Where to Eat in Venice: What to Eat, Where to Find It, and Why You’ll Love It

Italy is world-famous for having some of the best cuisine, and so if you are visiting Venice, it makes sense to indulge! However, Venice is a city that is well-known for being expensive, but eating well in the city doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune if you know where to eat in Venice. I joined a food tour, which gave me the perfect chance to discover hidden gems and gain insider local knowledge.

So, here is where to eat in Venice for a true taste of the city!

What to Eat In Venice: The Essentials You Need to Know

While Italy is known for its pasta and pizza, Venice has a distinct culinary culture that extends beyond these. And there is a good reason for it. For centuries, it was one of the most powerful trading cities in the world, with ships arriving bringing exotic spices, ingredients and ideas that inspired the local cuisine. Also, as Venice is an island, it meant Venetians built their food culture around what they had, and this included fresh seafood from the lagoon, rice, polenta and vegetables.

Here are some of the local dishes to look out for:

• Cicchetti: Think of these as Venice’s answer to tapas. Small bites, usually served on bread or in a small dish, are eaten standing up at the bar in a bacaro (a traditional Venetian wine bar).
• Frittura mista: A mix of lightly fried seafood fresh from the lagoon. Simple, incredibly fresh, and very Venetian.
• Sarde in saor: Sardines marinated with onions, vinegar, raisins and pine nuts. It sounds unusual, but it is one of those dishes that just works, and has been a staple of Venetian cooking for centuries.
• Bàcaro spritz: Not food, but worth mentioning alongside it. The Venetian spritz, made with Aperol or Select. The perfect accompaniment to cicchetti.
• Pastries: Venice does its pastries beautifully, particularly the frittelle (fried doughnuts) and bussolai (butter biscuits). Perfect for breakfast on the go.

This post on where to eat in Venice has places for each of these local foods!

A Few Tips Before You Eat – Where to Eat in Venice

As with all popular cities, the golden rule of eating in Venice is simple. Wander away from St Mark’s for better and cheaper food. The restaurants closest to the main sights know exactly where tourists gravitate, and the prices (and quality) reflect that. Even a five-minute walk in a different direction can make a huge difference to your culinary experience.

If you want to eat like a local, look out for a bacaro, which is Venice’s version of a neighbourhood wine bar. These are often tiny, a little dark, and not especially glamorous, which is exactly as they should be. The best ones don’t even have a sign outside; just look for a lit lantern above the door. Head inside, order a small glass of wine (ask for an ombra) and point at whatever cicchetti looks good on the counter.

Venice also has a food tradition of eating standing up. In a city that moves by foot or by boat, eating cicchetti while having a glass of wine and chatting with friends at a bacaro is a fundamental part of Venetian life. It’s not just about the food but also more about the ritual of stopping, connecting, and slowing down.

Where to Eat in Venice: The Best Options

Venice has no shortage of places to eat, but finding the ones that are actually worth your time takes a little insider knowledge. Here are some of the spots across the city, covering everything from a quick bite to a proper sit-down meal. They are all local, and eating in each will mean you get a true taste of Venice.

Ostaria dai Zemei – For Cicchetti & Wine

Ostaria dai Zemei, which means “Twins’ Tavern”, is found near the Rialto Bridge and is a famous, cosy bàcaro run by twin brothers, Franco and Giovanni (hence the name!). The walls inside are covered with photos of twins that people have left. It’s not large, but there are a couple of tables and a bar along the wall.

In this cosy little bar, you can find a case showcasing all the cicchietti they make on site. I had the sundried tomatoes with olive oil, and it was so simple and so good. Washed down with a delicious glass of red.

📍 Ostaria dai Zemei: San Polo 1045, B, 30125 Venezia | Map

Cantina Do Spade – For Cicchetti & Wine

Another stop that is perfect for grabbing some cicchetti, and one of the oldest Osterie in Venice (it was mentioned in the 1566 census!). It is more of a restaurant than a bacaro, but it is incredibly popular with the local Venetians.

Some of the dishes this spot is known for are “Mozzarella in Carrozza”, which translates to “mozzarella in a carriage”. It consists of mozzarella cheese in bread, dipped in flour, egg, then fried until golden and gooey. As well as olives wrapped in sausage meat and fried.

📍 Cantina Do Spade: S. Polo, 859, 30125 Venezia | Map

Salumeria – Roby & Giusy – For a Quick Bite

One of my favourite spots for where to eat in Venice, and definitely somewhere I would have just walked straight past. It is a small deli, butcher and sandwich shop, and one of the best places in the city to try local cheese and meats. I sampled local cured meats, cheese, and bread drizzled with truffle oil, washed down with a glass of the most delicious Refosco DRP Lison Pramaggiore DOC. They also do homemade panini made with fresh bread and full of the same meats and cheeses, with veggie options available too. Perfect for a lunch stop.

📍 Salumeria – Roby & Giusy: S. Polo, 1597, 30100 Venezia | Map

Antica Osteria Ruga Rialto – For a proper sit-down

Another long-standing Venetian restaurant, known for authentic traditional dishes, all washed down with a rather good ombra (small glass of wine). You can get cicchetti and traditional Venetian dishes, making it a great spot whether you fancy a light bite or something more substantial. The Sarde in saor (sardines) is a popular choice here! It has been run by the same management for generations, and is known as one of the most beloved osterias among Venetians.

📍 Antica Osteria Ruga Rialto: C. del Sturion, 692, 30125 | Map

Pasticceria Rizzardini – For Something Sweet

Pasticceria Rizzardini is the oldest Venetian patisserie, and was established in 1742. Because of this, they have a huge focus on traditional values. The inside is tiny, with standing room and then a display cabinet showing the sweet treats on offer. There are lots of options, including tiramisu or frittelle during carnival. But I would recommend trying the ricotta cheesecake, which, even for someone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth, was divine!

📍 Pasticceria Rizzardini:  Campiello dei Meloni, 1415, 30125 Venezia | Map

Suso – For the Gelato

So perhaps this one isn’t so much a hidden gem; it is world-renowned for being the best gelato in Venice. But for good reason, I can hand on heart say it is the best gelato I have ever had. It is an institution, and at popular times there is often a queue out of the door. They have now opened a second parlour. I had the Opera, Piedmont hazelnut gelato with hazelnut spread. And it was so good. One of the most popular is the Olympia (pistachio, blackcurrant, and hazelnut gelato tart), but you can’t go wrong with any of the flavours. It totally deserves the hype.

📍 Suso: Sotoportego de la Bissa, 5453, 30124 Venezia | Map

Final Tips on Where to Eat in Venice

Now you know where to eat in Venice, here are some tips to help you make the most of your foodie experience!

• Many bacari and small spots in Venice are cash only, so make sure you have some on you.
• Opening hours can be a little unpredictable. Many places are closed in the afternoon, and some are shut on certain days of the week. Check Google Maps to make sure.
• Head to the bacari (wine bars) between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM. This is the peak time for fresh cicchetti.
• In Venice, your bill will often include a coperto (cover charge), which is a fee (usually €2–€4 per person) for the table setting and bread. It isn’t a tip for the waiter. Do note, if you see servizio (a percentage-based service charge) on the menu, it’s usually a sign of a tourist-heavy spot.
• Venice is famous for its “tourist menus” with photos of food. A good rule of thumb is to avoid these places! If a restaurant has large, faded photos of spaghetti carbonara outside, keep walking. Also, authentic Venetian spots don’t have a man standing outside trying to pull you in. Indeed, a lot of the traditional places don’t even have a sign; just look out for a lit lantern!

Visiting Venice? These posts will help you plan your trip!

Best Things to Do in Venice: The Ultimate Budget-to-Luxury Travel Guide
3 days in Venice Itinerary for the most amazing break
Best views in Venice to photograph
Venice in the Winter: A Complete Guide to Visiting Off-Season to Have the Best Time

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