The city has always suffered from a bad reputation of expensive restaurants,
food lacking desirability and substandard service. Far from it.
There are numerous hotels, restaurants, café, pubs and bars all serving delicious (mainly regional
dishes) at normal prices. The golden rule "when in Venice, act like a Venetian";
avoid tourist restaurants and eat where the locals do. Obviously, the closer
the dining place is to tourist attractions (like Rialto Bridge or St. Mark's
Square), the more expensive it tends to be; panoramic views will be reflected
in the bill. By law, each establishment must have a statutory closing day and
must publish its menu and price list outside its premises. Smoking in all public
places is prohibited.
And if you are after non-Italian food, check out our list of
Have a WAP-enabled mobile phone and want to check if a particular restaurant has a table for you and book it online? Log in to http://wap.globaldining.com, the world's largest, location-based mobile restaurant directory and reservation network. |
ANTICO MARTINI - Campo
San Fantin, San Marco 1983 (tel 041/522 4121) Our favourite, full stop! Its
balcony faces what remains of the Fenice Theatre. Its food and service are simply
marvellous. Don't forget to order the duck with black truffles and the frozen
soufflé with raspberry sauce. Over 300 wines in their list. The perfect
place to propose. Major credit cards accepted.
ALLA SCALA - Corte
Lucatello 571, San Marco (tel 041/522 0767) Great place for wedding banquets
and couples seeking a romantic moment for themselves. Large selection of meat
and fish dishes. Major credit cards accepted. See note
at bottom of page.
HARRY'S BAR - Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1323 (tel
041/528 5777) This is definitely the most famous restaurant in Venice, expensive
but with an excellent cuisine. Major credit cards accepted.
HOTEL GRITTI - Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, San Marco 2467 (tel 041/522
6044) The dining room of this luxurious hotel is inside a gothic palace. There
is a terrace with a view on the Gran Canal by the church of Santa Maria della
Salute. Major credit cards accepted.
LA CARAVELLA - Calle XXII Marzo, San Marco 2396 (tel 041/520
8901) One of the two restaurants inside the Saturnia Hotel; its decorations
resemble a 16th century venetian jail. Major credit cards accepted.
DA ARTURO - Calle degli Assassini, San Marco 3656
(tel 041/528 6974) Original restaurant as, contrary to the fish culture of Venice,
it only serves meat and caters for vegetarians.
ANTICA BESSETA - Calle Savio, San Polo 1395 (tel 041/721 687) This place
is family run and its food is not fancy but very practical, with all the traditional
worker's dishes.
TERRAZZA
GOLDONI - Calle Goldoni, San Marco 4488 (tel 041/522 4168) Impeccable
service, luxurious surroundings and an impressive wine list. A must for fish
lovers. Major credit cards accepted.
TRATTORIA
ALLA MADONNA - Calle della Madonna, San Polo 594 (tel 041/522 3824)
Probably the only restaurant where large numbers of tourists and locals alike
eat together. Great fish and reasonable prices. Major credit cards accepted.
LE
BISTROT DE VENISE - Calle dei Fabbri, San Marco 4685 (tel 041/523 6651) A funky place where food,
poetry reading and art exhibitions are in perfect symbiosis. Heavily recommended
by guide books like Fodor's and Time Out. Major credit cards accepted.
LE DEUX LIONS - Riva degli Schiavoni, Castello
4171 (tel 041/520 0533) Inside the Londra Palace Hotel, it has a terrace on
the San Marco basin. It offers Italian and French cuisine. Major credit card accepted.
DANIELI TERRACE - Riva degli Schiavoni, Castello
4196 (tel 041/522 6480) Great view and the food and service are top quality.
Excellent wine list. Major credit cards accepted.
AL GRASPO DE UA
- Calle Bombaseri, San Marco 5094 (tel 041/520 0150) This traditional venetian
restaurant is located on the premises of what used to be the San Bartolomeo
church. Major credit cards accepted.
HARRY'S DOLCI - Fondamenta San Biagio, Giudecca
773 (tel 041/522 4844) It started as a bar and tea room, it is now a fashionable
restaurant. Try their original Bellini cocktail. Major credit cards accepted.
HOTEL CIPRIANI - Giudecca 10 (tel 041/520 7744) High prices justified
by the location, view over the lagoon, the excellent food and extensive wine
list. Major credit cards accepted.
LOCANDA MONTIN - Fondamenta Eremite, Dorsoduro
1147 (tel 041/522 7151) Famous restaurant, with artistic and poetic traditions.
You can eat in the garden or in the art gallery!
HOSTARIA DA FRANZ- Fondamenta San Giuseppe,
Castello 754 (tel 041/522 0861) This restaurant has a beautiful terrace facing
the Canal and serves possibly the best sea food in town.
CORTE SCONTA - Calle del Pestrin 3886 (tel 041/522
7024) A favourite with tourists and Venetians alike. Recommended for its excellent
fish. Closed on Sundays and Mondays and several weeks in July and August. Recommended
by one of our readers.
WARNING! AI GONDOLIERI - Dorsoduro 366
(tel 041/528 6396) This restaurant is renowned for its excellent food, but getting
a quote for a group is like watching the stock exchange, it may go up as well
as down and nothing is guaranteed!!
Note: If you come across a restaurant worth mentioning in this list, please
drop us an e-mail with its details. Thank you.
|
This is what you told us: |
|
22/10/2004 - We recently dined in Do Forni. San Marco, 468, Venice It
was the best meal we had in Venice-superb Chateauxbriand, free Bellinis,
delicious crepe suzette and eating in what looked like in-laid wooden
carriages from The Orient Express (very chic) -although there were many
other rooms, these are the best. The sevice was excellent, all unhurried,
but better to eat early and book-it gets busy. Fantastico! It's far superior
to Harry's Bar where we also dined! |
|
13/04/2005 - Following a personal visit, we have decided to withdraw the restaurant Alla Scala from our list of recommended establishments. Whether it was a one-off bad experience... |
