signature crepes flambées and famous Cipriani chocolate cake
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$$$$ | Castello |
Longtime restaurateur Gianni Bonaccorsi (proprietor of the popular Aciugheta nearby) has established an eatery where he can pamper a limited number of lucky patrons with his imaginative cuisine and impeccable taste in wine. Ridotto means “small, private place,” which this very much is, evoking an atmosphere of secrecy and intimacy; the innovative menus tend toward lighter but wonderfully tasty versions of classic dishes. Ask them to recommend a wine from the excellent cantina.
Castello 4509, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Some of the most creative cuisine in Venice
- Excellent five- or seven-course tasting menus
- Extensive wine recommendations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed., no lunch Tues. and Thurs., Reservations essential
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It's all about the views at this classic, informal wine bar–restaurant, where tables perched on the water’s edge are often filled with chatty patrons, particularly at lunchtime. The homemade pasta and fish dishes are highly recommended, and although they don't really serve dinner, a filling selection of cicheti is offered in the evening.
Isola della Giudecca 448, Giudecca, Veneto, 30133, Italy
Known For
- Sea bass ravioli, grilled seafood, and baccalà
- Good, affordable wine list
- Superlative views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$$$ | Castello |
In a simple yet charming setting with beamed ceilings and terrazzo floors, a sister and brother team oversee their "New Venetian Cuisine," where local ingredients are used to prepare reinvented traditional dishes, often with Japanese influences. It's tasting-menu only, with seven or nine courses (or a less expensive three-course option at weekday lunch), and wine pairings from their extensive list are a recommended treat.
Castello 3303, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Tiramigiù dessert: coffee, marsala, and mascarpone
- Ingredients from Italian producers and daily catch
- Highly attentive staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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$$ | |
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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$$ | Cannaregio |
Anchored on peaceful Campo Widman since the '90s is Ostaria Boccadoro, where purist chef Luciano Orlandi brings fresh seafood from the Chioggia market to the plate raw or lightly cooked with the subtlest of seasoning. Ask Luciano to suggest a wine from his carefully edited Veneto-dominated selection, then peruse the menu of Boccadoro classics like succulent canestrelli (tiny Venetian scallops), daily homemade pasta, tuna tartare, a crispy frittura (fritter), and perfectly grilled fish of the day like orata (gilt-head bream) with zucchini sauce; there are meat options as well. The interior decor is elegant, with traditional linens and contemporary art.
Cannaregio 5405/a, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Professional, friendly service
- Simply prepared seafood
- Romantic setting
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$$ | 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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$ | |
This popular breakfast spot close to the Rialto attracts a mix of locals and tourists. Enjoy your pastry and coffee inside the old-time pastry shop or, if you’re lucky, snag a seat outside.
San Marco 4589, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Tasty espresso
- Traditional Venetian pastries
- Friendly, helpful staff