Oh! Cynar! How much I miss it. Not as much as Branca Menta but, still, a fair bit.

Cynar Spritz with baccal� mantecato or sarde in saor cicheti

I have just finished a 6-day trip to Venice and am happy to report that most of good places are still there, and are as good as they were before COVID (or almost as good). Below are the places I ate at in the order of preferences with some notes

Restaurants:
1. CoVino - this was my first time and I loved it. I think it deserves #1 for this trip
2. Locanda Cipriani on Torcello. As great as always. It deserves praise for both the quality of its food and the ability to maintain standards over time.
3. Osteria All Frasca - I can't put my finger on it but it feels like it is just a little bit less great than it used to be. Still great though!
4. Da Carletto - a solid choice but nothing to write home about
5. Al Covo. Yes, I am shocked myself. If I had to be honest, it probably deserves #3 or #4 but I used to love it and it was just blah this time. Maybe they were having a bad day or maybe I was but it was just ok.
5. Ai Frati on Murano - good Go risotto.

Bacari:

1. Al Arco
2. Cantina do Spade
3. Bacar Risorto Castello
4. Cantina Do Mori

My favorite bacaro (Gia Schiavi) was closed for no apparent reason during the day and had a sign that only bottle service was going to be available in the evening.

A place that surprised me was the Hyatt Centric's main restaurant on Murano. I ended up there not by choice but was pleasantly surprised by how great and how incredibly local all the food was.

I would be interested in some budget suggestions for lunch and early dinners. (But something local, not pizza or burgers.)
Also for good icecream / ice cream with coffee.

I don't mind a bit of a walk. I'll be there with a friend who is a student on a Saturday in May. We don't need alcohol. :-)

Gracie!

Da Carletto is always a solid choice and was on the list of the previous poster. BTW, you don't want to ever order pizza in Venice. Wood ovens are prohibited so one will likely eat a reheated frozen pizza heated in a conventional oven.

Da Carletto is always a solid choice and was on the list of the previous poster. BTW, you don't want to ever order pizza in Venice. Wood ovens are prohibited so one will likely eat a reheated frozen pizza heated in a conventional oven. You can also save money buy eating ciccetti at a wine bar. Two notable ones are listed above: Cantina do Mori and Al Arco Both in Rialto area.

In Venice now celebrating wife and her mother’s birthdays. Had 2 totally opposite experiences. The good - da Romano on Burano. Perfect service and the food was very good - excellent grilled turbot. Dined al fresco on a beautiful day. The bad - Harry’s Bar. Reservation made for downstairs, informed by email about special occasion. Treated poorly from the start - no downstairs, rushed and pushed from the start, food just ok. No birthday recognition although 2 nearby tables were given dessert with candle. Mentioned concerns to staff at front - response was “okay”. Sent them email after outlining my concerns - no response. Al Covo tomorrow - one of our favorites

Gee, I have to remember to view these threads prior to planning a trip, especially restaurants!

Came home from a beautiful trip to Venice in May. Thanks to this thread, we also ate well!

We went to CoVino for dinner - and got amazing food. Even really tender octopus and delicios snail pasta. I was confused by the booking page - it seemed the chefs menu was the only option, but we also could choose three- or four course a la carte. In the end we went for the chefs menu - just told them what we did not want to eat, and then got a delicious meal.

Another night we went to Algiubagio really close by the Fondamente Nove vaporetto stops. The views of the lagune and San Michele was beautiful and the food great. I had the Fritto Mixto, but overhearing another table, I should have taken the Baccala' mantecato.

I know this is controversial, but I actually got really good pizza from Nevodi PizzaLab in Castello. Almost all the filling were put in the pizza after the baking. The cherry tomatoes were so sweet, the burrata just perfect and the the whole combination delicious.

It's good to hear the Algiubagio is as good as I remember it.

We were thinking of staying over here at the Hyatt Centric on Murano as the prices were reasonable and we could book a suite overlooking the canal for less than what a room without a view costs in Venice. How convenient is it to go back and forth between Murano and Venice? Glad to hear the restaurant is fantastic.

Hi,

There is a regular public water boat ( vaporetto) run by ACTV ( public transport) betwerrn Murano and Fundamennte Nove ( north side of Venice) which may get crowded at times. You will be paying timewise for travelling to Venice proper and back but be offset by a better room.. Route map is

https://actv.avmspa.it/sites/default...09_2021web.pdf


When I was in Venice I stayed at the Hilton on Guidecca island and took the water bus daily which was nice

Regards

TBS

Looking to update this for a 4 night October trip in 2022. Staying at the Gritti. We will likely be attending La Fenice one evening, so would love a place for pre or post a 7 pm opera.

Having done a bit of research so far on food - these are some of the places i came up with. I absolutely want to embark on a bacaro one evening.

Historically, we have found trattorias to be our favorite, and find the michelin star restaurants get a bit tiring, especially if trying to eat lunch and dinner, its just too much.

Cicchetti - All'Arco , Timon All'Antica Mola, Al Merca, Cantino Do Mori, La Cantina, All Vedova

Others - Osteria Alla Testiere, Local, Al Covo, Da Carletto, Da Fiore, Al Gatto Nero, Antiche Carampane

Any and all recs welcome (including things to do) thanks!

The chicchetti list is fine. The restaurants are all good but keep in mind that Al Gatto Nero is in Burano. Of all of the restaurants you mention, my favorite is Alle Testiere. It is only about 7 tables and only seafood on menu. Antiche Carampane is another favorite but inconvenient if planning to dine before or after opera. It definitely has a trattoria vibe

As you'll be there in October, keep an eye out for moeche (soft-shelled crab from the Venetian lagoon). The hard shells molt in spring and fall so October/November is prime time for them. If you're partial to crab, these are quite good.