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$$$ | Cannaregio |
Established in 1950, this restaurant along the quiet, northern outlier of Fondamente Nove has grandstand views of the San Michele island and various menus showcasing seasonal fish, meat, and pasta dishes. The friendly staff also serve ice cream, drinks, and sandwiches, making its modern bar, chic dining rooms, and lagoon-side platform restful environs to pause any time of day.
Cannaregio 5039, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Airy respite for lunch or a snack
- Romantic spot for dinner
- Lovely waterfront seating with views of the Dolomites
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues., Reservations essential
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$$ | 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 |
Filled brioche, exquisite chocolates and pastries, such as kranz (a braided pastry filled with almond paste and raisins) and strudel from the Friuli region, and bar service make Dal Mas a great choice for breakfast. It's been a local favorite since 1906.
Cannaregio 150/A, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Savory snacks and drinks
- Handy pit-stop near the station
- Delicious pastries like Pastine di Riso
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$ | |
On the Lido, strategically located on the main drag between the vaporetto stop and the most central beaches, Titta is one of the oldest gelaterie (gelato shops) in Venice. Get your receipt at the cassa (register) for a cone to go, or enjoy one of the special combinations while lolling in a swinging chair under the trees that line the Gran Viale.
Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta 61, Lido, Veneto, 30126, Italy
Known For
- Ice caffè and ice cioccolato
- Gianduiotto (chocolate and hazelnut) gelato, topped with cream and hazelnuts
- Many types of bruschette
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–early Mar.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | San Marco |
Come for breakfast, a predinner aperitivo, or anything in between at this always lively historic coffeehouse—opened in 1775 and taken over by the famous culinary Alajmo family in 2011—in the center of the action on Piazza San Marco. Choose from a wide selection of pastries at breakfast (though the cappuccino and brioche combo is always a classic), pizzas at lunch, and tramezzini all day long, including one with lobster.
Piazza San Marco 121, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Extensive (though pricey) aperitivo
- Celebrity owners
- Prime people-watching
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$$ | |
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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$$ | |
Set by the Palanca waterside with lagoon views and clean, contemporary interiors, Majer is a reliable, quality bet at any time of day. Start as early as 7 am for breakfast cappuccino and pastries or arrive later for brunch bites, leisurely pasta lunches, picnic bakes, aperitvo (aperitif) with vino, or dinner dates until 10 pm.
Fondamenta Sant'Eufemia 461, Giudecca, Veneto, Italy
Known For
- All-day snacks
- Sbrisòlona (a traditional crumbly almond cake), biscotti, cakes, and semifreddi (dessert with a texture between ice cream and mousse)
- Grilled seafood and wagyu steak for dinner
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$$ | 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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$ | |
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
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$ | San Marco |
This 19th-century chocolate shop serves up delicious (what else?) chocolate ice creams, along with refreshing sorbets. For the ultimate experience, add seasonal sprinkles, such as Piedmont hazelnuts, to your sweet treat.
San Marco 989, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Rich dark-chocolate gelato
- Green pistachio from Sicily
- Cones topped with chocolate
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$ | Cannaregio |
Swing by this pint-sized wine bar for cicheti and crostini that are just a bit different and fresher than what you'll find elsewhere, along with a fine selection of natural wines. Though there's not much space inside, try to snag one of the coveted seats by the canal.
Cannaregio 2497, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Known For
- Large selection of both Italian and international natural wines
- Delectable small bites
- Pretty canal-side seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
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$$ | Castello |
Almost an institution, the "Tiny Anchovy" (as the name translates) doubles as a pizzeria-trattoria, but the real reason for coming is the bar's tasty cicheti (finger foods), like the eponymous anchovy minipizzas, the arancioni (stuffed fried rice balls), and the polpette (meatballs or croquettes). Wines by the glass change daily, but there is always a good selection of local wines on hand, as well as some Tuscan and Piedmontese choices thrown in for good measure.
Castello 4357, Venice, Veneto, 30122, Italy
Known For
- Pizzetta con l'acciuga (minipizza with anchovy)
- Mix of traditional and more modern cicheti
- Good selection of Italian wines by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | San Polo |
Even if this café/wine bar wasn't at one of the city's busiest intersections, on the corner between the Frari and the Scuola of San Rocco, it would be worth the trip. It's small but with an amazing variety of drinks, cicheti, and pastries, plus an energetic and welcoming atmosphere. There's room for only a very few seats inside, but you'll want to be at a table outside anyway, watching tourists, students, commuters, and locals stream past.
San Polo 3028, Venice, Veneto, Italy
Known For
- Central location
- Outdoor dining
- Bustling energy
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$ | San Polo |
It's easy to spot this tiny bacaro shoved into a corner of the campo adjoining Campo San Giacometto just beyond the Rialto markets: it's the one mobbed with chatty patrons—dressed in suits, jeans, or travel wear, shouldering messenger bags or backpacks, with strollers or carts loaded with market acquisitions—each with a glowing spritz or glass of wine in hand. Step up to the banco (counter, or bar), scan the chalkboards for the lists of wines (whites on the left, reds on the right), then choose from the myriad cicheti (meat, tuna, or eggplant croquettes; crostini and panini with imaginative combos of radicchio, artichokes, fish, sopressa (premium salami), ossocollo (cured pork), and more) in the glass case.
San Polo 213, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Popular location
- Wide selection
- Lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Santa Croce |
Locals drop into this friendly bacaro to explore wines from this region and elsewhere in Italy, which accompany a carefully chosen selection of meats, cheeses, and other food from small, artisanal producers, used in tasty panini like the porchetta romane verdure (roasted pork with greens) and in elegant cold platters. A young, friendly staff reel off the day's specials with ease. There are a few tables in the intimate back room, and when the weather cooperates, you can sit outdoors on the lively campo, watching the Venetian world go by.
Santa Croce 1503, Venice, Veneto, 30135, Italy
Known For
- Great selection of biodynamic wines, including prosecco
- Lovely meat and cheese platters
- Outdoor seating on the lively campo
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$ | San Polo |
Just because it's noon and you only have enough time between sights for a sandwich doesn't mean that it can't be a satisfying, even awe-inspiring, one. There's no menu at All'Arco, but a scan of what's behind the glass counter is all you need; order what entices you, or have Roberto or Matteo (father and son) suggest a cicheto or panino. Options here are broad enough to satisfy both conservative and adventurous eaters. Wine choices are well suited to the food. Arrive early or at the tail end of lunchtime to snag one of the few tables set out in the calle.
San Polo 436, Venice, Veneto, 30125, Italy
Known For
- Top-notch cicheti
- Platters of meats and cheeses
- Friendly and helpful service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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$ | Santa Croce |
If you need a break from Venice's abundant fish and pasta, head to this smokehouse for barbecue ribs, smoked pulled pork, pastrami, and chicken gyro. Vegetarians and vegans will enjoy the smoked eggplant with hummus on a bun, fried jalapeños, and more.
Santa Croce 220, Venice, Veneto, 30135, Italy
Known For
- Texas-style barbecue
- Pulled pork
- Veggie options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$ | San Marco |
This corner of Campo Santo Stefano is a pleasant place to sit and watch the Venetian world go by. The café staff are in constant motion, so you'll receive your coffee, spritz, panino (a sandwich warmed on a griddle), or tramezzino (sandwich on untoasted white bread, usually with a mayonnaise-based filling) in short order; consume it at your leisure at one of the outdoor tables, at the bar, or at the tables in the back. As in most bars, it is better to stick to cold dishes.
San Marco 3464, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Known For
- Simple yet satisfying fare, like tramezzini and panini
- Tasty homemade desserts, including tiramisu and cakes
- Good people-watching
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Jan.
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$ | Dorsoduro |
Caffè Ai Artisti gives locals, students, and travelers alike good reason to pause and refuel. The location is central, pleasant, and sunny—perfect for people-watching and taking a break before the next destination—and the hours are long. You can come here for a morning cappuccino, or drop by late for an after-dinner spritz. The panini are composed on site from fresh, seasonal ingredients, and there's a varied selection of wines by the glass.
Dorsoduro 2771, Venice, Veneto, 30123, Italy
Known For
- Relaxing with a coffee
- Evening Aperol spritz or wine
- Chilling with the locals
