San Marco and beyond

Under the arcades of the Procuratie Nuove stands Italy’s oldest café, founded on 29 December 1720. Undoubtedly one of the symbols of Venice in the world, Caffè Florian has welcomed illustrious men and women throughout its history: Charlie Chaplin, Andy Warhol, Ernest Hemingway, Claude Monet and Alice Hoschedé, to mention just a very few. A coffee at Florian is not just a break: it is an experience.

The Gran Caffè Quadri stands in the shadow of the Procuratie Vecchie. The long history of this venue can be sensed in the recently restored interior rooms, designed by French designer Philippe Starck, while the experience of contemporary Venice can be enjoyed sitting at the small tables in the piazza. Take a break and enjoy the authentic taste of the city.

Let yourself be tempted by the small tables overlooking Via Garibaldi, in the sestiere of Castello. A freshly roasted coffee and a croissant, typical pastries, a focaccia accompanied by a freshly made juice or a craft beer: all you have to do is choose what flavour to give your break and enjoy the authentically Venetian atmosphere.

Ideal for all hop lovers, Birreria Forst, just a few steps from St Mark's Square, offers a wide selection of delicious craft beers. Accompanied by a good charcuterie board, pils, red and amber beers are served. Don't miss the specials, a selection that changes according to the time of year.

Magna Bevi Tasi has taken tradition and made it contemporary. Using ingredients that are always fresh and refined, this bacaro with its cosy atmosphere will amaze you with the flavours and aromas that accompany a portion of cicheti.

Il Ridotto Restaurant is synonymous with elegance and refinement - characteristics that distinguish both the atmosphere of the restaurant and the taste of the food served. The menu offers both land and seafood dishes, which change according to the season and the chef's inspiration.

A historic eatery in the Castello district, l’Aciugheta has been animating Campo Santi Filippo e Giacomo since the early twentieth century. It offers numerous cicheti, including the hallmark pizzetta with anchovy, the symbol of the osteria-trattoria, to be enjoyed with a good glass of wine.

Just a few steps from the church of San Zaccaria is one of the two locations of the Bacaro Risorto. Let yourself be tempted by an all-Venetian aperitif break with traditional cicheti and a spritz.

In the sestiere of Castello there is a trattoria with a characteristic, family atmosphere. At Remigio's you can enjoy traditional Adriatic cuisine, prepared with fresh, quality ingredients. Don't miss the fish dishes!

The ideal place for breakfast or a snack, the historic Pasticceria Chiusso combines Venetian confectionery tradition and quality in the best possible way. Between pastries and biscuits, you just have to choose what flavour to give your break.

Recently awarded a Michelin star, Local aims to reinvent Venetian cuisine through creativity and research. The dishes are rooted in tradition but projected into the future. From the reinterpretation of the ancient recipe for risotto di gò to the nine-course tasting menu, which combines lagoon, sea, land and exotic flavours, at Local you’ll find the blend that characterised Venice at the time of the Serenissima.

A traditional Venetian and Italian cuisine that also opens the door to contemporary and international fusions. The ingredients are always fresh and seasonal, as well as Slowfood Presidia. The wine list, undergoes constant evolution: there are more than a hundred labels for a choice that is never banal.

At Covo you will have the best of the city in your dish: handmade pasta, fresh fish caught in the marshes or in the nearby Adriatic, vegetables and fruit from the kitchen gardens of the lagoon and the hinterland; these are the secret for an elegant and genuine dish offering a true Venetian flavour.

Home cooking and hospitality: these the best terms to describe the Trattoria alla Rampa on Via Garibaldi. Let yourself be pampered by the family atmosphere and enjoy traditional Venetian dishes. Certainly not to be missed are the spaghetti with squid ink and the Venetian-style liver with polenta!