Food and Wine Tours
in
Venice Italy

Bacari, Trattorie, Ristoranti

Take a walking tour through Venice to some of the most popular and historic eating establishments in the city.

Venice’s cuisine reveals a fascinating blend of what the lagoon and the “terra ferma” have to offer. Venetian cooking has been influenced by many cultures since it was long a trading crossroads between the East and West, so some traditional Venetian dishes seem more Middle Eastern than “Italian.” Legend would have it that the Venetians derive their name from the Greek word for wine, “enos,” and indeed the people of Venice are a “people of wine.” It is estimated that 50,000 glasses of wine are served daily in Venice.

Sample the various delicacies of Venice along with a glass of prosecco, the local sparkling white wine, or raboso, the local red wine, sometimes sparkling.

Bacari

Venice’s hospitality and conviviality have survived through the centuries and nowhere is it more visible and liveable than in the various bacari that dot the Venetian urban landscape. The bacari, popular among Venetians since the 18th century, are intended for wine and light snacks, cichetti. These traditional and characteristic gastronomic delights range from deep-fried sardines to small meatballs, from baby octopus to a hard-boiled egg with anchovies to deep-fried artichokes.

Each eating location offers a distinct view of Venice, its inhabitants and its cuisine. Watch the Venetians in their typical ritual of having a chat about the day’s events and relaxing on their way from one appointment to another or home from work.

Trattorie

The trattorie have a more varied and ample menu. The dishes served tend to be fairly traditional, having been perfected as they have been passed down generation to generation.

Ristoranti

The ristoranti, restaurants of Venice, are the more exclusive eating establishments of Venice. There is a little more creativity in the preparation of traditional Venetian dishes, and these variations often include some recent international influences and presentations. And, at the Venetian ristoranti, there is usually a most interesting and researched wine list to tempt the palate!