Venice may well be a city on stilts floating out in the Adriatic, but like all Italian destinations it lives off-its stomach: follow our guide to some of the city’s best out-of-the-way restaurants.
Venice is a year round travel destination, and perfect for “shoulder-season” weekend getaways. However, the city can be expensive when it comes to eating out.
Join us as we wander down the narrow calli and sotoportegi of the real Venice to find places to eat that will delight your wallet, as well as your stomach.
San Marco
Daytrippers to Venice will undoubtedly find themselves in the heart of San Marco; this is the cultural centre of Venice, where you will find St Mark’s Square, the Basilica Di San Marco, the Gallerie Dell’Accadmemia and more museums and art galleries than you can wave an oar at.
Naturally, this area can be very expensive if you decide to eat here. A couple of espressos and a piece of cake to share can easily top the €20 mark, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great paces to eat nearby.
Cava Tappi is one such gem. Tucked away down the Campo della Guerra, Cava Tappi offers a classic Venetian menu that includes pastas and risottos far superior to the tourist menus served up in nearby St. Mark’s Square.
Meals are generally affordable (often less than €10 for a pasta dish) and they serve a great selection of wine, too. It is a great spot to eat like a local if you are only in Venice for a short period of time.
San Polo
Stroll across the Rialto Bridge from San Marco and it will take you into the district of San Polo. Not as touristy as San Marco, this part of Venice has some excellent places to eat for less. If you are looking for classic Venetian cuisine of great pastas and fresh fish then the Trattoria Da Ignazio could be a good bet. Located on Calle Saoneri, it may be a little hard to find, but intrepid tourists will not be disappointed.
Cannaregio
Home to the Jewish Ghetto, birthplace of the Renaissance, as well as Gothic churches and a mish-mash of narrow streets and canals, this is one area of the city that boasts a good number of local osterie (restaurant-bars) that offer menus far-off the everyday tourist trail. If you are looking to experience the real Venice and eat like generations of locals then check out Alla Vedova. It claims to be one of the city’s oldest osterie. Prices are generally good and the atmosphere about as authentic as you can get.
Santa Croce
If you are in Venice for a day or two then you will have plenty of time to really explore the culinary delights of the city. Santa Croce is not on the tourist trail particularly, but it is easy enough to find yourself wandering the winding alleyways and narrow passageways of this ancient district, particularly if you arrive in Venice via the main train station.
It is here that you will find the restaurant-bars where locals like to eat and drink. Tucked away in this labyrinth of alleys is Ostario al Vecchio, a traditional Venetian restaurant where you will be hard pushed to hear English spoken. The menu is typically Venetian and on top of the standard pasta dishes, expect to be indulged with fantastic mains, including great steaks, as well as exquisite sweets. And all at a fraction of the cost you’d expect to pay in San Marco. The lunchtime buffet is very popular and great value if you are really hungry.
(Images: San Marco – viZZZual.com; San Polo – TracyElaine; Cannaregio – ulybug; Santa Croce – gnuckx)
