Pack Your Bags: Venice (Restaurants)

As I mentioned previously,

I love Venice

for a myriad of reasons...

but their local cuisine has never been one of them.

Perhaps it was our own fault,

but we have always struck out

when venturing out for food in the sinking city.

This past time,

on our babymoon,

we were determined to do better.

Luckily, we went with our friends Tyler & Amber

and they helped us source some really decent places to eat...

In fact, 

they were more than decent.

They were delicious.

If you head to any of these places,

you'll be in for a guaranteed treat.


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Enoteco Al Volto

Osteria Con Cucina

Calle Cavalli 4081

San Marco, 30124 Venezia

+39 041 522 8945

This place opened in 1936

and has apparently been awesome for a long time.

We went for "aperitivi,"

basically pre-dinner drinks & food...

which is one of the best kept secrets of Italy.

In Northern Italy

{specifically Venice!},

you can't go through early evening

without seeing slews of locals drinking

the pre-dinner drink, a "Spritz,"

which is a bright orange concoction consisting of

Aperol, white wine or prosecco, club soda & an orange slice.

In most local bars,

these cost about €2.50-4 

and are served with some delicious salty snacks

and nibbles like marinated artichokes and small sandwiches.

{Editor's Note: Don't worry, this pregnant lady passed on the booze

and concentrated her efforts on some calorie consumption outside of the liquid form.}

Enoteca Al Volto gets this time of day down perfectly.

The prices are ridiculously low,

the food & drink are fantastic,

and the ambiance is perfect.

Yes, the most expensive glass of wine is €5. Prosecco is €2 a glass.

Please, please go when you are in Venice...

and tell me how much you loved it.

{Because I'm fairly sure you will.... especially those artichokes. Yum!}


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Harry's Bar

Calle Vallaresso, 1323
30124 Venezia (San Marco)

+39 041 528 5777

This place is a legend.

Literally, it's an actual historical landmark.

The three things you need to know about it:

1. It's the birthplace of the Bellini.

2. Hemingway hung out here.

3. It's super expensive
so be prepared to shell out some cash.

You won't be able to see from the frosted windows 
lining this tiny establishment,
but the interior is really low key.

{It almost reminds me of the interior of a boat?}

The staff is decked out in crisp white coats
and are ready to field any orders for Bellinis.

Look around,
it's what almost everyone else is drinking in there.

While the glass may initially seem small,
just consider what it would look like in a champagne flute
and you'll realized that actually-
it's about the right size.


A Classic Bellini is €16.50
If you opt for a pregnant-friendly version, it's €11.50

Yeah, it's a splurge
but you kinda have to do it 
when you're in Venice.

And hey, 
at least the Olives are free!

Amber & Tyler. Thanks for the Bellini, Amber!

Bottoms Up!

*No need for a reservation
if you're just stopping in for drinks.


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Da Mamo

Trattoria Pizzeria

Calle Stagneri 5251

San Marco, 30124 Venezia

+39 041 523 6583

There are many terrible places to eat in Venice.

Pretty much every place that has pictures on their menu

or plasters multiple translations of the menu to their windows

with flags indicating the language

should be completely avoided...

But in a town like Venice

that is so... "tourist friendly"

{read: tourist trap},

you can find yourself with few options

other than some really expensive options...

unless you go to Da Mamo.

This is a great pizzeria and trattoria.

Think delicious pasta and pizza...

and incredible dessert.

You have to try it to believe it,

but the strawberries & marscapone drizzled with balsamic

will change your life.

We didn't have reservations

and eventually got a table after a brief wait...

but it was also January and raining.

I think you'd be smart to have your hotel call ahead

and save a table for you to avoid getting stuck without one...

or book ahead through their website.

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ROSSOPOMODORO

Calle Larga San Marco 404

San Marco, 30124 Venezia

+39 041 283 4939

Our concierge recommended this pizzeria to us
late upon our arrival to Venice.
Tired and happy to hear of a place nearby,
we went...
and remarked how there is also a ROSSOPOMODORO
near my offices in London.

Well, come to find out...
it's the same restaurant.

Okay, obviously not the same,
but it's part of a chain
originating out of Naples.

Tyler was slightly devastated,
but we both agreed
that had we not known there were others
we would really loved it.

{Does that make us hipsters or something?}

The food is great- especially the pizza,
 the prices are more than fair,
the decor is cool, the staff is great with Americans/tourists, 
& the location near St. Marks Square is a win.

Honestly, it was really tasty and I'd swallow my pride
and totally eat there again...
which is why I'm adding it on my list of recommendations.


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AT YOUR RECOMMENDATION...

Here are a few places recommended by fellow readers
that made their time in Venice special... and delicious.


Osteria La Zucca
Santa Croce 1762
30135 Venice (San Marco)

"... beautiful canal side setting and I highly recommend the pumpkin flan."
-Jeff & April

Osteria Antico Giardinetto

Calle dei Morti 2253
Santa Croce, 30135 Venice (San Marco)

"It's a hidden gem, but worth the search. I would ABSOLUTELY call ahead-
we have been to Venice three times and were only able to get in two of the times."
-Stephanie Lane

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy