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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 24 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Nicky Swallow

Dishes, both fish and meat-based, are seasonal, prepared with the minimum of fuss and often dressed with just olive oil, a little lemon and seasoning. In spring and summer, menus feature abundant fresh vegetables, many sourced from the  island of Sant’Erasmo.

You’ll find unique ingredients in Venetian restaurants such as moeche (soft-shelled crabs), and schie (tiny grey prawns).

Meals are traditionally divided into antipasti (starters), primi (soup, pasta), secondi (meat, fish) and dolce (dessert).

What to try

Venetian specialities include baccalà mantecato (creamed salt cod), sarde in soar (sardines with onions and vinegar) and seppie  (inky black squid) with polenta. Fegato alla Veneziana (liver with onions) and beef carpaccio are good choices for non-fish eaters. Also see Nicky’s round-up of the traditional Italian foods you must try in Italy.

Cichetti are Venetian tapas, tasty morsels to whet the appetite and soak up a glass of wine or two. A plate of cichetti is one of the cheapest ways to fill up in this expensive city; 6 or 7 make a light meal, and at an average price of €2, along with a glass of inexpensive local wine, that’s a bargain.

Veneto wines are among Italy’s best. Reds include Valpolicella,  Bardolino and the hefty Amarone while whites include Prosecco, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Manzoni Bianco.

Spritz, the ubiquitous orange-coloured aperitivo, is a Venetian institution;  served on ice with a green olive and a slice of orange, it is made with Aperol, Campari or Select (a Venetian bitter) plus prosecco and a squirt of soda.

The dining scene

Like all cities, Venice has its share of white-cloth, Michelin starred establishments serving (pricey) gourmet riffs on the traditional cuisine. Locals mainly eat at simple neighbourhood trattorias, serving hearty home-cooked local food.

Cicheti are traditionally served in a bacaro (wine bar), which also offer wines by the glass; Venetians eat cichetti before lunch or dinner, usually standing at the bar.

Avoid anywhere touting a set ‘menu turistico’.

Cicchetti Crawl

Venice, Veneto, Italy

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Bucket List Experience
Cicchetti Crawl

Cicchetti are Venetian tapas, traditionally served in a bacaro (wine bar), and often eaten by the Venetians before lunch or dinner. Take a cicchetti tour – guided or independent –  and sample these weird and wonderful dishes.

Adult price: £-

Best for ages 13+

Duration: -

Coffee at Café Florian

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Coffee at Café Florian

Dating from 1720, world-famous Florian’s is a jewel-box of a café, all mirrors, stuccoes and frescoes. Join the locals perched at the bar rather than pay way over the odds for a table seat where a simple espresso is likely to set you back €10.

Best for ages 13+

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Drogheria Mascari

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Drogheria Mascari

A perfect place for foodie gifts, this deliciously retro grocery shop sells a fabulous range of exotic spices, dried fruits and mushrooms plus wines, olive oil and vinegars from all over Italy. The range of coffees and teas is also excellent.

Best for ages 13+

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Locanda Cipriani

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Locanda Cipriani

For a special lunch on a beautiful garden terrace, hop over to Torcello and this iconic restaurant; Ernest Hemmingway and Princess Diana were fans. People come for the peaceful, bucolic setting as much as the food – pasta with scampi and seabass with artichokes, maybe.

Adult price: £30

Best for ages 18+

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Rialto Market

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Exterior of the square market building

Venetians have shopped and haggled at this food market on the banks of the Grand Canal since 1097 AD. It’s a mosaic of stalls piled with aubergines, tomatoes, vats of artichoke hearts and (under the arched Pescaria) a zillion varieties of wriggling, glistening fish.

Best for ages 13+

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Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Duration: -

Getting there & doing it

In Venice, it pays to steer clear of the most touristy areas to avoid inflated prices and mediocre food. Instead, wander through some of the quieter neighbourhoods (along the Fondamenta Misericordia in northern Canareggio, in and around Via Garibaldi in Castello, the area in and around  the Zattere in Dorsoduro) to find places where Venetians go to eat and drink.

Venetian resident Monica’s blog about life and food in Venice is a reliable and interesting source of information about the city, and has excellent foodie recommendations.

A fun way to enjoy the cicheti tradition and to sample the wide variety on offer is to take a cicheti crawl.

When to do it

Venice is not a late-night city; normal dinner time is 7.30pm or 8pm (maybe  8.30 in high summer), and the streets in all but the most central areas are often deserted by 11pm. Cicheti are traditionally eaten before lunch (from around noon) or dinner (from around 6pm). A Spritz works at almost any time of the day!

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Venice Street Food Tour with Local Guide with Local Food Market Visit

Venice

Venice Street Food Tour with Local Guide with Local Food Market Visit
Taste delicious specialties and visit the highlights of the city on waters. This 2.5 hour small group tour is led by a local top-rated guide. Explore Rialto Market, beautiful squares and magnificent churches.  See Basilica dei Frari (outside), Campo Santa Margherita, San Polo , the Grand Canal, and savor authentic Venitian food such as , cicchetti, cheese, buranelli, dessert and much more. You will also get precious suggestions from your guide on how to spend best your holiday in the city. The tour will start and finish in central Venice. It will all be by walking, since there are no cars in the city. You will be crossing several bridges on the canals so wear comfortable shoes.

Price: €44

Min age: 0

Rating 4.62 / 5 [348 ratings]

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Tasty Street Food Tour of Venice City Center with Cicchetti & Local Specialties

Venice

Tasty Street Food Tour of Venice City Center with Cicchetti & Local Specialties
Soak up your way through speechless views of the city during this 2.5-hour street food tour around the best spots of Venice. Explore the narrow picturesque alleyways, hidden canal gems, ancient bars and shops. Visit the famous local market of Rialto and sample traditional Venetian dishes and ingredients along the way. Indulge delicious specialties like typical pastries, desserts, local tapas known as cicchetti and much more. Enjoy a stroll along the historical bridges of Venice and the opportunity to discover and learn about attractions such as the Basilica dei Frari, Campo Santa Margherita, San Polo and the Grand Canal. With spectacular panoramic views this experience will remain forever as a great memory of your holidays!

Price: €44

Min age: 0

Rating 4.54 / 5 [11 ratings]

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Venetian Cicchetti Street Food & Sightseeing Walking Tour with local guide

Venice

Venetian Cicchetti Street Food & Sightseeing Walking Tour with local guide
When you think about Italy, you think about the Sea and the Food, you think about Venice and Rome so there is no better way to dive right into the Italian lifestyle than coming with us on this unique 2.5-hour Street Food tour, where you will not only taste some of the most typical foods Venetians eat, but also see a lot of the marvelous sights in this world-famous city.Your local guide will tell you all about the past and present of these historical places, and also about the lifestyle and cultural facts you wouldn't get strolling on your own. During this walking tour you'll see some beautiful and well known sites such as Campo San Bartolomeo, Campo San Polo and Basilica dei Frari and you will taste some of the most typical Venetian foods, the “cicchetti” and “burianelli” in the traditional Bacari bars. If you don't want to just walk around aimlessly, but you really want to live and taste the city, come join us on this 2.5-hour walking Street Food and Sightseeing tour through Venice.

Price: €44

Min age: 0

Rating 4.69 / 5 [56 ratings]

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Tapas & Wines through secret Venice

Venice

Tapas & Wines through secret Venice
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THE TOUR? - Visit 2 authentic "bacari" (the traditional bars in Venice): a variety of tapas and 3 wines INCLUDED! - opportunity to take some photos of the "real" Venice, away from the touristy path and traps - Fun facts about the city! - Ask all the questions and recommendations you want for your stay in Venice - And most importantly, meet NEW FRIENDS from all over the world! WHAT WILL WE DO? After meeting with the group, we'll make our way through the hidden alleyways and over the bridges to discover the real Venice off the tourist track. We will stop at 2 different traditional bars to taste a variety of local wine and "cicchetti" (small dishes similar to the Spanish Tapas). We will make sure you will get the most out of the history of the city and, of course, of the food culture, so be prepared to be amazed by the secret spots we will show you during the tour! (Please note: tour stops and final destination may vary depending on opening times of bacari)

Price: €69

Min age: 0

Rating 4.8 / 5 [90 ratings]

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Eat Like a Local: 3-hour Venice Small-Group Food Tasting Walking Tour

Venice

Eat Like a Local: 3-hour Venice Small-Group Food Tasting Walking Tour
Fall in love with Venice, through your 3-hour discovery of the gastronomic tradition of the city, through a uniquely designed small-group, walking food and wine tour of the lesser known places to tourists. With at least 13 tastings from well-known restaurants and bars to the locals, between sipping some glasses of wonderful local wines, and trying some of the best restaurants in Venice with the guidance of your expert foodie, you will also get to hear about its unique histories of what makes Venice a truly wonderful place.

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 4.67 / 5 [1235 ratings]

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Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour of Venice

Venice

Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour of Venice
Come to Venice to encounter an enlightening experience. Join this 4-hour tour across the city market, restaurants, monuments and Bacari bars to have a taste of exquisite wines and prominent cicchetti dishes. Get ready for a marvelous experience, a foodie promenade and breath-taking scenery of Venice. Lots of food, wine and sightseeing led by local top-rated expert.

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 4.85 / 5 [208 ratings]

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Rialto Farmers Market Food Tour in Venice with Wine Tasting & Guided Sightseeing

Venice

Rialto Farmers Market Food Tour in Venice with Wine Tasting & Guided Sightseeing
What would a real Venetian holiday be without Italian food and culture?Therefore we created this special Food Wine & Sightseeing tour for you,where you get to taste some of the most typical food from this marvelous city.You will also learn a lot from your local guide about the history and the culture of Venice.To get a real insight in all of that,you have to start from the famous Rialto fresh market,nearby we will also start our food tour,enjoying some small bites called cicchetti together with local wine and prosecco in the traditional Bacari bars.Then our tour continues to some of the main highlights of this word-famous city, such as Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal, Marco Polo's house and many others. Our tour guide will answer all your questions regarding not only the places you visit, but also the habits and traditions of the locals. If you want to get a real insight in the life of a Venetian, come join us on this 4-hour walking Food, Wine & Sightseeing tour.

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 4.76 / 5 [39 ratings]

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Tastes & Traditions of Venice: Food Tour with Rialto Market Visit

Venice

Tastes & Traditions of Venice: Food Tour with Rialto Market Visit
Step away from the tourist trail to discover Venice’s culinary history from the days when the city was a major spice trade port through to the present day. As you learn about the influence of Venice’s maritime history, learn where the locals go to eat and hear tips for Venetian dishes to try. Explore the Rialto Market and visit a few of our favorite renowned cicchetti bars to enjoy Venetian-style "tapas" with wine.

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 4.79 / 5 [78 ratings]

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Tasty Rialto Farmers Market Food Tour in Venice with Wine Tasting & Sightseeing

Venice

Tasty Rialto Farmers Market Food Tour in Venice with Wine Tasting & Sightseeing
Stroll through the streets of the city center and explore the best foodie stops of the city of Venice. Led by a local and expert guide, this 4-hours tour, will put history and cooking together. Experience the local atmosphere at the famous Rialto food market, visit authentic eateries and try traditional Venetian cuisine off-the-beaten palates. Samples of mouthwatering tapas, locally known as Cicchetti accompanied by Italian wines, all while you admire the amazing city sights like Rialto Bridge, Marco Polo’s house and Grand Canal. Places that has been the heart of Venice’s city life over the centuries, also thanks to its lively market and legendary Bacari bars. A great combination of the best food stops in town, with Venice being the jewel in the country's eye, this food tour of Venice is sure to be an experience you’ll remember forever. 

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 5 / 5 [11 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Street Food & Rialto Market Experience with a Local Expert

Venice

Street Food & Rialto Market Experience with a Local Expert
This Streaty tour is a unique chance to spend a morning like a real Venetian, roaming around in a small group led by an Italian guide. Travelers will find out about locals' habits and cuisine. Streaty guides take them to their favorite bars to sample the most traditional and authentic bites. Most of the food served along this tour is pleasant for all kinds of palates (cheese, cold cuts, fish), however, whenever possible Streaty guides will challenge travelers with some "intimidating" sample, such as the lagoon crabs or the veal offal. All our guides are Italian, young and regularly licensed. They will give travellers all the insights they need to understand Venetian culture and tell stories and facts not available in guidebooks. This tour has been designed for real foodies and curious travellers. No tourist traps!

Price: €89

Min age: 0

Rating 4.95 / 5 [21 ratings]

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Eat, drink and repeat: Wine tasting tour in Venice

Venice

Eat, drink and repeat: Wine tasting tour in Venice
There is no other region that boasts such a winemaking diversity as Veneto:  From the embraced-around- the-world elegant wine Prosecco to a hearty red Amarone ... Veneto has it all.  Being a part of the Veneto region, when it comes to choices of drinks, Venice has a lot to offer with lots of lovely bars with spectacular wines. On this tour, you will  get to experience Venice in a glass with 6 different regional wines at 6 different bars or restaurants paired with savory regional food from famous bars, restaurants. If you would like to learn how to wine and eat like a local here in Venice this tour is for you.  * This wine-focused tour with food pairings offer regional wines from red, white, sparkly and desert wines depending on the time of the year and what seasonal dishes we are pairing it with on that day.

Price: €90

Min age: 16

Rating 4.79 / 5 [484 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Venice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience

Venice

Venice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience
The Do Eat Better Experience food tour is a walking tour around the historical center of Venice. The tourist is guided by a "Foodie", a local "buddy" able to explain every detail of the selected eateries, their preparations, and the relevant history/curiosities. Do Eat Better Experience tours are a mix of high-quality gastronomy as a way of showing Italian culture and lifestyle and a walking experience together with a local friend. This is the reason why we accept small groups only: we want to focus on a genuine exchange and give to each tourist the highest attention possible. Please, note that the tour is always run in English and Italian; other languages upon request.

Price: €92

Min age: 0

Rating 4.78 / 5 [252 ratings]

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Authentic Venice Food Tour in Cannaregio

Venice

Authentic Venice Food Tour in Cannaregio
Get ready to embark on an epicurean adventure fit for a true Venetian connoisseur! Brace yourself for an extraordinary evening food tour that will whisk you away to the vibrant core of the Cannaregio district, immersing you in the authentic essence of Venetian life while tantalizing your taste buds with the absolute finest cuisine Italy has to offer! Prepare to be guided by a local guru of gastronomy, who will lead you on a captivating journey to the crème de la crème of Venetian culinary havens. Indulge in traditional cicchetti, savor the tantalizing flavors of Venetian pasta, treat yourself to delectable gelato that transcends ordinary desserts, sip on exquisite local wines that dance on your palate, and raise a toast with a refreshing Campari spritz that will effortlessly cleanse your palate. Join us for an unforgettable evening of culinary bliss, unleashing your inner Venetian and let your taste buds embark on a journey they will never forget!

Price: $99

Min age: 0

Rating 4.44 / 5 [27 ratings]

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Venice: Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Area Food Tour: Pasta Wine Gelato and More!

Venice

Venice: Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Area Food Tour: Pasta Wine Gelato and More!
Explore Venice's Jewish ghetto and the Cannaregio district, from a culinary perspective on this food walking tour with a food-connoisseur guide. You'll visit six different eateries to sample authentic dishes like risotto and baked goods. The tastings add up to dinner.

Price: €109

Min age: 1

Rating 4.55 / 5 [217 ratings]

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Venice Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio District Food Wine & Sightseeing Guided tour

Venice

Venice Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio District Food Wine & Sightseeing Guided tour
Italian lifestyle, good food, rich history and delicious wines this all is included in our 4-hour walking tour through the Jewish Ghetto and the Cannareggio District of Venice, with many stops to taste some of the best traditional Venetian food and local wines.The Jewish Ghetto is the oldest ghetto in the world, yes, the word ghetto itself was coined in Venice so it's a must to visit during your stay there. Our experienced local guide will show you the most important places,illuminate the history of the district and bring you to taste some culinary delights before going over to the most populated sestriere of Venice,the Cannareggio district,where you'll enjoy more food stops and end the tour with the most important of all Italian desserts: an authenitic gelato.If you want to get the most out of your stay, don't miss this tour where you can visit and learn about the city and its history while you get to taste a full traditional menu in different key points Venice.

Price: €119

Min age: 0

Rating 4.63 / 5 [22 ratings]

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Small-Group Venetian Food and Wine Tour with a Local

Venice

Small-Group Venetian Food and Wine Tour with a Local
Let's experience together the Venetian evening tasting typical aperitifs and local food. Like a friend I will show you interesting spots where to hang out in Venice and how to become a real Venetian. Walking around an authentic part of the city, we will enjoy the evening only in local non-tourist bars and restaurants, the same places where local people have fun. The tour includes: historical and cultural explanation about food and drinks of some of the most hidden and interesting areas of the city; a local bakery tasting, 2 different aperitifs Venetian style, a dinner in a typical restaurant and an artisanal desert for closing the experience. *FOR PRIVATE TOURS PLEASE CONTACT ME*

Price: €119

Min age: 1

Rating 5 / 5 [16 ratings]

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Rialto Market tour, Cooking Class and Wine Tasting

Venice

Rialto Market tour, Cooking Class and Wine Tasting
Explore the famous Rialto Market and select seasonal ingredients with a professional chef during this 4-hour cooking class and wine tasting in Venice. Enter a fascinating Venetian palazzo and start your hands-on cooking class. Enjoy the lunch combined with excellent local wines with friends and family. On Sunday the market is closed and we will focus on the cooking class only.

Price: €149

Min age: 0

Rating 4.60 / 5 [46 ratings]

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Wine bars hopping: Spritz & Cichetti as a Venetian - Private Tour

Venice

Wine bars hopping: Spritz & Cichetti as a Venetian - Private Tour
Have a unique Aperitivo time, the best part of every Venetian’s day. Check the "Bacaroes", the venetian wine bars while sipping some local drinks and enjoying some mouthwatering ‘cicchetti’ bites in several taverns and pubs that only locals know! Raise a glass during Venice’s treasured cocktail hour on this food and wine tour that takes you away from the crowds and tourist traps to wine bars where locals go. Sample a classic Aperol spritz or the genuine other venetian variations with the Venetian small bites known as ‘cicchetti’ while chatting with a foodie guide. Drink after drink and hopping from one bar to the other, you will discover some hidden gems of the city in the off the beaten path spots.

Price: €166

Min age: 0

Rating 4.95 / 5 [22 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Venice: The 10 Tastings

Venice

The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Venice: The 10 Tastings
Eat your way through Venice's culinary scene on a private food tour. Go on a delicious journey as you try 10 of the best food items beloved by the locals: from savory to sweet and local drinks; this tour will leave every foodie satisfied! Enjoy tastings typical of the local cuisine and hand-picked by a local guide passionate about food like spritz and gelato. But that's not it! This tour is more than just food; it's a cultural experience! In between food stops, you'll also find city highlights making this experience a well-rounded tour that will satisfy every foodie. Withlocals The 10 Tastings Private Food Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

Price: €184

Min age: 1

Rating 4.78 / 5 [396 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Secret Venice Tour; Rialto Market, San Polo & Food and Wine tasting

Venice

Private Secret Venice Tour; Rialto Market, San Polo & Food and Wine tasting
Discover the side of Venice that many visitors don’t see on a leisurely paced, 2 hours walking tour, packed with historical anecdotes, quirky stories and little-known facts. With a local guide, knowledgeable about Venice’s past, you'll explore the Rialto Market and San Polo neighborhoods and you'll enjoy a true taste of Italy with some Cicchetti (Venetian tapas) and a glass of wine at a local osteria.

Price: €233

Min age: 0

Rating 4.24 / 5 [220 ratings]

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Wine & Food tasting in Venice with a Sommelier

Venice

Wine & Food tasting in Venice with a Sommelier
Ciao , my name is CHIARA and I am a LICENCED Tour Leader and WSET SOMMELIER. I will introduce you to Venice and the hidden places which are off the beaten path  . When In Venice  do as the Venetians do…   enjoy local wines and cicheti (local venetian apetizer) in the Bacari (local wine bars )! We will visit 2 bacaro bars, tasting typical venetian appetizers and different wines among which Prosecco and Amarone.. talking about wine and food!. During the tour  I will tell you all the informations you need about this beautiful city! The tour will last two hours and half during which I will show you some of the fantastic hidden corners of the town . -Meeting point on the top of Rialto's bridge at 6 pm 

Price: €600

Min age: 0

Rating 5 / 5 [9 ratings]

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Venice

Veneto, Italy

Venice

Crammed with picturesque canals, Renaissance palazzos and artistic masterpieces, this unique and alluring city is heaven-on-earth for art lovers and romantics.