Buongiorno,
Saw one of Rick's shows that had him walking the streets of Venice and popping into small restaurants for cicchetti. As I will be on Rick's "Best of Italy" 17 day tour in September 2026 looking for things to see and do. Good food and wine is on the menu. I know, I know it is a long way off but preparing a journal for this trip and don't want to miss out.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone know the street with the best cicchetti? Ciao!
Depending on when the show was filmed the restaurants he visited may or may not still be there (on the website, it indicates the Venice shows were filmed in 2012). I suggest you consult a current version of a RS guidebook and see where his current recommendations fall. Also some of these posts from a search in the forum may be of help: https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=1y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Cicchetti+venice
You might want to contact Alessandro Schezzini, who did the Rick Steves Cicchetti segment, and he may still be doing public tours. You can contact him and ask, giving your dates. I took it 10 years ago and it was great then.
https://www.schezzini.it/
We went to Cantine del vino Gia schiavi. Enjoy!!
I second what Sam said. We did Alessandro's cicchetti tour in 2022. Great food and a lot of laughs!
Thank you. Hopefully my RS tour guide will have some suggestions as wr have a free afternoon and evening.
Another vote for Alessandro. We did his tour in 2017 and it was great fun. Andiamo, let's drink!
I like the chichetti at the bar Al Archivo, right in front of the Frari. Was there often about two years ago, and then again yesterday. Fun to see the look of recognition come over the face of the staff. Feeling that we belong.
Rest assured your RS guide and the hotel staff will have plenty of recommendations for places to eat. Read the guidebook. Just take a walk around the neighborhood and stop in anywhere. You’ll never go hungry in Italy!!
We walked out to the far reaches of the Castello neighbourhood, beyond the Arsenale, and found some tasty cicchetti places there.
Well worth going out that way anyway, as most tourists don’t think about going there.
Was in Venice last time the Arte de La Biennale was on and remember the small village like area after Arsenale and towards the park at the end of the island. Will make sure to wander down that way. Thanks for the info.
