Venice holds the rights to many beloved culinary delicacies. It’s the birthplace of cicchetti (small plates served at wine bars), the Venetian spritz (with an olive), the Bellini (created at Harry’s Bar), sgroppino, tiramisu (Veneto Region), and risotto al nero di seppia (squid ink rice).
As a result, it’s a hotspot for food tourism and has received a flurry of accolades from Michelin, The World’s 50 Best and the like.
There are thousands of restaurants and bars in “La Serenissima” from which to choose, but these are the five you don’t want to miss.
Oro at Hotel Cipriani
An icon among celeb-favored luxury hotels, Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice, has been in the headlines since its debut in 1958. In honor of its 67th year, the grand dame, which sits on the Giudecca Island with views over the Venetian lagoon, has much to report. In 2025, Hotel Cipriani will feature a reimagined interior (lobby and 13 guestrooms) by architect Peter Marino, chairman of the Venetian Heritage Foundation. His fresh vision for Cipriani draws on three eras: the grandeur of Old Venice, the Dolce Vita of the 1950s and ’60s, and contemporary art and design. A perfect place to watch the sunset with cocktails and cicchetti, Il Bacaro Dior is the first Dior Bar in Italy, located on the lagoon at Hotel Cipriani with views of St. Mark’s basin. In 2024, Hotel Cipriani’s Michelin-starred restaurant Oro onboarded a new Chef Vania Ghedini and features menus designed by Ghedini and culinary director Massimo Bottura (Gucci Osteria). Choose the tasting menu or à la carte and be wowed by the inventive dishes with equally whimsical names such as the “Homage to Carpaccio”, a bold reinterpretation of the dish created by Giuseppe Cipriani in Venice and the “Paris-Venice Lobster,” a tribute to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express’ menu.
Experimental Cocktail Club at Il Palazzo Experimental
Tucked behind a hidden door in the lobby of the Il Palazzo Experimental Hotel, discover Experimental Cocktail Club, a jewel box designed by Cristina Celestino filled with drinkable treasures like the TK. Each concoction pays tribute to the heritage of Venice and the menu itself is a work of art.
Oliva Nera
A favorite of locals and located close to St Mark’s Square, Oliva Nera celebrates 25 years in 2025. You will feel like you are dining at a friend’s home, not a bustling restaurant, where every dish is like a warm hug. Experience the best of both Venetian and Veneto culinary traditions through their tasting and à la carte menu, a highlight of which is the region’s most lauded dish, the Seppie in Nero con Polenta, Cuttlefish.
Ristorante GLAM in Palazzo Venart
Arrive by boat to Ristorante GLAM to get the full experience of Enrico Bartolini’s two Michelin-star restaurant (the only one in Venice) overlooking the Grand Canal that draws upon Venetian culinary tradition to create its ultra-modern menus. From its garden, you can get a glimpse of the Casino of Venice.
Arva at Aman Venice
Aman Venice skyrocketed to popularity as the epicenter of the Bezos-Sanchez wedding. If you can’t snag a room, book a reservation at the signature restaurant Arva to get a peek behind the curtain of Venice’s most exclusive hotel. The culinary template features fresh Adriatic fish, Tuscan and Ligurian olive oils, artisanal pasta and local market produce. Vie for a seat at Arva Alfresco, Aman Venice’s Grand Canal garden, order a Venetian spritz or negroni and see what unfolds.