11 Best Restaurants for Inexpensive Dining in Venice

If cities such as Rome and Florence are already known for being expensive places to eat, Venice tends to surpass them. The city of canals has countless attractions, and although food is one of them, it can sometimes be very difficult to enjoy a good Italian meal without spending a large part of your budget.

To avoid tourist traps, it is a good idea to book a food tour of Venice. I've also put together a short list of inexpensive places to eat well. In general, there are four categories:

• Trattorias (traditional home-style restaurants).
• Bacari (similar to tapas bars and very typical of Venice).
• Osterias (offering set menus and informal dining).
• Fast food restaurants (in this case, pizza and pasta).

Students, Venetians and tourists alike agree that Bacareto da Lele is one of the most popular restaurants in Venice. This unanimous opinion explains why its small space is always packed with people looking to eat well at a very affordable price.

To get there, you'll need to venture a little away from Venice's main monuments. Specifically, it is located on the corner of Campo del Tolentini square, in the Santa Croce district. Its cuisine, although tasty, is not overly sophisticated, consisting of various types of cicchetti and paninis.

The traditional way to accompany your meal is with a good house wine, although more and more Venetians are opting for a spritz as an aperitif. In addition to its prices, the place stands out for the wonderful service provided by its owner. The service is extremely efficient despite the large number of customers. However, you will most likely have to sit on one of the benches near the canal to eat.

Practical information

• Address: Fondamenta dei Tolentini, 183, Santa Croce.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 6pm to 8pm. Saturdays only open until 2pm.
• Most notable dish: it's very difficult to choose between their cicchetti, so try a few. Their authentic homemade spritz is also noteworthy.

Bar Puppa is a classic among Venetians to include on a food tour of Venice. It's the place they go when they want to eat good fresh pasta at a very good price.

To get there, you'll need to go to the Cannaregio district, considered the least touristy and most authentic part of the city. The service is outstanding and the food is great. Keep in mind that this restaurant includes the so-called coperto, which could be considered a "service charge". It is usually charged separately in many places in Venice and adds between 10% and 15% to the bill . This is one of the essential tips for visiting Venice.

Much of the menu is offered as a set menu, with a pasta or pizza dish , drink and coffee for approximately £15. There is also a burger menu for around £12. If you decide to come here, you may need to use one of Venice's transport options, but trying one of their risottos, spaghetti carbonara or frutti di mare is definitely worth the trip.

Practical information

• Address: Calle della Spezier, 4800.
• Opening hours: from 9 a.m. (breakfast available) to 11 p.m.
• Most notable dish: definitely the spaghetti al frutti di mare.

Its location alone, very close to St. Mark's Square, makes this place a must on your gastronomic tour of Venice if you want to eat cheaply in Venice. Add to that the quality of its pizzas, and Pizzeria L'Angelo becomes an almost obligatory stop after visiting the Doge's Palace.

With a fairly extensive menu of homemade wood-fired pizzas, around 30 different types, the prices are very reasonable, with the cheapest ones costing around €6 or €7. The service is very good and the orders come out very quickly. On the downside, if you arrive at peak times, the queues can be up to an hour long.

When ordering, bear in mind that there are several sizes: medium (for one person) and family (for two). Unfortunately, there is no seating inside, so customers usually head to a nearby square to sit and enjoy their meal.

Practical information

• Address: Calle de la Mandola San Marco.
• Opening hours: from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Most notable dish: personally, I prefer their spicy peperoncino pizza, but they are all very good thanks to the quality of the dough.

In one of the liveliest areas of Venice, around the Rialto Bridge, you will find Bacarando in Corte Dell Orso, one of the most popular places in the whole city.

The only problem, apart from how difficult it is to get a table, is finding it, as it is located in a rather hidden alleyway. If you manage to overcome this difficulty, you will find a good variety of traditional Venetian food. Despite being well located for some tourist attractions, most of the clientele is local, especially university students. On some occasions, they organise live music performances.

The restaurant offers two options for eating:

• Cicchetti (the equivalent of tapas): if you choose the first option, you can choose from several of their cicchetti at a very reasonable price. The traditional way to enjoy them is accompanied by their excellent spritz.
• À la carte in the dining room: those who prefer a traditional restaurant setting will not be disappointed, but should be aware that there is a service charge or coperto.

Practical information

• Address: Corte de l'Orso San Marco.
• Opening hours: open from 10:30 a.m. until midnight.
• Most notable dish: their lasagna of the day is excellent.

A loyal local clientele is the best sign that Trattoria Alle Lance offers excellent dishes at below-average prices for Venice. This restaurant is located very close to the Grand Canal, near the train station, in a fairly hidden alley.

In addition to à la carte options, the trattoria offers two different set menus:

• The first is around £12, to which you must add the coperto.
• If you prefer, you can opt for a slightly more expensive menu, around £15, with more elaborate dishes.

Bear in mind that the portions are very generous, to the point that many people find the first course sufficient. They also have a good selection of wines at very reasonable prices. Furthermore, the trattoria has won over its customers, both locals and tourists, with its excellent service. If you have any questions, just ask and the staff will be happy to help and advise you.

Practical information

• Address: Calle Priuli Dei Cavalletti 108, Cannaregio.
• Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Speciality dish: the spaghetti with cuttlefish is unbeatable.

Osteria Al Bottegon is a real institution in the city, a traditional family-run place just a few minutes from the Accademia Bridge, one of the most interesting bridges in Venice.

Its location off the beaten tourist track is probably what has allowed this osteria to remain virtually untouched by the passage of time. It has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy an extensive menu featuring more than 60 types of cicchetti.

Each of these tapas costs around €2 and can be accompanied by the other great speciality of the house: wine, as it offers an extraordinary selection of regional wines. The downside of this excellent establishment is that you will find it quite difficult to find a free table. If you are unlucky or impatient, you can always order your food to take away.

Practical information

• Address: Fondamenta Nani, 992, Dorsoduro.
• Opening hours: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm.
• Speciality: it's hard to choose just one dish. As they are small, you can try a selection of smoked tuna with Parmesan, baccalà alla vicentina and dried tomato cicchetti.

If you're leaving St. Mark's Basilica and aren't convinced by the restaurants in the area, you'll find a place nearby where you can eat the best pasta at an incredible price. We're talking about Dal Moro's.

It only serves takeaway food, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the city's classics and a place you can't miss on your food tour of Venice. The reason for its fame, apart from the price, is the quality of its fresh, homemade pasta. The system is simple:

• First, choose the type of pasta you want from the eight varieties on offer.
• Second: select the sauce (four cheeses, squid ink, pesto, tomato and garlic...).
• Finally, pick up your order, which is served in a box, and enjoy your meal.

The staff are known for their friendliness. They will show you where you can sit to eat, as Venetian regulations prohibit eating in some places. Although it is best to follow their recommendations, it is not difficult to find a bench in a square to enjoy your meal.

Practical information

• Address: Calle De La Casseleria.
• Opening hours: opens at 12 noon and closes at 5 pm.
• Speciality: the spaghetti with Genovese pesto is truly delicious.

The city of Venice has countless attractions, and if you're in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood, you have to visit Trattoria Ai Cugnai dal 1911, a picturesque restaurant offering excellent dishes at very reasonable prices. The restaurant specialises in pasta dishes with fish, although you will also find other options.

As a curious note, if you have booked a gondola ride, you may find your gondolier here, as this is one of the places they go to eat. In fact, this group has priority when it comes to getting a table.

The atmosphere is very pleasant, and the service is friendly and always willing to help. The restaurant has two dining areas. If you visit Venice in summer or spring, you can enjoy an indoor terrace located in a courtyard. When the weather is bad, the restaurant has several tables next to the bar.

Practical information

• Address: Calle Nuova Sant'Agnese, 857
• Opening hours: from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Speciality: the fish lasagne is worth trying, but leave room for the tiramisu for dessert.

As soon as you step into Bacaro Quebrado, you'll realise that this is a special place. The atmosphere inside, which is quite small, and on the terrace is wonderful, helped by the cheerful attitude and politeness of the staff.

The restaurant is located near Santa Lucia station, a little way from the most touristy part of the city, but it's easy to get to by vaporetto.

Given its size, it's difficult to find a seat, but I recommend you be patient, as it's well worth the wait. The menu offers a good variety of tapas, marinated fish and pasta. Everything has such a homemade feel that you'll feel like you're eating at someone's house.

Practical information

• Address: 1107a Calle Larga dei Bari.
• Opening hours: from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Speciality: in addition to its wonderful desserts, the lasagne and the fabulous gnocchi with salmon and prawn sauce are particularly noteworthy.

Although not restaurants in the strict sense, no visitor should leave without trying their famous and delicious ice creams, even those travelling to Venice in winter. Among the many options in the city, be sure to include Suso Gelatoteca, near the Rialto Bridge, in your gastronomic tour of Venice.

If you've come back tired from an excursion to Murano, for example, there's no better way to recover than by popping into this place. Its artisan ice creams are considered among the best in the city and, what's more, the prices are very reasonable.

Suso offers a wide variety of flavours and has christened his creations with names such as Opera and Bellini. Bear in mind that the portions are very generous, especially the ice creams served with cream and wafers.

Practical information

• Address: Calle della Bissa, 5453.
• Opening hours: open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Speciality: the walnut and fig and Nutella ice creams are fantastic.

If you're spending several days in Venice and fancy a change of cuisine, I recommend the American menu at the Hard Rock Cafe in Venice, where you can enjoy various types of burgers and sandwiches from the legendary bar with live music.

Inside, decorated with guitars, artists' costumes and musical memorabilia, you can choose from classic options such as the Original Legendary® Burger or innovations with local touches. They also offer vegetarian options, hearty desserts and a good selection of cocktails and international drinks. Whether for lunch, dinner or simply to enjoy a drink on the terrace with rock music playing in the background, it's a different experience to add to your itinerary in Venice.

Practical information

• Address: Bacino Orseolo, San Marco 1192, 30124 Venice.
• Opening hours: open from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.
• Signature dish: the Original Legendary® Burger, with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onion ring and French fries.