I am going to begin with a restaurant recommended by our friend Maria, who always has great suggestions. Many people complain about the price of restaurants in Venice, but Maria assured us that Trattoria alla Vedova offered great food at very reasonable prices. She was right.
The restaurant is tucked away in a corner not far from the Ca’D’Oro ferry stop.
Trattoria alla Vedova, cnr Calle del Pistor and Ramo Ca’D’oro.
I think the prices here are excellent.
The menu is compact, but offers delicious choices.
We went early, just as the restaurant was about to open, which was lucky, because there was a queue to get in not long after we sat down. The service is friendly and efficient and there is a fun atmosphere with a mix of locals and the odd lucky tourist.
While we were waiting for Vedova to open we discovered a very cute little wine bar called Cantina Vecia Carbonera further down the Strada Nova, near the Ponte S’Antonio. We had been walking all day, mostly getting lost in Venice, so we thought a comforting red wine was in order.
The snacks looked so good we had trouble deciding what to order. We were very happy with our selections.
We were the first in, but by the time we left there was a good crowd arriving. It looks like a fun place to meet friends.
There is a cute little snack bar not far from Piazza San Marco in Calle dei Fabri that I have managed to find each time I have been to Venice. It serves great coffee and the best sandwiches. It is expensive if you sit down in the tiny space, but would no doubt cost less if you were prepared to stand at the bar.
The small, but very cute seating area.
We discovered by chance La Caravella restaurant on our wanderings in Calle Largo XXII Marzo. It turned out that the restaurant is one of the most well known in Venice and has been run by the Serandrei family since 1908. We chose it because we liked the look of it.
The interior has been decorated to evoke the vessels of Christopher Colombus.
The food is local, fresh and very delicious. It is fairly expensive, but the service and food were excellent. />
Another of Maria’s suggestions was Florian, the gorgeous bar in St Mark’s square. This is very expensive, but an experience in Venice that is very special and should be done at least once. We chose the cheapest thing on the menu, which was a spritz and a snack.
The beautiful interior at Florian. It is also possible to sit outside under the portico, but it is so lovely inside we chose that option.
Florian is very busy and provides excellent people watching.
A visit to Harry’s Bar at the Cipriani is a must. A Bellini here is expensive (but not as expensive as at Florian), but once again, you need to do it once.
That man is not Harry. I know, I asked him.
My next suggestion is for breakfast.
There is just one problem, I can’t remember where it was. Caffe Hausbrandt is well known, but I can’t recall the street. It was somewhere between the Piazza with the winged lion
and the Rialto bridge.
If you find it, let me know, and have one of those delicious pastries for me.
Click here to get lost in Venice with us, and here for the lovely island of Torcello, a big surprise in Venice. Take a look in the Venice category for all posts on this amazing place.
Venezia! It’s too good to be true…but it is. Will definitely put Trattoria alla Vedova on my ‘must go to’ places. And the Florian………..just bliss sitting outside, enjoying the orchestra and sipping on a spritz! Beautiful images Debra.
By: Paris Rendez-vous on January 11, 2012
at 8:36 pm
Trattoria alla Vedova is great value.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 8:42 pm
Oy I wish I had these recs before I went!
By: karenlac on January 11, 2012
at 9:01 pm
It always helps to have some tips. Maria always has great suggestions. I think she should be writing a blog herself.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 9:13 pm
Debra, these places sound amazing! Charlotte and I went to Harry’s Bar but missed Florian, which I’ve always wanted to visit. We also lunched at a lovely restaurant along a smaller canal and had dinner at a funny little restaurant tucked away in a side street with group seating… Charlotte, do you remember any of their names??? the evening one is where the waitress got angry at us for seating ourselves… so funny. I’ll never forget that short trip; wish I could remember the restaurant names!
By: Anna Harrison on January 11, 2012
at 9:02 pm
Writing the blog has helped me to be more observant. You always think you will remember places, but there are too many. I wish I could remember the name of the cafe where we had breakfast. That pastry was excellent.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 9:11 pm
Wonderful food and interior shots!
By: J. A. Robinson on January 11, 2012
at 9:52 pm
Thank you. I wish I was there now.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 10:57 pm
I love being given a list of recommendations by a local. It certainly takes the anguish out of wondering if a restaurant is going to be good or not. I can’t wait to get back to Venice to try Trattoria Alla Vedova. Thanks for the tip.
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on January 11, 2012
at 9:57 pm
It certainly helps to have recommendations.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 10:56 pm
Hmmm – death by food in Venice!
By: Richard Tulloch on January 11, 2012
at 9:59 pm
There are worse places to do this.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 10:50 pm
Lovely photos!
By: "Our traveling without moving!..." on January 11, 2012
at 10:03 pm
Thanks! Venice is very photogenic.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 11, 2012
at 10:49 pm
Gosh, now I’m so hungry! The food looks simply amazing, Deb!
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on January 11, 2012
at 11:08 pm
What a journey of gastronomic delights! Gorgeous decors and those snacks! c
By: ceciliag on January 12, 2012
at 1:19 am
Florian is heavenly. I could sit there for hours.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 12, 2012
at 2:17 am
I can’t wait to be an odd tourist! >:-D
By: lahgitana on January 12, 2012
at 1:26 am
I quite like being an odd tourist too.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 12, 2012
at 2:16 am
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the suggestions. Great photos!!!!! This morning we met a lady from Bagni di Lucca at Caffe Puccini in San Francisco’s North Beach (Little Italy). Great cappuccinos in this place, a rarity in SF and in America in general.
By: Mulino Dominillo on January 12, 2012
at 1:33 am
People from Bagni di Lucca certainly get around.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 12, 2012
at 2:15 am
I’m saving this post most definitely if I get to Venice one day! 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on January 12, 2012
at 1:57 am
You must go to Venice!!
By: Debra Kolkka on January 12, 2012
at 2:17 am
[…] more: Eat in Venice « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond This entry was posted in Lucca and tagged friend, maria, our-friend, people-complain, price, […]
By: Eat in Venice « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond | Around Tuscany - Accomodation in Tuscany on January 12, 2012
at 3:32 am
Looks like you had a great trip!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Rene
By: rene on January 12, 2012
at 3:38 am
We did! Venice is always great, even in the rain.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 12, 2012
at 3:41 am
Debra thank you for transporting me. Big smile at all those wonderful looking places to eat.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on January 12, 2012
at 5:46 am
Venice is full of delights.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 13, 2012
at 5:07 am
Now I’m really hungry after looking at those mouth-watering foods. Italian foods are some of the best in the world!
By: Bama on January 12, 2012
at 2:19 pm
It is not easy to get a bad meal in Italy.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 13, 2012
at 5:07 am
Thank you so much for this great post. I have a wonderful memory of having Easter lunch at Harry’s. We were seated upstairs in the beautiful dining room with a view of the water. We were the only non-Italians up there and Mr. Cipriani came over and spoke with us. It was not long after 9/11 and he wanted to express his condolences to us as Americans. It was such a memorable meal.
By: paninigirl on January 12, 2012
at 4:39 pm
We just had a Bellini at Harry’s Bar. I will have to try lunch next time.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 13, 2012
at 5:09 am
You had me at Vedova!! That is my absolute favorite place to eat in all of Italy. What a great post, thank you!
By: onceinalifetimetravel on January 12, 2012
at 4:50 pm
It was a lot of fun and the food was delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 13, 2012
at 5:08 am
You could have a career in food photography – I always get so hungry looking at your blog!
By: lisa@notesfromafrica on January 13, 2012
at 7:26 am
I love food. I will never be thin.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 13, 2012
at 7:37 am
so delicious….hmmmm…i want to go there someday
By: tank top on January 14, 2012
at 2:13 am
Love this post! I am taking notes. The pictures are gorgeous. I will share it on my Face book and twitter. (checking out your other stories also thanks)
By: babyboomersmusings on August 20, 2012
at 6:41 pm
[…] Eat in Venice was 8th on the list. Venice is one of my favourite places in the world and posts on Venice are always popular. […]
By: Top ten posts of 2012 « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 29, 2012
at 2:32 am
Thank you so much – I went there again recently with Wendy & it was great – will bookmark it for my next visit
By: Liz Litzow on March 15, 2013
at 7:43 am
The photographs are beautiful especially the food.There is a place in Boston ,where you enter through the front,and walk along,there are so many delicious variety of food,which is tempting.I am sure the Eataly is great.
By: ranu802 on March 15, 2013
at 11:53 am