VENICE GUIDE BY NEIGHBORHOOD

SAN MARCO

The heart of Venice, home to St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and grand piazzas brimming with history and drama.

Restaurants & Bars

• Caffè Lavena — Our go-to café in Piazza San Marco; stand inside for normal prices or splurge for an orchestra-serenaded negroni outdoors.

• Caffè Florian — The oldest café in Europe, with gilded interiors and light bites like sandwiches and pastries.

• Caffè Quadri — Elegant and historic, restored by Philippe Starck, a Venice resident; great for a coffee, aperitivo with a view, or an elegant dinner.

• Harry’s Bar — Legendary albeit small, birthplace of the Bellini; excellent food, Italian and Continental classics, if you stay for lunch or dinner.

• Bar Dandolo — Glamorous lounge inside the Hotel Danieli, perfect for a pre-dinner drink.

• Bar Terrazza Danieli — Rooftop bar and restaurant with dreamy lagoon views.

• Bar Longhi — Canal-side bar at the Gritti Palace where Hemingway once sat and wrote; excellent cocktails. Or perhaps stay for dinner at Club del Doge with a view of dreams.

• Al Giardinetto da Severino — Romantic garden restaurant serving traditional Venetian dishes.

Sights & Shopping

• Piazza San Marco — Arrive early morning or at golden hour to avoid the crush; the orchestras make it magical.

• St. Mark’s Basilica & Museum — Spectacular mosaics; book skip-the-line tickets in advance HERE

• San Marco Clock Tower — Climb for a close look at the clock’s mechanics and sweeping piazza views.

• San Marco Campanile — The best 360° view of Venice; book ahead here.

• Doge’s Palace — Don’t miss the Secret Itineraries Tour for hidden chambers and the Bridge of Sighs. Tickets HERE

• Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo — A fairytale spiral staircase with a view over the rooftops.

• Fortuny Museum — Atmospheric palazzo showcasing Mariano Fortuny’s art, textiles, and lamps — a designer’s dream.

• Musica a Palazzo — Intimate opera where each act unfolds in a different salon of a Grand Canal palazzo. Buy your ticket HERE

• La Fenice Opera House — Jewel-box theater; take a tour or catch a performance.

• Campo Santo Stefano — Spacious square with outdoor cafés, perfect for people-watching.

• Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti — Striking Gothic palazzo hosting temporary art exhibits.

• San Vidal Church — Evening chamber concerts often featuring Vivaldi’s music.

• T Fondaco dei Tedeschi — Stylish shopping center with a free rooftop terrace overlooking the Grand Canal.

• Silvia Pelletterie — Third-generation artisan shoe shop with beautifully made footwear.

DORSODURO

Artistic and bohemian, with world-class museums, quiet canals, and the lively Zattere promenade.

Restaurants & Bars

• Al Squero — Fantastic cicchetti spot by a gondola boatyard — perfect for lunch or aperitivo.

• Al Profeta — Casual, excellent pizza and pasta with a lovely garden and interior.

• Antica Locanda Montin — Hidden gem with refined Venetian fare served in a lush courtyard.

• Majer — Local bakery with great focaccia, sandwiches, and gifts to take home.

• Imagina Café — Great coffee and light breakfast, a local favorite.

• Gelateria Nico — Popular with both locals and tourists. Not just cups & cones, but also a full service ice cream parlor. If weather is good, grab a table on the water-side terrace.

• Osteria Ai Pugni — Casual lunch or aperitivo, with some non-Venetian options.

• La Bitta — Cozy and intimate, specializing in meat dishes (no fish).

• Venice Jazz Club — Live music venue with a set menu and intimate vibe.

• Corner Pub — Friendly canal-side spot for drinks and cichetti near the Guggenheim.

• Al Chioschetto — Outdoor kiosk bar on the Giudecca Canal. Great spot for a sundowner.

• Ristorante Riviera — Refined dining with panoramic water views.

Sights & Shopping

• Peggy Guggenheim Collection — Modern art treasures in Peggy’s former home on the Grand Canal.

• Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute — Stunning baroque church built in thanks after the plague.

• Zattere Promenade — Sunny waterfront stroll with gelaterias and cafés.

• Campo Santa Margherita — Student hangout with lively cafés and a great market boat.

• Campo San Barnaba — Film-famous square with a floating produce market.

• Chiesa di San Pantalon — Features the world’s largest ceiling painting on canvas.

• Ca’ Rezzonico — Museum of 18th-century Venice in a grand canal-side palazzo.

• Gallerie dell’Accademia — Masterpieces from Bellini, Tintoretto, and Veronese.

• Accademia Bridge — Iconic views of the Grand Canal, especially at sunset.

CANNAREGIO

Laid-back and local, with the historic Jewish Ghetto and lively canalside bars along the Fondamenta della Misericordia.

Restaurants & Bars

• Francys — Wondeful Grand Canal terrace restaurant inside Venice Venice hotel. Highly recommend for an aperitivo or dinner. Can be difficult to find… if you find Venice M’Art, the hotel’s trendy concept store, you have come to the right place.

• Vino Vero — Natural wine bar with a buzzing atmosphere along Misericordia canal.

• Al Timon — Famous for grilled meats and convivial canal-side seating in Misericordia.

• Ristorante Levante — Another Misericordia win. Elegant dining right on the canal.

• Estro — Creative contemporary Venetian cuisine, again along Misericordia canal.

• Ital India — Excellent Indian food when you need a break from pasta. The far end of Misericordia area.

• Osteria Al Tappo — Wine bar with a quiet garden in the Ghetto. Gondola service next door with the only female gondolier in Venice!

• Osteria Pan e Ogio — Canal-side with great Venetian comfort food, warm service and the best sunsets.

• Estate ai Crociferi — Atmospheric courtyard caffe/bar inside Combo hotel, next to a beautiful church Gesuiti. Perfect place to pop a squat with a book or laptop.

• La Corte 1642 —  I love this little restaurant. Great food, great staff, and quaint location inside a courtyard with decor hinting at the chef/owner’s previous culinary workplace aboard the Orient Express. Reservations necessary because of it’s size. Call for reservations — they speak English.
• Gam Gam Kosher Restaurant — for the real deal at the entrance to the Ghetto.
• Strazzaria Pizza — excellent new upscale pizzeria in the Ghetto campo.
• Marciano Pub — we love this place!! Brewery, restaurant, late night pub. They have two coveted balconies over the Misericordia canal.
• Time Social Bar — new inventive cocktail bar in the ‘hood.

Sights & Shopping

• Scuola Grande della Misericordia — Grand hall often used for art exhibits or concerts.

• Jewish Ghetto — The original ghetto, with active synagogues and museums. Take a stroll through OR book this tour.

• Ca’ d’Oro — Gothic palace turned art museum with a loggia overlooking the Grand Canal.

• Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta (Gesuiti) — Baroque interior with stunning green marble.

• Campo dei Mori — Statues of the “Moors,” said to be petrified Venetian merchants.

• Madonna dell’Orto — Gothic church with masterpieces by Tintoretto.

CASTELLO

Quiet and authentic, with leafy parks, artisan workshops, and the Biennale’s grand pavilions.

Restaurants & Bars

• Osteria alle Testiere — Tiny, beloved restaurant with seasonal Venetian seafood; book far ahead.
• Oliva Nera — Warm, family-run spot serving beautifully plated Venetian classics. Tell Isabella or Jessica that Amy Baker sent you.