Venice Local Evening Food Tour in Cannaregio
Get to know the real food culture of Venice with the help of a local foodie
Are you ready to experience the authentic side of Venetian food? Then hop on this Venice food tour that takes you to Cannaregio where you'll find some of the best food on the island. Your local guide loves food and will happily share their expertise about the true food culture in Venice. Enjoy traditional chicchetti, a Venetian pasta dinner, and gelato at some tasty local spots. Of course, wine and a Campari spritz are also on the menu. Don't wait to book this classic Venetian experience.
Tour Details
- Food, Food and more Food
- Local Venetian Foodie
- Cichetti
- Bacari
- Local Venetian Life
- Ombra!
- Venetian Spritz
- Dinner included
- Cannaregio
- La Dolce Vita
Are you looking for the best food tour in Venice? What does a bell tower have to do with wine? Do you want to see and eat where the locals go? Embark on a foodie-led exploration of Venetian culture that takes you off the beaten path. With a Fun, English-speaking Foodie Guide by your side, visit some of our favorite bacari wine bars to sample assorted cicchetti dishes. Get a taste of local Venice food culture and learn about the city as you fill your belly with the best regional wine and food. This 2.5-hour tour includes:
A Memorable Experience
English-speaking, local foodie guide
Maximum of 10 people per group
Small plates called "cicchetti"
Prosecco, wine and cocktails
Sit down pasta dinner
Cannaregio and the Jewish Ghetto
Your evening in Venice is set in the beautiful neighborhood of Cannaregio. Originally a working class neighborhood it has become the center of local Venetian cuisine and culture. With your guide you will explore the neighborhood which is one of the city's six historic sestieri or districts.
Within Cannaregio you will visit the Jewish neighborhood from where the word "ghetto" originates. As you explore the small canals you will fall in love with Venice without the tourists.
Cicchetti and Bacari
There are two words that are very important to learn when visiting Venice - cicchetti and bacari. The word cicchetti comes from Venetian dialect, meaning "a small savory snack". They are served at various little ‘bacari’ (local wine bars) and come in many delicious varieties. The tradition of going to bacari goes back to at least the 1300's. As time went on and the city got bigger, the number of bacari multiplied as more and more people desired wine.
Your local Venetian guide will explain many of the traditions involving why people visited bacari during the day (even in the morning!). When Italians drink wine, they always have something to eat with it, to make sure that they don't get too tipsy. So over time, the bacari started offering cicchetti (small savory snacks). And so a new tradition was born - drinking wine with cicchetti.
The Spritz
Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer bitter drinks, there is a Spritz for everyone. The Campari Spritz has a higher alcohol content than an Aperol Spritz; it also tastes more bitter than sweet. If you’ve ever seen pictures of people drinking a bright orange cocktail from a stemmed glass in Italy, that’s an Aperol Spritz. Both drinks are made with prosecco.
You will learn how to make the classic Italian aperitivo drink from an expert bartender.
Traditional Sit Down Dinner
An ombra in Venice is a small glass of wine; ombra means “shade” in Italian. Legend has it that in the old days, wine was sold near the bell tower of San Marco's square in the shade. So the people would say "let's go drink in the shade by the bell tower”.
Today it has been shortened to just one word - ombra. At the third stop, taste some of the local favorite ombra, as you sit down for a delicious dinner that includes some of the best pasta in Venice.
Gelato in Venice
No Italian foodie experience is complete without some gelato. On this guided tour of Venice, learn how to spot authentic gelato from the kind with additives in one of Venice's best "gelateria" (gelato shops). Ask your local guide what's in season and why gelato is different from American ice cream.
You may feel like staying out in Venice exploring after the tour ends, or if you might need a rest after all the eating and drinking. If you're ready to head home, your guide will happily show you where to catch the nearest "vaporetto" (water taxi) so you can cruise back to your accommodations for the night.
Either way, say goodbye to your fellow foodies and your guide knowing that you now have a deeper understanding of Venetian culture and food.
What you get with this tour

See what people are saying
28 total reviews
Leave a reviewLoved the Tour and our guide was Superb.
Christine Edwards
Lovely way to spend our last night in Italy. There were 5 of us on the tour ( not counting our guide). Nice selection of stops. The food and drinks were great. We loved our guide and enjoyed the couple that was also with the tour.
The BEST!
Susan Small
Cicchetti Food Tour
Kristine Paul
My husband and I did a cicchetti walking food tour with Giuliano (sp?). Giuliano was a local Venetian, born and raised. He took us around to different areas and explained the history of venice in relation to those areas. He also showed us his childhood home, where his mother still lives, and his elementary school. We ran into some of his friends during our tour. Because it was just my husband and I on the tour it truly felt like being out with a friend. It was an amazing experience and gave me a true love for Venice and it's history. Highly recommend!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
In front of the Teatro Italia, located in Campiello de l'Anconeta
What to bring?
Comfortable shoes and a hearty appetite.
What to bring?
Comfortable shoes and a hearty appetite.
I have doubts about my mobility, is this the right tour for me?
If you have any doubts about your mobility, we recommend you take a private Venice tour instead.
Do the tasting stops on this tour ever change?
Stops and tastings on this tour are subject to change due to seasonal/holiday venue closures. As the places we frequent on this food tour are local institutions and family-run businesses, they can close at any time with very little to no notice. In this situation, your guide will take you to another nearby eatery.
Can I bring my kids and do I have to pay for them?
If your child is under 6 years of age and will not be eating during the tour, you do not need to pay for them. If they will be eating please pay the youth seat.
What if I have food allergies, intolerances or other requirements?
Please contact us in advance so we can do our best to accommodate your needs. We will do what we can to make accommodations for you.
Where to meet?
In front of the Teatro Italia, located in Campiello de l'Anconeta