The 10 Best Restaurants in the Castello district of Venice
Brandon Shaw
The Castello district in Venice is located East of St. Mark’s square. This is an area less trodden with tourists but could be a bit difficult to find the best eateries. Don’t stress, because we have hooked up with our local guides who have created a list of the best restaurants in Castello, Venice below. Buon Appetito!
Pro Travel Tip: Bookmarking helpful articles is a great way not to forget some vital info that you pick up. If you are traveling to Venice bookmark this post so you know where to eat! Also, check out our Venice tours– Venice is best seen through the eyes of passionate locals.
10 Best Restaurants To Eat And Drink in Castello, Venice
Castello is an area not as well known to tourists. Therefore this is a great opportunity to get away from the crowds and try some local fare with locals!
Since nobody likes tourist traps ( myself included) we have asked our local Venetian guides to put together a list of their favorite places when they are in this part of town. We hope it helps you take the guesswork out of your decision and focus on enjoying your vacation. Buon Appetito!
Osteria Al Portego
€ | Cicchetti | Some Outdoor Seating
Osteria Al Portego is my favorite place for a bite to eat in Venice and possibly my favorite place to visit in the world. Yes, that is a strong statement but I have visited it countless times over the years and feel comfortably at home there.
The staff are super nice and the food is interestingly good. It won’t be the best food you ever eat but it will be great if you trust the staff and have an open mind. There are two tables outside along the brick wall. I normally try to get there a little early, maybe 11:30, grab an outside table, eat great seafood, and drink half a liter of wine. You’ll want to ask for a few “ombre”.
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 1300s. As time went on and the city got bigger, the number of bacari multiplied as more and more people desired wine.
After walking around this neighborhood for a while and you feel the need for a snack and a drink, I highly recommend you stop in. You can eat some nice finger food such as codfish or fried anchovies and wash it down with a refreshing glass of white wine. Be like the locals and take a step back to enjoy life.
Venice Day Tour of St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, Murano & Burano, with Gondola
The ultimate tour of Venice. You’ll get skip-the-line access to the most important buildings in Venice, plus a gondola ride, and private transportation to the islands of Murano and Burano. It’s a full day of touring that will make for the best memories in Venice ever.
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Authentic Experience
Venice Evening Food Tour in Cannaregio District
People who say Venice is too touristy have not done enough research. Cannaregio is an amazing break from the crowds, and our food tour is the most authentic way to experience it. Taste cicchetti and other Venetian specialties including wine. You’ll leave with a full stomach and a love for Venetian food!
Fun staff, great food and drink and outdoor seating. What else could you ask for? This Bacaro is in a perfect location if you have just finished visiting the Arsenal since it just a few minutes walk.
Its relative isolation means that you won’t find many tourists and the local vibe is rocking inside. Have a few cichetti and wash it down with a nice glass of wine before you head over to your dinner restaurant.
Al Covo is a family-run restaurant that is part of the Slow Food movement which promotes local, small farms in an effort to safeguard the quality and traditional products. Therefore the ingredients used will all be from sources around the lagoon and mostly on the mainland in Veneto. Their fish is mostly caught in the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas and do use farmed fish.
Since they only use seasonal vegetables, this means as you can imagine that their menu is constantly changing according to the season. As a rule though, you come here to eat seafood. Whether that is fresh-made ravioli with fish inside or risotto with scampi. Enjoy a nice bottle of wine and life is complete.
Be careful because you might walk right past this locals’ restaurant. Once you are inside however you can witness one of the few restaurants that have an interior garden where you can dine.
Their cuisine is focused on local dishes which of course means seafood. You will be able to find many of the typical Venetian dishes such as Granceola or Sarde in Saor. For a full list of typical Venetian dishes not to be missed, check out Typical Foods to eat in Venice.
The first thing you will notice when you walk in is the beautiful wooden decor. It brings you back in time to what many restaurants in Venice would have looked like back in the day. For people in love, ask them if the table on the canal is available- super romantic!
Their menu varies greatly from the standard fare you will get in Venice- Seafood- to also pasta in a meat sauce. For traditional fare I would go with the Bigoli with Anchovies or the Fish soup. You won’t be disappointed.
€€€ | Great Atmosphere | Locals and Tourists alike
A great dining option right next to the Gothic San Zaccaria Church. The staff is very professional and you will find locals and tourists alike enjoying a great meal.
Principally a seafood restaurant, they buy all their fish from the famous Rialto market close by and only use fish from the Mediterranean sea. Make sure if you happen to come here in autumn or spring that you try the Moeche which are small local fish that are typical of this region.
This restaurant is a small gem in Castello. They are also part of the Slow Food movement, therefore source all of their ingredients as locally as possible. As a result, their menu is constantly changing as well as their wine menu.
The restaurant is close to the Arsenal so a great place to stop if you are visiting that monument. The staff are young and friendly and a three-course menu ( changing constantly) will run you 40€ without wine. When looking for a place a little less traditional, come here. The kitchen is also open format so you can watch the chefs in action.
If you have read our other articles you will know that the word osteria in Italian usually is the name for an eatery that is pretty laid back and doesn’t hurt the wallet. This particular osteria is actually fine dining and will probably become a Michelin star soon, so enjoy it while you can at non-Michelin star prices.
They are famous for their Steak Tartare with black truffle and I highly recommend it. The Osteria itself is pretty tucked away, so make you get there a bit early to ensure that you find it ok.
When I am planning a vacation, I like to put away a bit extra money for an amazing culinary experience in a new city. Il ridotto is that kind of experience, receiving their Michelin star in 2013.
They offer 3 different tasting menus ranging from 5 courses for 95€ to 9 courses at 150€ ( excluding wine). The setting is intimate with only 9 tables and service is top-notch. If you are going to splurge one night, this is the place to do it.
Venice Day Tour of St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, Murano & Burano, with Gondola
The ultimate tour of Venice. You’ll get skip-the-line access to the most important buildings in Venice, plus a gondola ride, and private transportation to the islands of Murano and Burano. It’s a full day of touring that will make for the best memories in Venice ever.
(116)
See Prices
Authentic Experience
Venice Evening Food Tour in Cannaregio District
People who say Venice is too touristy have not done enough research. Cannaregio is an amazing break from the crowds, and our food tour is the most authentic way to experience it. Taste cicchetti and other Venetian specialties including wine. You’ll leave with a full stomach and a love for Venetian food!
Brandon is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He left the States to travel the world at 18 and never looked back! As an official Tour Guide of Rome and Certified Sommelier, he loves to travel the world and share these experiences with his readers.
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