Where to eat in Venice: best restaurants

Venice is not just art and architecture, but also a gastronomic paradise where culinary tradition blends perfectly with modern innovation. This comprehensive guide will reveal where to eat in Venice to experience authentic Venetian cuisine, from the most renowned restaurants to traditional bacari hidden among the calli of the Serenissima.

This gastronomic paradise extends even to your accommodation: for those who prefer to dine in the tranquility of their hotel, the B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna features Al Piron Restaurant. This on-site dining venue offers authentic Italian cuisine prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients, allowing you to experience genuine flavors without venturing into the city's bustling streets. Al Piron provides the perfect complement to your exploration of Venice's culinary scene, offering a peaceful retreat where traditional recipes meet modern comfort.

Quality restaurants at affordable prices

The smart choice for eating well

The Venetian restaurants most appreciated by locals are those that focus on substance rather than postcard locations.

Antiche Carampane in the San Polo district perfectly represents this philosophy: hidden among the calli, it offers excellent seafood cuisine at honest prices, frequented by both Venetians and more informed visitors.

Osteria alle Testiere in Castello demonstrates that culinary excellence doesn't necessarily require a significant investment. This small family restaurant serves the freshest fish from the Rialto market in an intimate and welcoming environment, where the quality of ingredients speaks for itself.

Da Fiore has built its reputation on consistency: every dish reflects Venetian tradition with top-quality ingredients and preparations that respect historical recipes. The quality-price ratio makes it a smart choice for those seeking authentic Venetian cuisine.

Trattorias with a view

Many restaurants with views charge high prices just for the location, but there are exceptions worth knowing.

Osteria alle Zattere offers tables overlooking Giudecca where you can enjoy seafood specialties at fair prices, away from the tourist traps of St. Mark's Square.

Trattoria La Furatola in Dorsoduro combines authentic Venetian atmosphere and quality cuisine, demonstrating that true culinary tradition is found in establishments run by families who have made their passion for food their life's work.

Osteria da Alberto in Cannaregio is frequented mainly by Venetians, an unmistakable sign of authenticity and fair prices. Traditional cuisine is served in a family environment where every dish tells the story of the lagoon.

Family-friendly restaurants with children

Family-friendly restaurants in Venice offer welcoming environments and menus suitable for even the smallest palates, proving that Venetian cuisine can win over the whole family.

Trattoria da Romano in Burano is perfect for families: spacious environments, patient service with children and the opportunity to taste the famous gò risotto while little ones enjoy watching the island's colorful houses. The water bus journey (30 minutes) becomes part of the adventure.

Osteria alle Zattere has outdoor tables along the fondamenta, allowing children to move freely while watching the boats pass by. The menu includes simple pasta and fresh fish prepared without excessive spices, perfect for young palates.

Al Covo in Castello, despite its high quality, warmly welcomes families by offering reduced portions for children and the possibility to adapt dishes to their preferences.

Romantic restaurants for couples

Romantic dining in Venice finds its ultimate expression in intimate venues that combine evocative atmosphere and authentic flavors to create unforgettable moments.

Quadri in St. Mark's Square offers the city's most romantic experience: tables overlooking the illuminated square, impeccable service and gourmet cuisine that reinterprets Venetian tradition. Sunset dinners create a dreamlike atmosphere. To make the evening even more magical, combine a romantic dinner with a gondola tour at sunset, creating the perfect experience for couples visiting Venice.

Antiche Carampane hides an intimate and cozy environment perfect for romantic dinners. The family atmosphere and excellent seafood cuisine create the ideal setting for a special evening, away from tourist crowds.

Osteria alle Testiere with its only 22 seats guarantees intimacy and personalized service. The small and refined environment, combined with the city's most refined seafood cuisine, makes it perfect for anniversaries and special occasions.

La Bitta in Dorsoduro surprises couples with its land cuisine in a sea city. The rustic-chic environment and Veneto tradition dishes prepared with mainland ingredients create a unique romantic experience

Bacari for the perfect aperitif

The culture of authentic spritz

The Venetian aperitif has precise rules that every visitor should know and respect. Naranzaria in Santa Croce offers a terrace on the Grand Canal where you can enjoy spritz prepared according to tradition, with views of historic palaces but without the prohibitive prices of St. Mark's Square venues.

Bacareto Da Lele represents the essence of popular aperitif: genuine spritz at affordable prices accompanied by fresh sandwiches, frequented by university students and Venetian workers who guarantee its authenticity.

Al Volto in the historic center maintains the atmosphere of traditional bacaro with a selection of Veneto wines and cicchetti prepared according to traditional recipes, in an environment where time seems to have stopped in the best years of the Serenissima.

Cicchetti and culinary traditions

Cicchetti represent Venetian culinary art in miniature: small tastings that tell the gastronomic history of the lagoon. Cantinone già Schiavi in Dorsoduro is famous for the variety and quality of its cicchetti, prepared with fresh ingredients and served with passion by generations of the same family.

Cicchetti are just one of the many typical Venetian specialties that characterize the Serenissima's culinary tradition. Each bacaro offers its interpretation of these delicious miniature creations.

Tips for eating well while spending wisely

How to recognize authentic venues

To identify genuine restaurants in Venice and avoid tourist traps, follow the principle of smart quality: look for venues frequented by Venetians, where the menu changes according to market seasonality and you won't find photos of dishes displayed outside. Authentic bacari often have blackboards with daily proposals written by hand in Venetian dialect.

Quality indicators: mixed local/tourist clientele, handwritten menu that changes daily, seasonal ingredients, staff who speak Venetian dialect, recommended or necessary reservations, locations in secondary calli discovered by word of mouth.

Exploring Venetian gastronomy is part of the most authentic cultural experiences in Venice: every meal tells the millenary history of the city through flavors and traditions passed down from generation to generation. The discovery of Venetian flavors integrates perfectly with what to see in Venice: from the Rialto Market to admire fresh ingredients to Dorsoduro bacari for aperitifs, each district offers its specialties. During special events like Venice Carnival, many restaurants propose themed menus that celebrate historic culinary traditions.

Where to stay to explore Venetian gastronomy

For food lovers who want to best explore the flavors of Venice, B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna represents the ideal base for your gastronomic adventures. Strategically located on Tronchetto island, it offers the perfect accommodation for food lovers: direct connection to Venice's historic center and all the best restaurants while maintaining affordable prices.

Tronchetto position advantages for your gastronomic tour: 

• Direct connection: Water bus every 10 minutes to St. Mark's Square (15-minute journey) 
• Parking steps from the hotel, perfect for those arriving by car to explore Venetian cuisine 
• Quiet Venice hotel: guaranteed rest after evenings in the best bacari 

• Budget Venice hotel: competitive rates that allow you to invest more in culinary experiences

   

From B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna you can easily reach all the temples of Venetian taste: the Rialto Market to discover fresh ingredients, historic bacari for authentic aperitifs, quality restaurants hidden in the districts and traditional osterias frequented by locals. The position allows you to avoid the confusion of the historic center while maintaining perfect access to all taste destinations. The strategic position also allows you to easily participate in food events in Venice, from traditional festivals to tastings in historic palaces.

Book your stay at B&B HOTEL Venezia Laguna and experience an authentic gastronomic adventure, with the peace of mind of returning to a welcoming environment after exploring the Serenissima.