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Restaurants The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments. Restaurant prices are subject to IVA (value added tax) at 10% but this is always included within the prices given. A 15% service charge is usually added to the bill at the end. It is customary to round up the bill and leave a tip (maximum 10%) as well, if the meal and service have been good. The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent. They include IVA but do not include service charge or tip. Gastronomic Al Covo Close to the Arsenal, this small restaurant, decorated with 1960s paintings and Murano lamps, specialises in historical dishes of the lagoon. The goby fish, used for the soup or served with gnocchi, is excellent. Alternatively, diners can follow owner Cesare Benelli’s recommendations on the catch of the day. The tranquil location, professional expertise and personal touch add to the appeal. Campiello della Pescaria, Castello 3968 Tel: (041) 522 3812. Fax: (041) 524 0282. Price: €50. Wine: €15. Antica Trattoria La Furatola Off the beaten track, in the Dorsoduro, La Furatola serves wonderfully fresh Venetian seafood. The intimate and wholly untouristy locale is particularly charming in the evening and great to hole up in on a rainy day. Amid the maritime décor, sitting at one of the small tables dressed with white linen, one cannot go wrong choosing from the Venetian house specialities, such as the mantis shrimp, soft shelled crabs and cuttlefish. Calle Lunga San Barnaba, Dorsoduro 2869 Tel: (041) 520 8594. Price: €80 Wine: €20. Harry’s Bar The American Bar made famous by Hemingway obliges most self-respecting travellers, particularly Americans, to make at least one visit. The Bellini, a peach and prosecco cocktail invented here, is always excellent. The ever-crowded restaurant offers just 14 tables, snugly nestling beneath the exposed wooden beams and antique lamps. The house speciality, John Dory with tomato and capers, is recommended. This is a good venue for celebrity spotting. Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1323 Tel: (041) 5285 7777. Fax: (041) 520 8822. E-mail: harrysbar@albacklick.com Website: www.cipriani.com Price: €120. Wine: €25. La Caravella Off St Mark’s Square, in the Hotel Saturnia, La Caravella is the pride of the Serandrei family. The à-la-carte menu is inventive and seasonal, including historical recipes, such as sea bass with pine nuts and basil. The wood-panelled dining room is most atmospheric in winter, while there is a private courtyard for dining in summer. If all this is not enough, the wine card features more than 230 different wines. Calle Larga XXII Marzo, San Marco 2398 Tel: (041) 520 8901. Fax: (041) 520 7131. E-mail: caravella@hotelsaturnia.it Website: www.hotelsaturnia.it/caravella/restaurant.htm Price: €75. Wine: €25. Ristorante Cipriani Enjoying an intimate, candlelit dinner with a loved one at Cipriani may sound a little cheesy but it really is the quintessential Venice experience. 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 sauce, as the water from the lagoon gently laps against the quay and the lights of San Georgio and the Lido shimmer in the distance. Complimentary transportation on the hotel’s private launch from Piazza San Marco simply adds to the glamour of it all. Giudecca 10 Tel: (041) 520 7744. Fax: (041) 520 7745 E-mail: info@hotelcipriani.it Website: www.hotelcipriani.it Price: €120. Wine: €45. Business Ai Gondolieri This mid-sized, elegant restaurant near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection specialises in exclusive meats and vegetable dishes. Angus beef and ostrich share the menu with traditional Veneto platters, such as stewed chicken with polenta. Piemontese white truffles are also a mainstay on the menu. The décor is tinged with 1940s style, with wood panelling and overhead fans, while the quiet locale, fine wines and good service appeals to small business groups and gourmets interested in the dishes of mainland Veneto. Closed Tuesday. San Vio, Dorsoduro 366 Tel: (041) 528 6396. Fax: (041) 521 0075. E-mail: aigond@gpnet.it Website: www.aigondolieri.com Price: €50. Wine: €15. La Terrazza Danieli In summer, the rooftop restaurant at the luxury Hotel Danieli (see Hotels) affords Venice’s most famous view from the Riva degli Schiavoni over San Maggiore. When it is important to impress, the opulent surroundings and infallible service make this the natural choice. The tagliatelle with truffles, baked sea bass and tiramisu all come highly recommended. Reservations are recommended. Riva degli Schiavoni, Castello 4196 Tel: (041) 522 6480. Fax: (041) 520 0208. E-mail: res072.danieli@starwoodhotels.com Website: www.luxurycollection.com/danieli Price: €95. Wine: €35. Locanda Cipriani Long a favourite with English royalty and Hollywood stars, this escape on the island of Torcello, has been famous since its discovery by Ernest Hemingway. The courteous service, excellent kitchen and ample space make it ideal for business lunches or dinners. The simple yet elegant restaurant is best enjoyed in June, when the beautiful rose garden blooms and the heavenly vegetable risotto oozes with flavour. Recently, some diners have complained of falling standards, although with the Locanda Cipriani, it has always been a case of paying for the location and the fame factor. Reservations are essential and the restaurant is closed on Tuesday. Piazza San Fosca 29, Isola di Torcello Tel: (041) 730 150. Fax: (041) 735 433. E-mail: info@locandacipriani.com or booking@locandacipriani.com Website: www.locandacipriani.com Price: €70. Wine: €25. Ristorante Al Theatro In the San Marco area, next to the burnt shell of the Fenice theatre, this pizzeria and restaurant offers five rooms across the ground and first floor and an outdoor terrace in summer. The Sala Caccia is the most characterful of the dining areas, with an oak beamed ceiling and simple décor with white tablecloths and white flowers. The civilised surroundings are ideal for large parties on restricted budgets, with a wide menu offering value for money. The scaloppine al Fenice, seared veal cutlets served with fresh seasonal vegetables, are recommended. Campo San Fantin, San Marco 1916 Tel: (041) 522 1052. Fax: (041) 523 7214. Price: €50. Wine: €18. Ristorante Antico Pignolo Hidden in the warren of allies behind St Mark’s Square, Riccardo de Pietri’s luxurious, roomy restaurant is ideal for large business parties and a favourite with Venetian society. The rose and pastel décor befits the distinctly regal atmosphere. Sommelier, Pippo Sgarlata, has the best-stocked wine cellar in Venice, designed to accompany premium Mediterranean dishes, such as prosciutto San Daniele, tagliolini with rock lobster and the vanilla and chocolate soufflé ‘Arlecchino’. Calle dei Specchieri 451, San Marco Tel: (041) 522 8123. Fax: (041) 520 9007. E-mail: anticopignolo@libero.it Price: €120. Wine: €35. Trendy Al Paradiso Perduto This noisy and chic osteria, near the Ca’D’Oro, is a popular evening haunt for Venice’s students and young professionals. Diners can watch live bands while tucking into the large dishes of tasty pasta and surveying Venice’s young and beautiful late into the evening. The spicy fish soup is recommended, perhaps followed by various appetisers from the open bar. Fondamenta de la Misericordia, Cannaregio 2540 Tel: (041) 720 581. Fax: (041) 275 6598. Price: €40. Wine: €10. Enoteca Mascareta This late-night venue (open 1800-0100), with its open layout, wooden tables, and traditional rustic feel, attracts a relaxed crowd of students and young professionals. The peckish can graze on select cuts of cured meat, local cheeses and crostini. After 2300, the place fills up with social drinkers. To fit in, visitors should try a glass of dessert wine and esse (Venetian biscuits). Calle lunga Santa Maria Formosa, Castello 5183 Tel/fax: (041) 523 0744. Price: €45. Wine: €15. Le Bistrot de Venise Midway between the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square, Le Bistrot de Venise is a restaurant, an artsy wine bar, a late-night venue and a meeting place for artists and poets, with regular afternoon cultural programmes and artworks covering the walls. The Ristorante del Bistrot serves classical Venetian cooking inspired by 16th-century recipes. Try the speciality, baked eel, with bay leaves and red pepper sauce. The Bar à Vins serves an excellent selection of Italian wines, to complement the food or to quaff while nibbling cheese. Calle dei Fabbri, San Marco 4685 Tel: (041) 523 6651. Fax: (041) 520 2244. E-mail: info@bistrotdevenise.com Website: www.bistrotdevenise.com Price: €45. Wine: €20. Osteria alla Botte This small and traditional hideaway rewards those who manage to find it with a variety of affordable wines sold by the glass, carafe or bottle. The mixed tapas cichete mista offered in the bar includes tasty Venetian staples, such as sarde in soar (marinated sardines) and the simple cuisine served in the small back dining room is both hearty and delicious. The lasagne Al Forno and pasta and fagioli bean soup are highly recommended. Trying a little Italian, no matter how bad, will speed up ordering, which is done on a loudest shout first system when the bar area is busy. Campo San Bartolomeo, San Marco 5482 Tel: (041) 520 9775. Price: €16. Wine: €8. Osteria Al Ponte This cheap University district tavern is nicknamed Alla Patatina after its speciality –chunky rosemary roasted potatoes. The service is basic, the décor cheap and there are no reservations but diners should try and grab one of the few tables and dig into cheap spaghetti with clams. Its popularity with chic and stylish students has made it a buzzing lunchtime hangout. Ponte San Polo, San Polo 2471 Tel: (041) 523 7238. Price: €20. Wine: €10. Budget Al Giardinetto Popular with local gondoliers, this friendly and intimate restaurant is located in a 15th-century chapel of the Zorzi family and boasts vaulted ceilings and a frescoed fireplace. The restaurant offers dining in the vineyard courtyard during summer and is excellent value for money. Venetian staples, such as calves’ liver with fried onions, dominate the menu. Simple and tasty fish dishes, such as spider crab dressed with oil and lemon, are also a good bet. At €14 the tourist set menu is also good value. Ruga Giuffa, Castello 4928 Tel: (041) 528 5332. Fax: (041) 523 8778. E-mail: info@algiardinetto.it Website: www.algiardinetto.it Price: €27. Wine: €10. Da Renato This is povera cucina (poor man’s food) at its best. Renato, the chef and owner, offers a bargain alternative to the gourmet Da Fiore around the corner. His pasta and bean soup is part of an old Venetian tradition, kept on the stove all day to provide an all-in-one meal (piatto unico) for weary gondoliers. The restaurant is highly regarded locally for its food rather than its interior, which is basic and inoffensive. Rio Terà Secondo, San Polo 2245A Tel: (041) 524 1922. Price: €30. Wine: €10. Da Sergio This Venetian equivalent of a working man’s caff is packed to the gills at lunchtimes, thanks to a cheap and cheerful three-course deal for under €20. The menu changes daily, always including a pasta or risotto course, followed by cooked meats, such as stewed chicken. Non-Italian-speakers might feel intimidated in this local haunt but for a taste of down-at-heel Venice, this hits the mark. Calle del Dose, Castello 5870A Tel: (041) 528 5153. Fax: (041) 528 5153. Price: €15. Wine: €10. Pizzeria All’Anfora Despite being on the main tourist track between Piazzale Roma and Accademia, this bustling pizzeria with a relaxed garden terrace remains one of Venice’s unsung eateries. The extensive pizza menu on the wall boasts more than 50 varieties to choose from, with the wafer thin pizzas rating among the city’s best. For those who do not fancy pizza, first and second courses like gnocchi Venetian style are equally delicious. The homemade tiramisu is divine but diners in the garden should watch out for the house cats stealing a nibble off the edges of pizzas. San Croce 1223 Tel: (041) 524 0325. Price: €22. Wine: €9. Trattoria Alla Madonna Near the Rialto Bridge, this large bustling trattoria is good value and a favourite with locals and visitors alike. In the daytime, the long tables laid out across the terracotta floor are a great informal place to tuck into a bowl of pasta with fagioli beans. In the evening, the more serious dining gets under way, with seafood specialities such as black squid with polenta and lobster frequenting the menu. The restaurant also offers good meat choices. Calle della Madonna, San Polo 594 Tel: (041) 522 3824. Fax: (041) 521 0167. Price: €30. Wine: €10. Personal Recommendations Alle Testiere This is a good choice for romantics, even if the large window does invite the glances of every passer-by. The speciality is fresh fish, such as grilled razor clams and the excellent misto fritto (mixed fried fish). Proprietor Luca darts among the candlelit tables and will happily advise diners on the specialities of the day in this tiny but atmospheric local. Calle del Mondo Novo, Castello 5801 Tel: (041) 522 7220. Fax: (041) 522 7220. Price: €60. Wine: €20. Al Ristorante Cip’s Club Opened in October 2000, Cip’s Club has an ingredient that is the envy of many Venetian restaurateurs – a stunning view back across the lagoon to St Mark’s Square. A more informal alternative to the Cipriani Hotel’s signature restaurant, Cip’s Club is styled as a pizzeria, grill and dolci bar, serving regional Italian fare, such as pizzas and pasta, as well as afternoon tea, pastries and ice cream. Along with the more relaxed atmosphere come slightly more affordable prices. To make the most of this dining experience offered by Cip’s Club, visitors should choose a mild day, sink into a chair on the floating pontoon and enjoy the unrivalled views. Giudecca 10 Tel: (041) 520 7744. Fax: (041) 520 7745. E-mail: info@hotelcipriani.it Website: www.hotelcipriani.it Price: €100. Wine: €35. Bar Trento A favourite with the stars and paparazzi who visit Venice’s annual film festival, this old style osteria with 1950s furnishings offers a wide array of cicheti (appetisers), including polpette (meatballs) and baccala (salt cod), as well as full meals. Outside of the film festival, Bar Trento only opens for lunch but makes a perfect break from the conference centres or the beach. Via San Gallo 82, Lido Tel: (041) 526 5960. Price: €40. Wine: €15. Caffe Quadri Like a Merchant Ivory film set, Caffe Quadri serves up a big helping of Venetian history, combining as it does a view over St Mark’s Square with palatial furnishings. The refined and competent cuisine draws the crowds, making reservations imperative and pushing up the prices. The saddle of rabbit with speck and shallots glazed in balsamic vinegar is fantastic and the ravioli with veal and white truffle sauce is a must for those who want to splash out – a unique experience worth every cent. Piazza San Marco 120, San Marco Tel: (041) 522 2105. Fax: (041) 520 8041. E-mail: quadri@venice.com Website: www.quadrivenice.com Price: €84. Wine: €28. Harry’s Dolci There is no better place to watch the famous sunset over Venice’s skyline than from the open-air terrace of Harry’s Dolci, located on the island of Giudecca. The highlight of this luxurious and elegant restaurant is the romantic terrance that overlooks the Guidecca Canal. It is also the place to indulge on calorific sweetmeats in the city that first imported sugar to Europe. Famous for its zabaglione (a Marsala-flavoured mousse) and rich pastries, this Cipriani outlet offers both snacks and full meals. Also great on a summer’s day, is sitting outside under the festooned awnings. Giudecca 773 Tel: (041) 522 4844 or 520 8337. Fax: (041) 522 2322. E-mail: harrysdolci@albacklick.com Website: www.cipriani.com Price: €90. Wine: €25. |
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