Hi guys,
My wife and I will be in Venice for one night during an anniversary trip, in-between Paris and Rome. We would certainly like to have a amazing dining experience with great food and great ambiance for this short visit. Any recommendations that we should consider?
This is not an easy question, which I believe explains why no one has responded. Venice is not particularly known for excellent food---and if you will find it the price will likely be quite high. Most restaurants cater to tourists who want a "Venetian experience" without the high price. For this reason, most canal side restaurants, particularly those near the Rialto Bridge, are to be avoided.
However, Giudecca is well outside the beaten tourist path, so for waterside dining with an amazing view you could consider Cip's Club at Hotel Cipriani.
http://www.belmond.com/hotel-cipriani-venice/cipriani_restaurants
This is one of Venice's finest hotels and Cip's Club is their "casual" restaurant. The outside seating is on a deck with views across the Bacino to San Marco. (This suggestion presumes you will be there Innthe season for outdoor dining, which generally begins mid-April). Request a waterside table when you reserve, and mention that it is your anniversary. They may pick you up at their San Marco private dock for a ride across the water, which would certainly add to the experience. Otherwise you would take the vaporetto.
Another possibility, if you want really good seafood in an authentic Venetian setting ( not canal side), would be Osteria Alle Testiere, a tiny little place up near Campo Santa Maria Formosa. They have two sittings for dinner, at 7 and 9:30. The earlier one is mostly visitors and the later mostly Venetians. You need to call to make a reservation,mat least two weeks in advance. This place was incur neighborhood when we spent a month innVenice and we were unable to get in as we did not reserve far enough ahead.
Other places I have seen recommended by locals ( but which we have not tried) include Il Ridotto, Alle Corone, la Zucca ( small and unpretentious,mood food), la Colombina, A Beccafico Arte ( Cannareggio), and A Beccafico ( outdoor dining on Campo San Stefano).
I like Antica Sacrestia, between the churches of San Marco and San Zaccharia. Service and food are good. (There is lots of mediocre food in Venice.) I find the atmosphere pleasant, though more family groups than romantic. Many Italian diners when I've been there. You can check reviews on tripadvisor. Reservations are a good idea.
Go to viamichelin.com (this is the online version of the Michelin Red guide), pick your neighborhood, and look at their recommendations, especially any starred recommendations that are within walking distance of your lodging.
Anything with one or more stars, you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for the replies!
I really enjoyed my dinner at Ristoteca Oniga. I will definitely go back there any time I go to Venice. http://www.oniga.it/eng/restaurants-in-venice.htm
We enjoyed our meal at Trattoria alla Madonna. Menu had a good balance of seafood and pastas, and prices were a less than our other restaurant experiences in Venice. Food was good, atmosphere is more of a traditional family Italian restaurant. We heard that a lot of local families will go there after church on Sundays.
