Eating in Venice does not mean you have to go broke; you can eat well and happy with tightened purse strings, if you know where to go. While there are plenty of tourist traps, it is still possible to find good, reasonably-priced restaurants and eateries.

Bacari – traditional Venetian wine bars – are your best bets. When you need a little snack and a glass of wine, or if you are feeling peckish, you can “bacaro-hop” and try different cicchetti – cheap Venetian bar snacks. Below, you will find our guide to Venice’s top budget restaurants where you can dine and wine at sensible prices.

ALL’ARCO

One of the most popular and highly-recommended Bacaro in Venice, All’Arco is just a stone’s throw from the iconic Rialto Bridge. What makes All’Arco stand out from the numerous bacari – other than its array of cicchetti – is their team of friendly staff and impeccable service.

Calle dell’Ochialer 436
Tel: +390 41 520 56 66
Mon to Sat: 8am – 3.30pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Rialto-Mercato

AL MURO

If you are visiting Mercato di Rialto – the most famous market in Venice – visit Al Muro for lunch. It is packed with locals and tourists alike getting a quick bite during meal times.

Campo Bella Vienna
San Polo 222
Tel: +39 041 24 12 339
Daily: 9am – 3pm, 4pm – 2am
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Rialto-Mercato

ALLA BASILICA

Avoid all the touristy restaurants at Piazza San Macro and head to Alla Basilica, which is just a short walk from the Bridge of Sighs. It serves an extremely value-for-money set lunch which comes with a first course, a main course, and a side dish for €14/pax.

Calle degli Albanesi, 4255
Tel: +39 041 522 0524
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 3pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: San Macro San Zaccaria

CANTINA DO MORI

Established in 1462, Cantina do Mori is the oldest bacaro in Venice. For those who are planning to go on a bar crawl, this Venetian institution is a must-visit. Snack on a selection of cicchetti, and head over to All’Arco (read above) for more tasty small bites.

Sestiere San Polo, 429
Tel: +39 041 522 5401
Mon to Sat: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Rialto-Mercato

ENOTECA CANTIONE GIA SCHIAVI

Unlike the other bacari in the city, Schiavi is more like a wine shop that sells cicchetti to its regulars who want to munch on something while sampling the different wines that are sold in the shop. Schiavi has quite a selection of affordable wines, so if a wine label catches your attention, you can always grab a bottle to take home.

This family-run bacaro has been around for almost 60 years, serving 20-30 different cicchetti each day, and the variety rotates based on the owner’s preferences and inspirations of the day.

Fondamenta Nani, 992
Tel: +39 041 523 0034
Mon to Sat: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Accademia

OSTERIA AL SQUERO

Just a few units down the road from Schiavi is Osteria Al Squero – right across Venice’s last gondola repair shop – a lovely bacaro which serves cichetti with classical music looping in the background.

Dorsoduro, 943-944
Tel: +39 335 600 7513
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Accademia/Zattere

OSTERIA CÀ D’ORO ALLA VEDOVA

Osteria Cà D’ Oro Alla Vedova is famous for its cicchetti, in particular, its polpette is to-die-for. We are usually not big fans of meatballs, but the one here totally blew us away. It was so good that we ordered extra portions.

Besides having cicchetti at the bar, you can also choose to dine in for a proper meal. Pastas and main courses are well-priced between €10 – €12, which is relatively affordable by Venice’s standards.

Cannareggio, 3912
Tel: +39 041 528 5324
Mon to Sat (closed on Thu): 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Cà D’Oro

PASTICCERIE DA BONIFACIO

There are many wonderful pasticceries in the city, and while you cannot get a full meal here, they offer traditional Venetian pastries as well as cheap aperitivo. Pasticcerie Da Bonifcaio, just a few minutes away from Piazza San Macro, is one of our favourites. It is the perfect pitstop between meals. Come here to have an espresso and enjoy some Italian pastries.

Calle degli Albanesi 4237
Tel: +390 41 522 75 07
Fri to Wed: 7am – 8pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: San Macro San Zaccaria

ROSTICCERIA SAN BARTOLOMEO

For an affordable meal in Rialto, go to Rosticceria San Bartolomeo, one of the most popular rosticcerias in Venice. Pastas are available for €7 – €8.50, while you can get main courses like Venetian-style squids, grilled sole, and cotoletta alla Milanese from €9.50 – €16.50. Manage your expectations, though. Rosticceria San Bartolomeo is an old-fashioned canteen/eatery rather than a restaurant – fuss-free, and no ambiance to speak of. The staff are quite nonchalant and to a certain extent arrogant, so it might be a challenge trying to get their attention and having your orders placed.

From Rialto bridge, walk towards Campo San Bartolomeo and on the left, look out for Sottoportego Della and you will be able to spot Rosticceria Gislon (its old name).

Calle della Bissa
Tel: +390 41 522 3569
Mon: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 10pm
Nearest Vaporetto Station: Rialto

If you are heading to Venice, you must also go for a day trip to Burano, the happiest island in Italy.

A linear of rainbow houses with flower pots sitting on the windowsills, rivers after rivers lined with gondolas and little boats, and a big blue sky with the fluffiest clouds – that is Burano, the happiest island in Italy.

La Bella Burano, bella bella bellissimo.

What would seem like just a dreamland or a postcard is actually real and we were completely in awe upon stepping foot on this beautiful sanctuary of tranquility, peace and joy. We would go as far as to say that a trip to Burano should be on everyone’s bucket list, just because life should be colourful like a rainbow – just like that. Join us into the brilliant world of Burano, the happiest island in Italy.

WHAT TO DO IN BURANO

This may seem obvious, but everyone comes to Burano to admire the beautiful landscape, and to take postcard-worthy photos. Take as many photos as you like, and post them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. Burano is such a lovely place that you will immediately feel happy just being here.

After taking a million photographs, check out some of the lace shops, which Burano is also known for since the 16th century. For those of you who are interested, there is a lace museum where you can find out more about the origins and history of lace making.

WHERE TO EAT IN BURANO

When visiting Burano, make sure to stop by Al Gatto Nero (Via Giudecca 88 – 30143 Burano Tel: +39 041 730120) for lunch. Known for serving the freshest seafood in Burano, if not Venice, Al Gatto Nero is a popular choice for visitors to Burano – even Jamie Oliver ranks it as one of his favourite restaurants. He even spent a few hours learning how to cook Al Gatto Nero’s signature risotto from the owner, and needless to say, the restaurant’s popularity skyrocketed after that.

Another place where you can dine at is Da Romano (Via Galuppi, 221, 30142 Burano Tel: +39 041 730030). On the menu, you can find a wide variety of seafood dishes, but it is famous for the risotto. Fans of Da Romano even went to the extent of proclaiming this as the World’s best risotto, and while we cannot say for sure if it was the best in the world, we have to agree that Da Romano’s Squid Ink Risotto (€16/pax, min 2 pax) was indeed exceptional. Perfectly consistent risotto that is neither too watery or dry.

If we had to choose between Da Romano or Al Gatto Nero, we would go to the latter because it is located in a quieter stretch in Burano; it is less crowded and touristy. But if you are greedy like us, go ahead and dine at both places.

GETTING TO BURANO FROM VENICE

Hop on Vaporetto number 12 from Fondament Nove, which departs every half an hour. It takes 40 minutes from Venice. A single trip costs €7, so it is probably worth getting the day pass and you can explore the other islands like Murano and Torcello in the same day.

Burano is only 40 minutes away, and it is the perfect day trip from Venice.

Venice, or the City of Water, is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities. While some people may find that Venice is too expensive, touristy and over-rated, it will always be one of my favourite places in the world. Sadly, Venice is slowly sinking, so if you have never been there before, please make a trip before it is gone. Here are some postcards from Venice.