Venice - group of 7 people in their 30s

[SSLaly]

We are a group of 7 that will be embarking on the Marina on April 22nd. We will be on port the 22nd and leaving on the 23rd. We would like to experience the night life in Venice and wanted to find out if anyone has any recommendations. And of course, a good Pizza place! :) Something low key, casual but delicious!!

 

Thanks in advance,

Gladys

[euro cruiser]

Someone will suggest a place for pizza, you can get it everywhere in Italy, but Venice is not exactly known for pizza (more of a southern food). Venice is in the northeast corner of Italy and is known for fish dishes as well as for more risotto and polenta than pasta. That said, you can get great pasta all over the city ... it's just not the specialty of the region.

 

I find the food in Venice to be more eclectic than in other parts of Italy, most likely due to the influence of their near neighbors in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France.

[ksps cruise fan]

We are a group of 7 that will be embarking on the Marina on April 22nd. We will be on port the 22nd and leaving on the 23rd. We would like to experience the night life in Venice and wanted to find out if anyone has any recommendations. And of course, a good Pizza place! :) Something low key, casual but delicious!!

 

Thanks in advance,

Gladys

 

 

Eurocruiser has already explained that pizza is not really a Venetian food. I'll second her advice.

 

A really fun, truly Venetian activity would be to make a meal of the small snacks that Venetians call cichetti, most often served in a wine bars. There's a large concentration of these in the area around the Rialto market in the San Polo/Santa Croce section of the city (Do Mori is a particularly popular place.)

 

If you're still bound and determined to eat a meal of pizza, there's a good place name Al Sportivo in the Dorsoduro section of Venice. I ate in the outdoor area. The food is good and wine is available there, but I don't think this has any particular atmosphere or, certainly, highlights the night life the way a wine bar crawl would.

[bobalink]

Eurocruiser has already explained that pizza is not really a Venetian food. I'll second her advice.

 

A really fun, truly Venetian activity would be to make a meal of the small snacks that Venetians call cichetti, most often served in a wine bars.

 

I agree with ksps cruise fan. We found a great place for cichetti at Al Remer.

 

Also, you can get a FREE copy of Rick Steves Pub Crawl here:

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/nlpubven.htm

 

I recently posted this on another thread about Venice restaurants...

 

When we were in Venice this summer, our wonderful hosts at Locanda Orseolo gave us a list of restaurants that they recommend.

 

The name of the restaurant is first, followed by how many minutes it would take to get there from Locanda Orseolo (near St. Mark's) The day of the week at the end of each description is the day of the week that the restaurant is closed.

 

I did not personally visit these establishments, but I do trust the folks at Locanda Orseolo, to provide good recommendations.

Da Alberto - 15 min - The classic venetian osteria with wooden tables, house

wine and a full desk of delicious Cicheti ( local tapas). To eat, a small

menu for those who don't have high expectations. Sun.

 

Ca D'oro Alla vedova - 20 min - One of the oldest osteria in town, run for

many generations by the same family. Great desk of cicheti ( best meat balls

! ) to enjoy during the aperitif and, for something more, few traditional

dishes and the famous venetian liver. Thur.

 

Barababao - 10 min - Or in other words "the Boogey Man". A friendly place

nearby Rialto managed by young and smart guys that, with the chef Milo,

really care of both quality and preparation of the food. Classic venetian

dishes, meat, menu' for vegetarians, and even a little touch of creativity.

Always open.

 

Antico Dolo - 10 min - few steps from Rialto, a lovely osteria that is

nothing but a small saloon of dozen tables. The secret of this authentic

place is the affability of the couple of owners and the quality of the

seasonal products that every day come from the next door fish and vegetables

market. Fresh pasta! Always open.

 

Al Fontego - 20 min - A simple restaurant with a genuine and traditional

cuisine. Just to give you an idea about the freshness of the food. Lollo,

the owner, is first of all a fisherman who owns two fishing boats and a

desk at Rialto market. Stop. There's even an outdoor internal courtyard

open during the nice season. Mon.

 

Vini da Gigio - 20 min - A big name in Venice! Very famous for the quality

of the seasonal specialties, for the wide choice they offer, for the

authentic atmosphere and one of the largest wine list of the island. The

only problem is to find a table available! Reservation absolutely necessary.

Mon/Tue.

 

Vecio bragosso - 15 min - located in one of the largest and busy street of

Venice, this nice restaurant, with a kind of Retro' atmosphere, offers a

friendly service and a big choice of classic venetian dishes ( even meat in

the menu! ) still for good value prices. Some tables outside during the warm

season. Mon.

 

Antiche Carampane - 20 min - It's the real venetian osteria! Friendly

service, traditional dishes, great fresh fish and, above all .very

hidden!!! A place to try. if you are able to find it! Reservation advisable.

Sun/Mon.

 

La Bitta - 25 min - The only place in Venice where they serve only meat! A

small and cute restaurant where you can experience the specialties of the

mainland ( soups, tortellini, mushrooms, meat sauces and various kind of

white and red meat ) if you got enough of the lagoon shell sea food and

fish. Sun.

 

Corte Sconta - 20 min - A hidden trattoria located in the oldest part of

Venice, and so famous among the natives. They do what the venetians do at

their best, and that means fish, fish and fish again. From the appetizers to

the second courses, a great freshness and quality. Homemade pasta! Not the

best service. Reservation advisable. Sun/Mon.

 

Linea D'ombra - 25 min - A sort of two sides restaurant : inside rather

strange and modern, outside, a lovely wooden terrace on the water offer you

one of the best venetian view on San Marco basin and San Giorgio island.

The innovative cuisine is delicious. The view is absolutely priceless but

here it's something you will pay!... ; ) Reservation absolutely necessary.

Wed.

 

Testiere - 10 min - It's considered the most romantic restaurant in Venice,

due to the charming atmosphere, the soft lights and the very small size that

makes all very private and exclusive. Sea food and fish at their best! Nice

and refined even the selection of wines and cheeses. Reservation absolutely

necessary. Sun/Mon.

 

Acqua Pazza - 10 min - they serve specialties from Naples and the reason is.

the whole team come from Naples! Is like having a small part of the lively

south inside Venice. The homemade pasta is the best in town, but whatever

they propose, risotto, shell sea food, sea bus, sauté, pizza, is great and

is cooked in the southern style. . Portions are really generous! Mon.

 

Beccafico - 15 min - Sicilian specialties and wines in an exclusive

restaurant that keep an high quality throughout the year. In the cold season

just few tables in a small and elegant room, while during summertime it's

possible to enjoy a meal on the lovely outdoor in the airy and bright Santo

Stefano square. few steps before Academia bridge. Always open.

 

Osteria Santa Marina - 15 min - It's becoming a famous name in Venice,

especially if the occasion is special, and you are looking for an elegant

and refined restaurant. Here the kind staff propose a menu of local

specialties with a touch of creativity and innovation. During the warm

season, the peacefulness of the little square makes the small outdoor

lovely. Sun/Mon.

 

Osteria San marco - 5 min - A modern restaurant & wine bar in a central

location, really few steps behind San Marco square. The cuisine is always

open! No stop between 12.30 and 23.00 !!! creative dishes with local

products at most, and even a good selection of salami and cheeses. Quality

and location make the price. Sun.

- last but not least, two names for lunch or an easy dinner: "A La Campana"

and "Anima Bella", both located very close to our Locanda (three minutes

walk). The "A La Campana" owners tend not to accept reservations made in

advance, but they run a friendly, good place where you can stop to enjoy

some Venetian specialties; the "Anima Bella" provides authentic home

cooking, with only a selection of first courses (pasta and soups) and salads

in the menu.

----

These are the places we did try:

 

We ate at Anima Bella one evening. The food was delicious, but it is a "homey" atmosphere, very small. Not a place for a romantic date.

 

We also ate at Barababao. Again, the food was very good, but there isn't a view. We were a group of 8, and we all enjoyed our meal. Waiters were great, and helped us with our choices. Of course, with that size of group, we all get to have a taste of each other's selection.

 

Another great place we went, Al Remer. At one time, it was an oar factory. It isn't easy to find, it is tucked away, close to Rialto and has a great view of the canal from the "courtyard". They have a wide selection of cicheti, that is complimentary when you order drinks. Very casual, fun, atmosphere. Easily accommodated our group of 8.

 

I hope your experience in Venice was as magical as ours!

[SSLaly]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful recommendations. I love this board! I really didn't know that Venice was more eclectic! I think we all had in mind that we were having pizza!! I will let them know and we are definitely taking the list of restaurants.

 

1 week to go and I just can't wait...it's my first time in Europe so I want to take it all in! :) You guys are great!

[SSLaly]

 

Also, you can get a FREE copy of Rick Steves Pub Crawl here:

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/nlpubven.htm

 

Thank you so very much for this link...it's amazing. It sounds like something my group will totally like to do!! Can't wait!!

[euro cruiser]

Another good resource for information on Venice restaurants and bars is Chow Venice, written by a young American woman (Shannon Essa) who would fit right in with your group.

 

http://chowbellabooks.com/

[Matcodixon]

Bobalink, thanks for the great list. I did a copy and past to a word doc and it is now in my cruise folder! With 3 nights in Venice before we set sail, it will be a great help!