Known for its art, architecture, and floating rhythm, Venice’s food scene is often overlooked. Yet it’s the force that sustains both the artists creating and the visitors moving through the Venice Biennale. For the 61st edition, Whitewall has compiled the city’s best restaurants, spotlighting Venetian cuisine rooted in fresh seafood from the Rialto Fish Market and a deep sense of place. Expect seafood-driven menus, seasonal cooking, and thoughtful wine lists from small producers. Many spots are intimate and in high demand—reservations are essential.
Club del Doge
San Marco
Courtesy of Club Del Doge Restaurant.
Located within The Gritti Palace, Club del Doge is among the city’s most celebrated dining rooms. Seasonal ingredients from the Venetian lagoon meet refined, contemporary technique, unfolding across layered dishes, all set against sweeping, cinematic views of the Grand Canal. Settle in with Chef Fol’s “In Essence” menu, complete with a wine pairing, order the unforgettable soufflé dessert to share, and, if the night lingers, stop by the bar for all-day dining available until 11 p.m.
Cuisine: Venetian.
Chef: Alberto Fol.
Must-Order: Risotto “Hemingway-Style.”
Atmosphere: Refined, grand, and indulgently upscale.
What we love: Ordering the soufflé to share.
Book your reservation HERE.
Le Cementine
Roncade Treviso
Courtesy of Le Cementine.
Le Cementine, a short ride from the Venice lagoon, offers a countryside escape from the city. Surrounded by gardens, orchards, and a working vegetable garden, it serves a refined “cucina di campagna” rooted in seasonality, simplicity, and respect for local ingredients. This is best experienced through the six-course “Classics” tasting menu. For a more private setting, reserve La Casetta, a garden guesthouse ideal for intimate gatherings, or explore La Serra, a spacious on-site venue suited for larger-scale events.
Cuisine: Italian.
Chef: Max Alajmo and Roberto Ienna
Must-Order: A daily special written on the chalkboard.
Atmosphere: Buccolic and relaxed with a refined, elegant edge.
What we love: Reserving La Casetta—a garden guesthouse, perfect for intimate gatherings.
Book your reservation HERE.
Antinoo’s Restaurant
Dorsoduro
Courtesy of Antinoo’s Restaurant.
Antinoo’s Restaurant takes its name from the Greek figure symbolizing beauty and eternal love. The restaurant unfolds within the White Room, defined by geometric detailing and windows overlooking the Grand Canal, while the adjoining Red Room serves as a lounge, offering a warmer, more intimate setting. Order a few plates from the “Fast and Tasty” menu to share and explore the extensive wine list with a bottle from a local region for the table.
Cuisine: Italian.
Chef: Giancarlo Bellino.
Must-Order: Try the “Venetian Tradition” menu, a seafood fest.
Atmosphere: Romantic, refined, and intimate.
What we love: Taking in Grand Canal views or garden florals.
Book your reservation HERE.
Vino Vero
Cannaregio
Courtesy of Vino Vero. Photo by Andrea Pugiotto.
Vino Vero is a popular wine bar dedicated to natural and biodynamic wines, featuring over 1,500 bottles from small global producers, with particular attention to Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Located on a backwater canal in Cannaregio, it features a standing-room bar and a charming waterside terrace.
Cuisine: Wine Bar.
Chef: In-house.
Must-Order: One of their delicious cicchetti.
Atmosphere: An intimate, casual space centered around a love of wine.
What we love: Exploring their lineup of small-production wines.
Book your reservation HERE.
Antiche Carampane
San Polo
Courtesy of Antiche Carampane.
Antiche Carampane is a trattoria specializing in seafood cuisine featuring ingredients sourced from the Lagoon, set in a welcoming atmosphere. Located near the Rialto Fish Market, this family-run trattoria is decorated with photographs and mirrors. Guests linger to savor their dishes and converse amidst a local atmosphere; reservations are recommended.
Cuisine: Venetian.
Chef: In-house.
Must-Order: Filet of the catch of the day.
Atmosphere: Classic and intimate.
What we love: Taking in the photographs and mirrors that define the space.
Book your reservation HERE.
Ristorante Quadri
San Marco
Courtesy of Ristorante Quadri.
Courtesy of Ristorante Quadri.
Ristorante Quadri is a quintessential seasonal restaurant, with a menu changing religiously to include the freshest ingredients available. Open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, and for lunch on weekends only, the restaurant serves Italian classics with modern twists in a lavish setting overlooking St. Mark’s Square.
Cuisine: Venetian and Italian.
Chef: Sergio Preziosa.
Must-Order: The 4 Atti tasting menu.
Atmosphere: Refined, historic, and quietly grand.
What we love: A seasonal menu shaped by nature’s rhythm.
Book your reservation HERE.
Acqua Pazza
San Marco
Courtesy of Acqua Pazza.
Serving Amalfitan seafood cuisine in the pristine setting of Campo Sant’Angelo, Acqua Pazza is an enchanting eatery. Campania wines complement the famous Neapolitan pizza, and all mozzarella, tomatoes, oil, and pastas are imported from the Amalfi Coast.
Cuisine: Amalfitan Seafood.
Chef: Giovanni Tortora.
Must-Order: Paccheri pasta with fresh granceola crab meat.
Atmosphere: Cozy, elegant, and quietly enchanting.
What we love: Sitting on Campo Sant’Angelo, watching the city move by.
Book your reservation HERE.
La Calcina
Dorsoduro
Courtesy of La Calcina.
Inside La Calcina Hotel & Restaurant, guests can enjoy traditional Venetian cuisine alongside Mediterranean dishes. The property also features a full-service bar, an inviting spot for aperitifs, cocktails with seasonal fruits, tea, coffee, and light snacks such as homemade cakes and fresh fruit salads.
Cuisine: Venetian and Mediterranean.
Chef: In-house.
Must-Order: Seafood fritto misto.
Atmosphere: Intimate, with a panoramic Giudecca Canal terrace.
What we love: Watching the Giudecca Canal drift by below.
Book your reservation HERE.
Al Covino
Castello
Courtesy of Al Covino.
Courtesy of Al Covino.
Al Covino is an intimate, seven-table spot where reservations are essential. Led by Venetian pastry chef Claudia Torcellan and Neapolitan chef Claudio De Lauzieres, tasting menus unfold across two savory courses and a dessert, spanning meat, fish, vegetarian, and chef-led options in a thoughtful interplay of regional influences.
Cuisine: Venetian and Neapolitan.
Chef: Claudia Torcellan andClaudio De Lauzieres.
Must-Order: The “Lassame fa” menu, a chef-led selection shaped by the chef’s creativity.
Atmosphere: An authentic, soulful bistro experience.
What we love: Where Venetian and Neapolitan flavors meet and evolve.
Book your reservation HERE.
Hostaria da Franz
Castello
Courtesy of Hostaria da Franz.
Hostaria da Franz is a 32-seat, family-run trattoria since 1984, known for thoughtful cooking and a strong wine program led by an in-house sommelier. Located beyond the tourist flow, interiors feature wood, marble, and Murano glass, with a seasonal menu inspired by the Rialto fish market.
Cuisine: Venetian.
Chef: In-house.
Must-Order: The tasting menu.
Atmosphere: Intimate, classic, and warmly inviting.
What we love: Exploring the sommelier’s wine program.
Book your reservation HERE.
Harry’s Bar
San Marco
Courtesy of Harry’s Bar.
Opened in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani and tucked at the end of an alleyway, Harry’s Bar is an iconic destination, designated a national landmark in 2001. Long frequented by royalty, creatives, and locals, it offers a classic menu in an intimate setting with a relaxed, social Venetian ambiance.
Cuisine: Italian.
Chef: In-house.
Must-Order: Calf’s Liver alla Veneziana.
Atmosphere: Old-school charm in a historic, intimate setting.
What we love: Trying one of the restaurant’s classic dishes.
Book your reservation HERE.
Venissa
Mazzorbo Island
Courtesy of Venissa.
Venissa Estate sits on Mazzorbo Island, bringing together a winery, wine bar, and two restaurants—one awarded a Michelin Green Star, alongside Osteria Contemporanea, a contemporary bistrot. Seasonal, local ingredients shape 7- or 10-course tasting menus with optional pairings, and a scenic boat transfer best booked ahead.
Cuisine: Contemporary Italian.
Chef: Chiara Pavan and Francesco Brutto.
Must-Order: The 10-course tasting menu, ideally paired with Venissa Bianco.
Atmosphere: Intimate, rustic, and quietly refined within a restored cellar setting.
What we love: From Michelin tasting menus to a laid-back wine bar, it delivers both destination dining and an easy, everyday escape.
Book your reservation HERE.
