Dinner On The Water In Venice, Italy – My Top 7 Restaurants

Last updated on March 17th, 2024

If you are planning a trip to Venice, Italy and hope to eat some delicious Venetian food while kicking it water side, you are in the right place! 

Living in Italy for over a decade now has given me countless opportunities to eat out in Venice – on dates, with girlfriends, with kids, and solo. In this article, I will go over my top recommendations for waterfront restaurants in Venice, Italy based on my first hand experience in Venice.

No matter the occasion or weather you are planning a date night, dinner with the family or just a fun night out in Venice, I have the right spot for you! Don’t let the choices overwhelm you, just check out my simple chart which will help you choose the absolute best restaurant in Venice, Italy with a water view! 

Note: I have selected all of these restaurants in Venice because of what they offer in terms of food, ambience, experience and also location. Not all of my suggestions, however, have a grand view and most only have a view if you can pre book a table outdoors so be sure to plan ahead!

Map Of Restaurants On The Water In Venice

Venice Restaurants On The Water In Venice Overview

Venice Restaurant	Address	Best For	Specialty	Rest Day (Closed)
Restaurant Terrazza Danieli	Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy	Romantic Evening / Rooftop dinner	Fine dining Italian food	N/A
Trattoria alla Maddalena	Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 7/b, 30142 Venezia VE (Mazzorbo)	Quiet evening on one of the small islands of Venice	Classic Venetian Cuisine	Thursday
Venissa	Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 3, 30142 Venezia VE (Mazzorbo)	Wine lovers and foodies	Farm to table / Sustainable cuisine	Tuesday & Wednesday
Terrazza dei Nobili	Zattere, Dorsoduro, 924, 30123 Venezia VE	Families or casual meals	Pizza	N/A
Gam Gam	Cannaregio, 1122, 30121 Venezia VE	Kosher, vegan or vegetarian food	Kosher Food	Saturday
Majer de Giudecca	Fondamenta Sant’Eufemia, 461, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy	Celiac, gluten-free travelers	Grilled seafood and meat	N/A
BONUS: Ristorante Luna Sentada	Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 7/b, 30142 Venezia VE	Romantic evening off the beaten path	Venetian food with an Asian twist	Wednesday

Booking A Table: I highly recommend pre booking your table outdoors at these restaurants in Venice. Get help booking a table in Italian here: How to Order Food in Italian.

Restaurant Terrazza Danieli

Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Lunch and dinner

Speciality: Fine dining Italian food

Best For: Romantic dinner / rooftop dinner

Restaurant Terrazza Danieli is the best choice for restaurants on the water in Venice if you are looking for a spendy romantic dinner or rooftop experience. This restaurant with a view is one of Venice’s most famous and iconic spots located on the top floor of the Palazzo Danieli Excelsior with sweeping views overlooking the city. 

Here you will find classic Italian dishes as well as typical Venetian foods prepared with top quality local ingredients. They have an amazing wine list with extensive international choices far beyond domestic wines and prosecco. 

Unfortunately, Restaurant Terrazza Danieli was completely booked when I was last in Venice so I wasn’t able to experience it myself but the locals I know in Venice confirm it’s a classic choice for couples or folks looking for a restaurant with a view in Venice. 

Even if you come on a colder evening the restaurant has a large indoor terrace with enormous windows, allowing you to enjoy the view of the Grand Canal as it opens into the Venetian Lagoon.

Good To Know: Don’t feel like dining here? Book an aperitivo instead and enjoy a drink with one of the best views in Venice! 

Trattoria Alla Maddalena

Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 7/b, 30142 Venezia VE (Mazzorbo)

Open: Lunch and dinner (closed Thursday)

Speciality: Classic Venetian Cuisine

Best For: Quiet evening away from the crowds

Trattoria Alla Maddalena is my top pick for restaurants on the water with a view in Venice if you want to get off the main drag and into a quiet corner of Venice. Located on the small island of Mazzorbo, just off of Burano, this quiet island is the ideal spot for travelers who have a little more time in Venice. 

Trattoria alla Maddalena is dedicated to the lagoon’s bountiful produce and seafood, serving only what they can grow, working side by side local fishermen, ensuring freshness and only the best of quality in their classic Venetian dishes.

Venetian Food Guide: Foodies in Venice don’t miss my 48 Hour Foodie Itinerary for Venice, which includes this waterfront restaurant. 

The Venetian restaurant has an outdoor terrace with several elegantly set tables right on the canal. I wouldn’t consider this choice to have the best view on the water but it is literally right on the canal where you will have the chance to take in the quiet lagoon atmosphere.

Good To Know: Trattoria Alla Maddalena can also host larger groups for celebrations and events. Get in touch to book your next celebratory lunch or dinner in Venice!

Venissa

Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 3, 30142 Venezia VE (Mazzorbo)

Open: Lunch and dinner (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

Speciality: Farm to table 

Best For: Wine lovers and foodies

Located literally next door to Trattoria Alla Maddalena, Venissa is my suggestion for travelers interested in sustainable cuisine while at the same time enjoying an amazing meal at a waterfront restaurant in Venice. 

I stumbled upon Venissa by chance when I was visiting Mazzorbo and was instantly attracted to their vineyards and beautiful outdoor seating area. 

Venissa is not only a restaurant but also has their own vineyard, practicing sustainable wine production. The restaurant, committed to cucina ambientale or sustainable cooking, works to create dishes that pair well with their own wines. 

This initiative has brought them to be awarded the Green Michelin Star, given specifically to only a few choice restaurants dedicated to preserving the local flavors of Venice’s lagoon without compromising its commitment to sustainability and local partnerships.

If you are not looking to eat at the restaurant, you can opt to just have an aperitivo. 

For Wine Lovers: Venissa has their own vineyard onsite, offering various wine experiences, tastings and the opportunity to buy wine directly from them. They have their own vineyard onsite. Read more about them here.

Terrazza dei Nobili

Zattere, Dorsoduro, 924, 30123 Venezia VE

Open: Daily 11:30 am – 11:30 pm

Speciality: Pizza

Best For: Families and casual meals

Terrazza dei Nobili is my favorite restaurant with a view in Venice for pizza. It’s a casual and reliable eatery for families who want to be right on the Zattere with a great view on the water overlooking Giudecca. 

If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, they have plenty of other fish specials like grilled scampi and other Venetian classics such as spaghetti al nero di seppia and even vegetarian pasta options like pasta alla norma from Sicily. 

The downside to Terrazza dei Nobili is its price. I think it’s a little expensive for the quality of food but what you are paying for is the view and its location, which can’t be beat. 

Good To Know: Gelati Nico has some of the best gelato in Venice and it’s located right next door. 

Gam Gam

Cannaregio, 1122, 30121 Venezia VE

Open: Lunch and dinner (closed Saturday)

Speciality: Kosher food

Best For: Vegan and Vegetarians

Gam Gam is a waterfront restaurant located in the Cannaregio neighborhood in the Jewish Ghetto in Venice with a view of the Guglie Bridge right on the Canal. The trick is grabbing one of their tables on the canal, which are always very sought after! 

Gam Gam is my favorite waterfront restaurant in Venice for eating before you board your train, if you are vegan, vegetarian, or looking for a kosher meal. 

The menu is mostly Mediterranean cuisine with dishes such as hummus, fish, couscous, kabab, schnitzel, latkes, and falafel. They also offer a good selection of Italian classics such as tagliatelle and pappardelle pasta.

If you are hoping to get one of the tables with a view on the water you will need to call and pre book your table. If you can’t manage to eat outdoors they do have ample seating indoors. 

Majer de Giudecca

Fondamenta Sant’Eufemia, 461, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: All day, 7 days a week

Speciality: Grilled seafood and meat

Best For: Gluten-free travelers

Majer De Giudecca is the refined restaurant owned by the local chain Majer, which has six cafe locations (with great coffee!), a wine bar and a second restaurant. 

Majer De Giudecca is my favorite place in Venice to visit with gluten-free friends because they specialize in grilling fish and meat. You don’t have to worry about cross-contamination. Choose from things like the famous Chianina beef from Tuscany or the Wagyu Ribeye steak from Japan or local prawns and fresh cuttlefish. 

And even if you aren’t gluten-free, you don’t have to worry about getting caught in one of those gluten-free facilities with strange ingredients or refined foods. Instead, this restaurant on the water relies on the natural gluten-free goodness of local seafood and world famous beef.

At this waterfront restaurant located on Giudecca, expect a modern and innovative approach to local seafood with an open kitchen allowing you to see into the bustling kitchen. The outdoor terrace has several tables located literally on the waters edge, offering an amazing view of the Venetian mainland overlooking the Giudecca Canal, comfortably shaded with large umbrellas.

Good To Know: If you are here on Friday, check out the Sacca Fisola Market, just a short walk from the restaurant. 

BONUS: Ristorante Luna Sentada

Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 7/b, 30142 Venezia VE

Open: Lunch and dinner (closed Wednesdays)

Speciality: Classic Venetian fare with a twist

Best For: Intimate experience or Romantic dinner

I have to include Ristorante Luna Sentada as the best spot for an intimate and private dinner off the beaten path although it doesn’t have an amazing view. It is, however, right on the water in a small piazza in a hidden corner of Venice, which is why I include it. 

This is where you want to be for a quiet and intimate dinner where you can depend on an exclusive evening in a romantic location. In addition to being one of my favorite restaurants on the water in Venice for a romantic evening, it’s also one of my favorite places for a twist on seafood.

Seafood is their specialty at Ristorante Luna Sentada but with an unexpected Asian twist. It isn’t too ‘far out’ but rather, subtle but with enough flair and innovation to stand out. 

Choose to order from their wine bar menu with more casual choices such as large salads, cicchetti, cheese and charcuterie boards large selections of cocktails, artisan beers, non-alcoholic beverages and wine.

For a more formal evening, book your table outdoors on their terrace on the water and order from their regular menu, perfect for a romantic evening. 

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