Venice is full of great places to eat and drink, whether you are looking for somewhere special to go with friends and family or for a bite to eat that doesn't dent the student loan. Certainly the most expensive places and though by no means the best are to be found on the main tourist trail. Yet there are many bars and restaurants that are great value with delicious food and a friendly atmosphere.
Restaurant Guide
Antica Adelaide (Cannaregio, 3728)
Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere make this a great restaurant to visit. Whilst specialising in fish dishes, they also have numerous meat dishes on their menu. A carafe of wine is inexpensive and the food is great value and delicious. Look at for the lunch time deal which allows you to choose from a selection of vegetarian, meat, and fish dishes, accompanied with either rice or creamy mashed potato. Only a few minutes from Warwick's Palazzo, this place is certainly worth a visit.
Gam Gam (Cannaregio, 2892)
Certainly a dining experience to be tried at least once whilst in Venice. Gam Gam serves tasty kosher food at a decent price. On a sunny day you can eat outside the restaurant by the Canal di Cannaregio and watch the world go by.
Trattoria S. Toma (San Polo, 2864)
One of the most friendly restaurants I visited in Venice located not far from I Frari, serving tasty pizza and pasta dishes. It is worth giving in to temptation and ordering some tiramisu here!
Ai Sportivi (Dorsoduro, 3052)
An amazing array of pizzas ranging from a simple margherita to unusual seafood toppings and even cavallo (that is horse to you and me) are served at this pizzeria. The pizzas are huge and if that isn't enough you can order deep fried mozzarella balls and garlic bread to start! If you take Italian classes at Ca Foscari, this is a nice place to practice your lingo after lessons.
If the parents are paying...
You will inevitably pass La Catina on the Strada Nova. This little restaurant is certainly worth a visit, even though it is on the pricey side and portions aren't huge and neither are the glasses of wine! They other either a shared dish of mixed fish or a plate of meats. This was possibly the best fish I tasted in Venice, but I was pleased I wasn't paying the bill at then end, the pleasure of which was left to my kind dad!
Another place to treat yourself, or let a kind family member treat you, is Da Rioba found along the Fondamenta de la Misericordia in Cannaregio. It is definitely worth booking at this place, as it is popular with locals. Don't make the mistake that we did in turning up to a full restaurant and then walking up the road only to eat in quite possibly the worst restaurant in Venice, Antica Mola. Ignore the Rough Guide's recommendations, unless you want microwaved pasta!
Coffee in Venice
Forget your morning cup of tea and head to one of Venice's coffee bars for your morning pick me up. Italy is renowned for its fine coffee and rightly so! It is world apart from the chains that dominate British high-streets, stronger and tastier coffee is the norm in Venice. Though, if you're not a big fan of coffee there are also delicious hot chocolates to be found all over the city. Here are a few of the best places I went to whilst in Venice.
Bar Sarpi (Cannaregio, Strada Nova)
I have to admit, I am slightly biased when it comes to Bar Sarpi. It may seem like there is nothing too special about this little coffee/wine bar. Yet it became the morning stop off for myself and my house-mate for our morning macchiati before lectures and seminars. We became such regulars that the barista would present us with our "due machiatti" as soon as we walked through the door. I definitely recommend finding your own special local! There is certainly great benefits to exploring lots of coffee bars, but it is particular nice knowing that you are no longer seen as just a transient tourist, but a regular!
Bottega del Caffè Dersut (Campo dei Frari, 3014)
This place is great! Home to a delicious range of speciality and unusual coffee concoctions. A particular favourite was the a little glass of rich, creamy coffee complete with a scoop of nutella and whole hazelnuts. This place is also good for non-coffee lovers too. Try their fruit juices or glasses of cereals and fruits with various flavours yoghurt and sauces.
Viziovirtù (San Polo, 2898)
This place sells the most beautiful chocolates and also creamy hot chocolates. I used to walk past this chocolate shop on the way to Italian lessons, but never seemed to find the time to go in! When I next make it back to Venice, I will certainly be dropping in!
http://www.viziovirtu.com/en/index.htm
Top Ten Places to Soak Up the Atmosphere: Make Mine a Spritz Aperol!
Restaurant Guide
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| Antica Adelaide |
Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere make this a great restaurant to visit. Whilst specialising in fish dishes, they also have numerous meat dishes on their menu. A carafe of wine is inexpensive and the food is great value and delicious. Look at for the lunch time deal which allows you to choose from a selection of vegetarian, meat, and fish dishes, accompanied with either rice or creamy mashed potato. Only a few minutes from Warwick's Palazzo, this place is certainly worth a visit.
 |
| Gam Gam |
Certainly a dining experience to be tried at least once whilst in Venice. Gam Gam serves tasty kosher food at a decent price. On a sunny day you can eat outside the restaurant by the Canal di Cannaregio and watch the world go by.
Trattoria S. Toma (San Polo, 2864)
One of the most friendly restaurants I visited in Venice located not far from I Frari, serving tasty pizza and pasta dishes. It is worth giving in to temptation and ordering some tiramisu here!
Ai Sportivi (Dorsoduro, 3052)
 |
| Ai Sportivi |
If the parents are paying...
You will inevitably pass La Catina on the Strada Nova. This little restaurant is certainly worth a visit, even though it is on the pricey side and portions aren't huge and neither are the glasses of wine! They other either a shared dish of mixed fish or a plate of meats. This was possibly the best fish I tasted in Venice, but I was pleased I wasn't paying the bill at then end, the pleasure of which was left to my kind dad!
Another place to treat yourself, or let a kind family member treat you, is Da Rioba found along the Fondamenta de la Misericordia in Cannaregio. It is definitely worth booking at this place, as it is popular with locals. Don't make the mistake that we did in turning up to a full restaurant and then walking up the road only to eat in quite possibly the worst restaurant in Venice, Antica Mola. Ignore the Rough Guide's recommendations, unless you want microwaved pasta!
Coffee in Venice
Forget your morning cup of tea and head to one of Venice's coffee bars for your morning pick me up. Italy is renowned for its fine coffee and rightly so! It is world apart from the chains that dominate British high-streets, stronger and tastier coffee is the norm in Venice. Though, if you're not a big fan of coffee there are also delicious hot chocolates to be found all over the city. Here are a few of the best places I went to whilst in Venice.Bar Sarpi (Cannaregio, Strada Nova)
I have to admit, I am slightly biased when it comes to Bar Sarpi. It may seem like there is nothing too special about this little coffee/wine bar. Yet it became the morning stop off for myself and my house-mate for our morning macchiati before lectures and seminars. We became such regulars that the barista would present us with our "due machiatti" as soon as we walked through the door. I definitely recommend finding your own special local! There is certainly great benefits to exploring lots of coffee bars, but it is particular nice knowing that you are no longer seen as just a transient tourist, but a regular!
Bottega del Caffè Dersut (Campo dei Frari, 3014)This place is great! Home to a delicious range of speciality and unusual coffee concoctions. A particular favourite was the a little glass of rich, creamy coffee complete with a scoop of nutella and whole hazelnuts. This place is also good for non-coffee lovers too. Try their fruit juices or glasses of cereals and fruits with various flavours yoghurt and sauces.
Viziovirtù (San Polo, 2898)
This place sells the most beautiful chocolates and also creamy hot chocolates. I used to walk past this chocolate shop on the way to Italian lessons, but never seemed to find the time to go in! When I next make it back to Venice, I will certainly be dropping in!
http://www.viziovirtu.com/en/index.htm
Top Ten Places to Soak Up the Atmosphere: Make Mine a Spritz Aperol!
There a plenty of fantastic coffee and wine bars in Venice, decently priced with a friendly atmosphere. Here is a list of my personal top five places to relax with friends, when we could got a second away from our essays!
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Campo San Margherita |
- Campo San Margherita: This is where the students of Ca Foscari University hang out, whilst it is relatively quiet in the day, come the evening time, it is bustling with Venetian students after their lectures. There are numerous bars, selling beers, wine and cocktails including of course the Venetian born Spritz. The Spritz is made up of Aperol or Campari, mixed with white wine and garnished with a large green olive.
- Al Parlamento: Not far from the Palazzo along the Fondamente San Giobbe you can find this chilled bar. When it is sunny you can enjoy a glass of prosecco along Venice's second biggest canal. Al Parlamento also has regular live music nights enjoyed by local students.
- Bar Sarpi: Also mentioned above, but I couldn't resist mentioning it again. Just five minutes along the Strada Nuova you will find this tiny bar. A glass of prosecco and a mini panino will only set you back a few euros, as will a espresso and croissant!
- Querini Stampalia: The Querini is one of the many Venetian libraries at your disposal, but with its flexible opening times (it is the only library in Venice to open on a Sunday) and beautiful architecture and welcoming bar, it is by far my favourite! Enjoy a coffee or spritz in the downstairs bar in a break from essay writing. Just don't make the same mistake I made and order a 'latte', unless you just want a glass of milk that is!
- Harry's Bar: Alright, not really a student bar, I'll admit! With a Bellini setting you back fifteen euros, it is a quick way to dispose of your student loan! However, for a treat it is most definitely worth a visit; the Bellini cocktail, a mixture of peach juice and prosecco, was originally invented in Harry's Bar in 1948. You can find the bar just off Saint Mark's Square.
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Enjoying a Spritz in the Querini |
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Outside Bar Sarpi |
