Venice Food Guide: What to Eat in Venice

Wondering what to eat in Venice? You’re in the right place! I adore food, so trying local dishes and regional specialities is always high up on my agenda wherever I go. Finding the best food in Venice was a priority when I came here, so dig into this Venice Food Guide for all of my top tips for how to find the best traditional food in Venice, as well as recommendations for what to eat in Venice, from snacks to drinks, seafood dishes and delicious desserts!

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Know Before You Go to Venice

Before travelling to Venice, check if you have to pay the Venice Access Fee, which applies to day trippers to Venice on certain dates starting in spring 2024.  This official page has more information.

Overnight guests do not have to pay the fee, as they already have Tourist Tax included in their accommodation.  If you need accommodation in Venice make sure you book in advance as hotels can sell out.

🛌 MY FAVOURITE CHEAP HOTELS IN VENICE:

$$ Hotel Antiche Figure – opposite the station, friendly staff and great service. 

$ Albergo Marin – great value for its location next to Grand Canal close to the railway station.

$ Ostello S. Fosca in the centre of Venice or Anda Venice a fantastic hostel in Mestre 

⭐ TOP 3 VENICE ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:

1. Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket – the most popular activity in Venice

2. Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary – great for solo travellers

3. Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing – the top day trip from Venice

🚌 Pre-book your transfer from Marco Polo Airport to Venice by bus or water taxi 

How to Find the Best Food in Venice

There is no shortage of amazing restaurants in Venice, but there are plenty of average ones too! When you’re deciding where to eat in Venice a good rule of thumb is to avoid eating at restaurants close to St Mark’s Square as these tend to have very high prices and variable quality. Do not eat anywhere which has photographs of the menu, it’s a tell-tale sign of a tourist trap!

Waiters are not allowed to approach you to lure you into their restaurants, so you can take a relaxed look at the menu before you choose to go inside. Food in Venice doesn’t have to be expensive to be delicious, and there are plenty of tasty options to choose from if you are travelling to Venice on a budget, so don’t worry!

REMEMBER: most restaurants will add on a coperto cover charge of around €2-€3 per person for table service, so take that into account when you are checking prices. Standing at the bar or ordering takeaway food will save you the coperto charge.

Venice has some of the best food in Italy and arguably some of the best food in Europe – if you know where to find it! So take your time to explore this beautiful city and find the places where the local people go to eat.

Fresh Produce at the Rialto Market - Venice Food Guide
Fresh Produce at the Rialto Market – Venice Food Guide

Markets in Venice

Rialto Market is the best place to buy fresh food in Venice, so head here in the morning to stock up on fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood if you plan to cook a meal in your hostel. Around the market, there are lots of great restaurants and bacari bars where you can get some tasty food that is prepared for you if you don’t want the hassle of cooking.

Bear in mind that if you want to buy food at the market to eat for lunch, there are restrictions on where you can sit to eat it, and it is forbidden to picnic in St Mark’s Square and many other busy areas. You’ll need to find a bench in a quiet piazza or go to one of the parks to eat. The market is only open from Tuesday to Saturday 7.30am to 12 noon, so get there early.

You could consider joining a market tour to learn more about the stallholders and market traditions in Venice, as markets like the Rialto are sadly dying out in Venice. This street food tour includes a visit to the market, or if you want to try your hand at making your own lunch, this cooking class starts with a tour of Rialto Market where you will get fresh local ingredients for your menu.

Fish for sale at Rialto Market in Venice
Fish for sale at Rialto Market in Venice

Food Tours in Venice

If you’d like to really eat like a local in Venice, then taking a food tour is a great way to try food in Venice without worrying about the tourist traps.I took a cicchetti tour with Urban Adventures which was fabulous, or you can check out these other options for Venice food tours on GetYourGuide: 

 

 

Other Venice Food Experiences

Venetians love to share their food with visitors, so you can enjoy a range of foodie experiences in Venice.  

Cooking Classes in Venice

Having an Italian teach you how to make your favourite dishes is a wonderful way to learn some secrets of Venetian food.  This small group pasta and tiramisu cooking class gets excellent reviews and sounds like a lovely way to get to know local people in their own home, or try this highly-rated cooking class with chef Carolyn and learn to make some traditional Venice foods.

Venice Wine Tasting & Tours 

If wine is more your thing, check out this wine tasting tour which includes snacks as you explore some of the best wine bars in Venice, or try a sparkling wine and prosecco tasting in one of the quieter neighbourhoods of the city.

BROWSE FOOD TOURS

Looking for more things to do in Venice? Check out the most popular tours and activities in Venice that you might be interested in:

 

 

What To Eat in Venice: Aperitivo Snacks

Aperitivo hour (or several hours!) is big in Venice, and a great way to try some traditional Venetian food without breaking the bank.  Served in small portions, local bacari wine bars have glass display counters showing off their tasty and cheap snacks.  The hardest thing is deciding what to order!

Chicchetti dish of olive ascolane -fried green olives stuffed with meat
Chicchetti dish of fried green olives stuffed with meat – What to Eat in Venice

Cicchetti

Cicchetti is probably the most popular food in Venice, where taking time to enjoy an aperitivo and some snacks before dinner (or as dinner!) is a favourite pastime among locals and visitors alike.  Cicchetti are similar to Spanish tapas; small dishes of fried food like deep-fried olives stuffed with meat, or individual slices of baguette bread topped with something delicious. 

There is a huge variety of cicchetti you can find around the city, so why not visit several bacari on a bar food crawl?  Most cicchetti will cost €1-€3 so you choose a selection from the display at the bar.  Do what the locals do and order an “ombra“, a small glass of wine, to accompany your cicchetti snacks. 

Top Venice Food Tip: If you’d like to try some cicchetti at some of the best cicchetti bars in Venice then consider taking a cicchetti and wine food tour, which will give you more great ideas for what to eat in Venice.  

A Plate of Tasty Cicchetti in Venice
A Plate of Tasty Bruschette Cicchetti in Venice

Popular Cicchetti to Try in Venice

There is a wide variety of cicchetti in Venice, and every bacari bar has its own speciality.  Pretty much anything that can be served in small portions can be cicchetti, from scallops to sandwiches and everything inbetween.  Here are a few of my favourites!

  • Olive Ascolane – as pictured above, breaded and deep-fried green olives stuffed with meat
  • Mozzarella in Carrozza – a fried cheese sandwich, filled with mozzarella and sometimes other fillings like anchovies or ham in this case.
  • Polpette – Meatballs made with meat like pork or beef or baccalà (cod).
  • Bruschette – Slices of baguette-style bread with a wide variety of toppings, basically anything that will fit on bread and is tasty you can find it on a bruschetta!
Mozzarella in Carrozza - fried cheese sandwich - tasty food in Venice
Mozzarella in Carrozza – tasty food in Venice

Tramezzini

The humble sandwich is surprisingly another popular Venetian food, often eaten alongside or instead of cicchetti with a spritz or glass of wine.  Slices of white bread without crusts are packed with fillings like tuna mayonnaise, egg, prawn mayonnaise, artichokes and ham and cheese or a combination of any of the above. 

The sandwiches are also a very cheap option for eating in Venice as each tramezzino only costs a couple of euros.  Order your sandwich standing at the bar and eat it there or grab it and go.  

Tramezzini Sandwiches in Venice - White bread sandwich filled with tuna mayo
Tramezzini Sandwiches in Venice

What to Eat in Venice: Seafood

Venetian dishes use local ingredients, and of course, Venice is surrounded by water.  Seafood plays an important role in Venetian cuisine, so it stands to reason that you should eat some seafood in Venice.

Baccalà Mantecato

Often served on bread as cicchetti or as an antipasto starter, baccalà mantecato is a classic Venetian dish.  It is made of creamed cod paste, blended with olive oil and salt & pepper.  It’s one of my own favourites foods to eat in Venice, and I always have a cicchetti of baccalà mantecato.

Baccala Mantecato - Creamed Cod Paste with two pieces of toaste bread poking out of the top
Baccala Mantecato a classic Venetian dish of Creamed Cod Paste

Sarde in Saor

Another traditional antipasto dish in Venice, Sarde in Saor is made with sardines, cooked with slow-cooked soft onions and balsamic vinegar, sweetened with raisins, pine nuts and a good glug of wine.  You can find it served as a cicchetti or as a stand-alone starter, served with bread. 

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Spaghetti or Risotto al Nero di Seppia

Black squid ink gives these delicious dishes their distinctive colour, and it’s another of my favourite Venitian specialities.  They’re not the most attractive of dishes, as eating risotto or spaghetti with black squid ink is somewhat disconcerting, but the rich seafood flavour will have you clamouring for more.  Just remember to wipe your mouth afterwards! 

Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia - Squid Ink Spaghetti with pieces of squid
Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia – Squid Ink Spaghetti with pieces of squid

Bigoli in Salsa

Bigoli is a type of pasta that is similar to spaghetti but thicker.  The salsa in the name refers to the rich sauce, made with sardines and onions.  It’s very tasty if you like sardines, especially accompanied by a nice glass of vino or two.

Bigoli in Salsa - What to Eat in Venice
Bigoli in Salsa – What to Eat in Venice

What to Eat in Venice: Meat & Side Dishes

Fegato Alla Veneziana 

This classic Venetian dish is perhaps for the more adventurous, as fegato is liver.  In this case, calf’s liver, sautéed with onions and usually served with polenta as a side dish.  I’m not a huge fan of liver when it isn’t blended into paté but I decided to give this a try when I had a set menu and it wasn’t bad at all.  Maybe that’s damning with faint praise, but if you like liver you’ll love Fegato alla Veneziana.

Fegato Alla Veneziana - Venetian Style Liver and Onions with Polenta
Fegato Alla Veneziana – Venetian Style Liver and Onions with Polenta

Polenta

Polenta is often served as a side dish to main meals like Fegato alla Veneziana, but is also served as the main ingredient of a dish, with a variety of toppings from mushrooms or vegetables to tiny shrimp called Schie. 

Polenta is similar to grits, made from coarse corn flour.  Yellow corn makes yellow polenta, which tends to be creamier, and in Venice you will also find white polenta which is made from a special kind of white corn.  It has a stickier texture than the yellow polenta, and is sometimes served in thick slices finished off in the frying pan.   

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Risi e Bisi

This simple dish of rice and peas – or a spring pea risotto – was traditionally served on St Mark’s Day (25th April).  When the production of rice started in Venice in the 15th Century, the Doge of Venice offered a dish of rice and peas to the locals to help promote the use of rice.  These days it’s served all year round but is best in spring when the peas are fresh and sweet.  Even as a traditional pea-hater, the tiny peas I tried were delicious.

Vegetable Risotto similar to Risi e Bisi - a Must-Eat in Venice
Vegetable Risotto similar to Risi e Bisi – a Must-Eat in Venice

What to Eat in Venice: Dessert

Anyone with a sweet tooth won’t be disappointed with the dessert choices in Venice.  If you have a sweet tooth you could join a tour of the traditional cafes and pastry shops in Venice, or find some of these tasty treats to enjoy yourself.

Buranelli 

Traditional Venetian biscuits from the island of Burano, where fishermen took these biscuits with them on sea expeditions.  They were tastier than I expected, sweet and simple.  You can find them in an s-shape or a traditional circular shape.  

Traditional Buranelli biscuits at a Venetian Bakery
Traditional Buranelli biscuits at a Venetian Bakery

Tiramisu

My all-time favourite dessert, tiramisu was invented in Treviso near Venice in the 1960s and is top of my dessert list for what to eat in Venice.  Layers of ladies’ fingers biscuits and mascarpone cheese with coffee and cocoa powder combine to make a soft and delicious dessert to die for!

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Gelato

You can’t visit Italy and not eat gelato!  I have been sampling as much gelato ice cream as I can so I can inform you of the best gelato in Venice, or at least a couple of my favourites!  I honestly believe there is no such thing as bad gelato, it just depends how much you are willing to pay for it. 

As a general rule, I tend to avoid ice cream shops in the busiest tourist areas, but sometimes such places are popular for a reason!  My personal favourites include Gelatoteca Suso and Gelato di Natura.  I was also told that Green Apple is fabulous too but I haven’t tried it myself yet. 

Remember to reduce your plastic waste and order gelato in a cone instead of a single-use tub with a plastic spoon – a small contribution but one that helps you to visit Venice responsibly.

Delicious gelato Ice Cream in Venice
You Have to Try This Delicious gelato Ice Cream in Venice!

What to Drink in Venice

Well, you’ll need some liquid refreshment to wash down all that delicious food!

Spritz

Like many other cities in Italy, an aperitivo often consists of a spritz, that is Aperol or Campari mixed with prosecco.  These colourful drinks taste like mouthwash to me so, I just stick to wine or Prosecco on its own!

Aperitivo Time - Spritz or Prosecco Are Popular Drinks in Venice
Aperitivo Time – Spritz or Prosecco Are Popular Drinks in Venice

Wine & Prosecco

Prosecco is the most famous sparkling wine from Italy, and seems to be getting more popular by the day – especially since the Prosecco-producing region is now UNESCO listed!  The best prosecco in Italy is produced in the region close to Treviso, just an hour away from Venice, so where better to drink Prosecco than here? 

Order a glass of prosecco instead of a spritz with your Aperitivo, or get a bottle and sit back and enjoy.  If you’d like to learn more about prosecco and Italian wine from Veneto, take a look at these tours:

 

Bellini

Apparently, the Bellini was invented in Venice, in Harry’s Bar.  Fresh peach puree blended with Prosecco is a sweet and decadent treat, especially in Harry’s where you will pay 22€ to try one! 

Various bars around Venice will serve them for a cheaper price, but part of the joy of a Bellini is feeling like a millionaire while you sip it.  I had one at the Skyline Rooftop bar which has one of the best views in Venice, and as a one-off was worth the 15€ price tag.

A Peach Bellini at the Skyline Rooftop Bar in Venice
A Peach Bellini at the Skyline Rooftop Bar in Venice

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Grappa

Grappa is a spirit made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems of grapes after the wine-making process, thus reducing the waste and making a tasty beverage in the process!  Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto region is the traditional home of Grappa, and it is only just over an hour away from Venice. 

I stumbled across a shop dedicated to Grappa and Grappa-based liqueurs called Poli Distillerie, owned by one of the most renowned Grappa making families.  They have a wide selection of drinks to buy, and you can pop in to taste some too.  Tastings of 3 different spirits cost €3, or 5 tastings for €5, and if you buy anything, the cost of the tasting is deducted from your bill.   

Grappa Tasting at Poli in Venice - Traditional Venetian Drinks
Grappa Tasting at Poli in Venice – Traditional Venetian Drinks

Water

I’m adding this in because buying bottled water in Venice is contributing way too much plastic waste to a fragile infrastructure.  Bring your own refillable water bottle, and top it up at one of the many water fountains in Venice.  You’ll find fountains in most of the campos in Venice.  

I have partnered with Water-to-Go to offer all Tales of a Backpacker readers a 15% discount on the purchase of a Water-to-Go bottle so you can save even more money!  Simply choose the water bottle you want to buy, and put in the code BYORB for a 15% discount on your purchase. 

Have you tried any traditional food in Venice?  Do you have any more recommendations for what to eat in Venice?  I’d love to hear your thoughts, please leave your comments below.

Where to Stay in Venice

Hotels in Venice

Although staying somewhere close to the train station isn’t as convenient for St Mark’s Square, you won’t have to worry about moving heavy cases around the streets of Venice. 

Hotel Antiche Figure, for example, is just opposite the station and gets great reviews for the friendly staff, good location and great service. 

Albergo Marin is a good choice to get a mix of value and location, next to Grand Canal and 10 minutes walk from the railway station.

B&B Ca’ Bonvicini is a lovely bed and breakfast hotel just 7 minutes walk from Rialto Bridge if you would rather be more ‘in the middle’ of the action.  It gets great reviews for the traditional Venetian decor and friendly staff.

FIND A HOTEL IN VENICE

Apartments in Venice

There are lots of options for Airbnb in Venice, but given how many locals have had to leave their homes, I would advise against getting a whole apartment for yourself.  A private room in a local’s apartment will help them to pay the rent, and help you to really feel like a local in Venice, as well as saving you money. 

This room in Venice with a terrace, for example, is a short walk from the train station and walking distance from the main sights in Venice.  Alternatively, try Homestay.com which has some options for private rooms in apartments in Venice, Mestre and surrounding areas.

If you do want a whole apartment, you can rent full homes on Vrbo like this lovely historic apartment that is close to the centre of Venice, or this apartment which has its own garden!  Booking.com also has a large selection of vacation rentals available too, browse available apartments here

FIND AN APARTMENT IN VENICE

Hostels in Venice

I stayed at the fabulous Wombat’s City Hostel Venice Mestre, which is now sadly closed due to the pandemic.  It may reopen in future, but it’s not looking good at the moment.  However, there are other hostels in Venice if you are visiting Venice on a budget, take a look at these options:

  • Anda Venice:  a trendy hostel a short train ride from Venice in Mestre with excellent reviews
  • Ostello S. Fosca in the centre of Venice
  • Combo Venezia, set in the grounds of a 12th Century convent. 

You can also take a look at all of the hostels in Venice on Hostelworld.

FIND A HOSTEL IN VENICE

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6 thoughts on “Venice Food Guide: What to Eat in Venice

  1. Bob Davis says:

    I’m with Riana Ang-Canning. Reading this while hungry is not wise.
    We had Baccalà at Art Cafe in the Campo Santa Maria Nova. It was wonderful!
    Now I’m searching the internet for salt cod!

  2. Stefan (BerkeleySqB) says:

    Cicchetti are the best! I took some notes while reading. We visit Venice every now and then. It’s our favourite small city in the world. Great post. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Riana Ang-Canning says:

    Aw I made the mistake of reading this while hungry and now I am drooling! I need to get back to Venice and eat more of this goodness ASAP. We ate well when we were there last year but didn’t get many of these traditional dishes. The seafood and dessert are calling my name!

  4. Jess says:

    I’ve saved this post as I’m visiting Venice for the first time in October! I can’t wait to eat all the gelato I can!

    xoxo
    jess

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