Al Covo is a small restaurant located close to the Arsenal in Venice. The restaurant is specialised in historical fresh fish dishes of the lagoon. It's interiors are decorated with 1960's paintings and Murano lapms. The goby fish (used for the soup or served with gnocchi) is said to be and excellent dish. So as are the scallops with pasta, and the mouth-watering chocolate cake. The ideal location and professional expertise together with a personal touch will add to the charm of this restaurant.
If you are in Venice for an intimate time with your loved one, then, Fortuny is the best find only if you can afford. You can feast on homemade black noodles served with scallops, clams and broccoli sauce, followed by a rack of lamb in a porcini mushroom and black truffle. Lunchtime sees the Fortuny menu served by the swimming pool and an excellent value antipasti buffet from Friday to Sunday, which includes lobster. Complimentary transportation on the hotel's private launch from Piazza San Marco adds to the glamour of it all.
This American bar is made famous by Hemingway, and obliges to the visit of most self-respecting visitors, especially Americans. The Bellini, a peach, prosecco and grenadine cocktail, was invented here and has got into the hearts of many. The ever-crowded restaurant offers just 14 tables, snugly nestling beneath the exposed wooden beams and antique lamps. John Dory with tomato and capers- a house specialty is recommended. This is a good venue for celebrity spotting, although a celebrity wallet is needed for those looking to dine in style.
If you are on business trip to Venice, then, Ai Gondolieri is an ideal one to break through. Gondolieri is a canalside restaurant near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The restaurant specialises in fine meat and vegetable dishes. Fresh Piemontese white truffles are also a highlight in the autumn. The interior is decorated in 1940's style, with wood panelling and overhead fans. The quiet locale, fine wines and good service appeal to small business groups and gourmets interested in the dishes of mainland Veneto. The restaurant only serves Italian wines, and stocks around 250 labels. It is closed on Tuesday.
Tucked away from the bustles of town and not far from St Mark's Square, Ristorante Cantina Canaletto is a real treat to all the city break visitors in Venice. The restaurant is splited into two distinctive areas, one is a serene dining room and the other is a buzzing wine bar. The restaurant is classically decorated with beamed ceilings, and an impressive array of wine bottles to adorn the walls. Highlights of the menu include white polenta with lagoon shrimps, the best mortadella of Bologna made by Pasquai, grilled sea bass and grilled lobster. An excellent choice for seafood lovers is the starter platter, with eight seafood tasters.
Summer is the best time to visit this luxurious restaurant with its rooftop opened. If you are ready to spend some extra cash, you can watch perhaps Venice's most famous view from the Riva degli Schiavoni over San Giorgio Maggiore and the lagoon. The tagliatelle with truffles, baked sea bass and tiramisu all come highly recommended. So does a sublime Adriatic seafood grill overflowing with quality white fish. The bar menu is served from 1500 to 1800. Reservations are recommended throughout the season.
This is one of the favourite place for both locals as well as foreigners. If you are looking for a vegetarian diet, sure this is the place for a vegetarian haunt. Book ahead as there are only 35 covers inside and 12 on the relaxed terrace outside. The open kitchen only serves to demonstrate how highly they value quality ingredients.
This is one of the most trendy and hottest restaurants in the town which you will come across. Take a ringside seat outside with views across to the Zattere, and settle in for an upmarket Venetian treat. Highlights on the menu include dishes laced with local spider crab, mantis shrimp and fresh vegetables from the Rialto Market. Creative touches include mussels and clams wrapped in sea bream with a saffron broth. The chocolate souffle dessert is also outstanding.
Naranzaria is an outstanding restaurant for its location and buzz. It is located very close to the Rialto. The staff are hospitable and bright to simply prepare the ingredients. It is a favourite spot for trendy custmers. You may choose from a range of salted cod cooked in tomatoes, black olives and olive oil with clams, through to sushi and sashimi dishes. The wine list is equally creative and impressive. Be sure to book a table on the outside terrace with its sweeping views of the Grand Canal. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Located close to the Rialto Market, just off the main tourist drag, Muro is favourite restaurant for locals and tourists alike. Choose between munching snacks and a glass of wine in the osteria-style bar area on entering, or pop upstairs to the tiny restaurant. The menu offers a variety of treats, many culled from the nearby market, while the pasta or risotto of the day is always a good option.
Al Giardinetto da Severino is a budget restaurant conveniently located for Piazza San Marco and the Rialto. It is a friendly and intimate restaurant, very popular with the local gondoliers and has been run by the same family for over half a century.Housed in the 15th-century chapel of the Zorzi family, Al Giardinetto boasts vaulted ceilings and a frescoed fireplace. You can dine in the vineyard courtyard during summer. The popular menu of the restaurant is calves' liver with fried onions.
Aqua Pazza is a Mediterranean restaurant located in an attractive square. It plays host to a buzzing mix of locals and tourists. This seafood restaurant prepares delicious specialities such as a starter of peppered mussels or the fish risotto. For the more budget conscious, the restaurant's pizzas are good value. While on a summer day, you can enjoy Pazza's favourite dishes sitting on a white moulded plastic chairs outside on the square.
This self-service canteen-style chain restaurant is located near the train station in Venice. The restaurant offers a variety of simple pizza and pasta dishes along with mixed salads, fresh fruit and sweet desserts. The pasta dishes are usually cooked to order in front of you. This healthier and more satisfying alternative also sells alcoholic beverages at reasonable prices.
Opened in 1720, Caffe Florian have established itself as having long roots of history and culture. Easy to locate, it is in the middle of the piazza, underneath the Museo Correr and the Museo Archeologico. The interior of this cafe is sumptuous and elegant. Like most of the other cafes in Venice, you will see outside tables and live music during summer. The menu offers light meals, tea and cakes.
This is one of the many bars in Campo Santa Margherita, right in the heart of the university area and within walking distance of Ca Foscari and Ca Rezzonico. During summer you will see lined up tables outside this cafe and students crowd visiting frequently. The bar meals on offer include a good selection of panini, sandwiches and cicchetti (snacks), to enjoy with your ombra (glass of wine) or your beer. There is a good selection of wines, especially local varieties. If you prefer, there is coffee, brioche and cake.