Last updated on August 23rd, 2024
Coming to Venice with a baby bump? Don’t worry, I have all the information you need to know about eating in Venice while pregnant. After all, I have done it four times!
While most of you already know what is OK to eat in Venice while pregnant, there are a few things to keep in mind and avoid to keep you and your baby safe.
In this comprehensive guide to eating in Venice while pregnant, I will share all my advice, tips and tricks for eating with a baby bump in La Serenissima.
I will cover cover:
- a full guide to how I ate during my four pregnancies
- what I recommend ordering in Venice as a pregnant traveler
- safe snacks and street food to eat in Venice while pregnant
- what to avoid in Venice
- useful phrases and vocabulary
- tips and tricks to help you stay full and satisfied
And keep in mind, much of my advice and tips apply to all of Italy. If you plan on traveling in other areas of Italy, keep this information at hand and consider reading
Eating in Italy While Pregnant
Eating in Tuscany While Pregnant – From a Mamma of Four in Florence
10 Foods I Ate in Italy While Pregnant
10 Foods You May Want to Avoid in Italy While Pregnant
My Favorite Snacks to Eat in Italy While Pregnant
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Foods to Avoid in Venice While Pregnant
As a general rule, do not eat cured meats, unpasteurized cheeses and raw fish and meat. Read more about which foods you may want to avoid in Italy while pregnant.
Although much of the food you will find in Venice is edible for pregnant women in Italy, there are some things you should avoid.
- salumi – any kind of cured meat including prosciutto crudo, salame, finocchiona, bresaola, and speck. They might be served on cicchetti so be forewarned!
- formaggi crudi – unpasteurized cheeses are a big no-no. Confirm beforehand.
- carpaccio di pesce – raw fish salad
- carpaccio di manzo – raw beef appetizer
- tartare – raw beef
- pesce crudo – raw fish (often found on cicchetti)
- scampi crudi – raw prawns
- ostriche – oysters
- tonno – avoid tuna if you can, which is high in mercury unless it’s canned or cooked well-done.
- sarde in saor – marinated sardines but not always cooked
- caffè – coffee in large quantities
- tiramisù – contains raw eggs
- zabaione – contains raw eggs
- mozzarella – fresh mozzarella is not cooked to a high enough temperature to be considered pasteurized. If it’s cooked like on pizza, don’t worry about it – it’s fine.
- fegato alla veneziana – cow liver
- crostini con lardo – crostini with lard often paired with honey and/or pears
Learn More: You may want to read Is Prosciutto Raw, Is Mozzarella Pasteurized In Italy, and Is Ricotta Pasteurized In Italy? – Advice From An Italian Family.
Foods to Eat in Venice While Pregnant
Take advantage of all the great produce and seafood from the Venetian lagoon. Venice is a city committed to supporting the local farming practices and agricultural traditions. I always try to order what is in season. If you don’t know, just ask!
Noteworthy vegetables are artichokes and radicchio, a bitter lettuce. For a comprehensive list of local flavors, ingredients and dishes in Venice read 20+ Must-Try Foods And Drinks In Venice – And My Favorite Places To Eat Them.
Fresh Produce For Pregnant Travelers In Venice:
- Radicchio Rosso di Treviso – Radicchio Rosso di Treviso is the most famous kind of radicchio grown in Veneto.
- Asparagi Bianchi di Bassano – DOP asparagus with a snow white color and has a sweet yet bitter flavor enjoyed in the spring.
- Carciofo Violetto di Sant’Erasmo – A purple artichoke grown on the St. Erasmo island in the winter and spring just off the Venice mainland.
- Giuggiola dei Colli Euganei – Small brown fruits similar to a date in appearance but taste somewhat like an apple.
- Barbe di Frate/Agretti – Known as “Monk’s Beard” in English, agretti are a grass-like vegetable that look similar to thin seaweed grown in the spring for just a few short weeks.
- Fagioli di Lamon – IGP protected borlotto bean that grows North of Venice.
- Fragoline – A variety of small strawberry, bite size like a blueberry and very sweet in season only in the spring.
- Finocchio – Fennel is primarily a winter vegetable in Italy.
- Fiori Di Zucca – Zucchini blossoms are a treat if you see them on menus in Venice.
Seafood In Venice For Pregnant Travelers
- Moeche – soft shell crabs from the Venetian Lagoon sold only in the spring and fall.
- Orata – gilthead bream
- Cannolicchio – razor clams
- Seppie – cuttlefish used to make pasta, risotto, seafood salad, and cicchetti
- Caposanti – scallops (often served on the halfshell)
- Moscardini – small octopus
- Baccalà – codfish is one my personal favorite, used to make baccalà mantecato, a favorite cicchetto.
- Branzino – sea bass
- Schie – tiny, seasonal shrimp
- Mazzancolle – prawns
- Granchio – crab
- Polpo – octopus
- Vongole – clams
- Sgombro – mackerel
What To Eat for Breakfast/at Bars in Venice While Pregnant
Eating breakfast in Italy is a snap as a pregnant woman. Just keep your caffeine intake to a minimum. What does that mean? Here in Italy that would usually mean about 2 cups a day. For me, one for breakfast and one after lunch.
I prefer ordering a cappuccino made with cow’s milk. If I feel like I need more, I will order decaf later on in the morning.
Here were some of my favorites breakfast items to order in Venice while pregnant:
- Brioche alla crema – a pastry with cream – added protein from the pastry cream
- Panino con prosciutto cotto e pomodoro – savory ham and tomato sandwich
- Frìtole – fried dough balls for Carnival
- Brioche integrale – whole wheat pastry
- Bignole – mini cream puffs with various fillings
- Cream puffs – large pastries filled with different creams including ricotta, chocolate and whipped cream
- Spremuta – freshly squeezed orange juice
Breakfast Italian Style: Eat as the Italians do and learn all about how they do breakfast in Italian Breakfast – A Traveler’s Guide.
I Recommend: Make sure you’re having the best coffee in Venice, best breakfast and going to the best bakeries in Venice!
What To Eat at Restaurants in Venice While Pregnant
Because Venice is a city built on water, it’s no wonder seafood is the star of the show. I highly suggest eating as much fresh seafood as possible. Be sure it’s not raw! Consume only cooked seafood.
Just like all regional Italian cooking, the foods you find in Venice are very seasonal and change according to what time of year you are visiting.
Here are my favorite safe and delicious foods to try in Venice while pregnant:
- Minestrone* – vegetable soup
- Polenta e schie – made from small seasonal shrimp served on a creamy bed of polenta.
- Moeche Fritte – These small soft shell crabs are battered and deep fried.
- Scampi in Busara – spaghetti with tomato sauce and fresh scampi.
- Risi e bisi – a very soft and creamy risotto, similar to a soup made with fresh peas in the spring.
- Bigoli in salsa* – pasta made from buckwheat flour dressed in a sauce made from anchovies and lots of white onion.
- Spaghetti al nero di seppia – spaghetti cooked in a rich cuttlefish ink sauce.
- Baccalà Mantecato – A creamy whipped puree of salt cod is served on small rounds of toasted bread or crispy pieces of polenta.
- Pizza Margherita – cheese pizza
- Lasagne – lasagna
- Grigliata mista – grilled mixed meats (sausage, pork chop, ribs)
- Pesce alla griglia/al cartoccio – grilled or baked fish
- Verdure alla griglia* – grilled vegetables
- Insalata di carciofi* – raw artichoke salad (only in the winter)
- Frittata di stagione – seasonal egg omelette (asparagus, artichoke, and fennel are popular)
*Supplement with a protein source either found under antipasti or secondi on the menu.
For my personal recommendations on where specifically to eat in Venice, check out
Eating Vegetarian In Venice
Eating Vegan In Venice
8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice
Best Restaurants in Venice
Best Pizza In Venice
Dinner On The Water In Venice, Italy
More Veg Please: Check out my list of Vegetarian Dishes to Try in Italy.
Foods to Buy From Markets In Venice While Pregnant
Venice has some beautiful open air markets to shop from, all of which will have everything you need for cooking at your apartment rental in Venice or picking up snacks.
Markets are also one of my favorite places to pick up souvenirs and gifts in Venice.
Look for these baby bump friendly items at markets in Venice:
- Frutta e verdura fresca – fresh fruit and vegetables. Ask for what is local!
- Noci – local walnuts most likely still in their shell
- Formaggio – cheese.
- Olive – olives
- Porchetta – freshly roasted pork
- Panino – sandwich
- Bread
More On Markets: For my tips and guidelines on shopping at street markets in Italy read
How to Shop at Markets in Italy
10 Rules for Shopping at Markets in Italy
Shopping at the Rialto Market in Venice
Best Markets to Shop at While Pregnant in Venice
My best advice for a pregnant woman is to stay local and not get too far off the beaten track. Stick to these centrally located general markets and food markets in Venice:
| Food Market In Venice | Location – Neighborhood | Open | Where To Eat Closeby |
| Rialto Market | San Polo (close to Rialto Bridge) | Tuesday to Saturday from 7 am to 1:30 pm | Osteria Bancogiro |
| Rio Terà dei Pensieri Market | Rio Terà dei Pensieri (Dorsoduro) | Thursday from 9 am am to 5:30 pm | Bacareto da Lele |
| Santa Margherita Market | Campo Santa Margherita (Dorsoduro) | Daily from 8 am to 1 pm | Osteria Alla Bifora or Panini E Vini Da Babbo for cicchetti |
Shopping at Grocery Stores in Venice While Pregnant
Because Venice is a touristy city, there are several small grocery stores littered throughout the city, making it easy to pick up pregnancy friendly snacks and other food items.
Here are my top recommendations to buy at grocery stores in Italy to stow away for when hunger strikes on the vaporetto:
- Frutta e verdura fresca – fresh fruit and vegetables. The quality will not be as good as at open air markets or small fruit and veggie shops but it’s still going to be excellent and it will most likely be sourced locally (unless out of season).
- Barette – granola or protein bars
- Frutta secca – dried fruit and nuts
- Pizza a taglio – pizza by the slice (located in the bakery section)
- Prosciutto cotto– cooked ham to make sandwiches (order at deli or next to refrigerated section already packaged)
- Focaccia – focaccia to make sandwiches
Fun Fact: Most grocery stores have a ‘skip the line’ sign for pregnant women. If not, just scoot your way to the front of the line – stick that belly out!
For a full list of my favorite snacks in Italy read My Favorite Snacks to Eat in Italy While Pregnant.
Cicchetti In Venice While Pregnant In Venice
One of the most famous things to do in Venice as a tourist is to taste your way through the local food traditions on a bacaro tour. Hop from one wine bar to another sampling local nibbles, visiting different neighborhoods and small canals off the beaten track.
You can eat most cicchetti in Venice when pregnant but avoid the following:
- Scampi crudi
- Ostriche
- cicchetti with pâté
- cicchetti with smoked salmon
- cicchetti with smoked tuna
- cicchetti with prosciutto crudo (or other cured meats)
For my personal favorite spots to eat cicchetti read My Favorite Cicchetti In Venice – The 10 Best Bacari To Try.
Street Food In Venice While Pregnant In Venice
There are a lot of great street food options in Venice, making quick lunches and snacking easy for pregnant travelers. These are my favorite items:
- Scartosso de pesse fritto: Venice’s most famous street food, made from a variety of local flash fried fish served in a large, paper cone.
- Mozzarella in carrozza: A fried mozzarella sandwich originally from Naples (Campania).
- Tramezzini: White bread sandwiches stuffed with some kind of creamy filling or salad such as tuna salad, shrimp salad, egg salad, tomato and mozzarella.
- Gelato: nothing better than a cooling cone of gelato to get your day started, keep you going or end your evening. You can read about my favorite gelato in Venice here.
For my recommendations on where eat each of these street foods, check out 5 Street Foods To Try In Venice & Where Eat Them.
Drinking In Venice While Pregnant
Venice has a huge drinking culture from which its cicchetti culture was born. At any time of the day you will find someone with a glass of wine in one hand and some cicchetti in the other.
Because you really shouldn’t be drinking when pregnant, consider other alternatives to classics such as white wine, Spritz and other cocktails like these:
- Crodino
- Crodino spritz
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Centrifuga – freshly squeezed juice
- Mocktails
Looking for bar, aperitivo and after dinner hang outs? Read Best Spots In Venice For Aperitivo – My Top Bars & Squares for Pre-Dinner Drinks and My Favorite After Dinner Drink Spots In Venice.
Don’t Skip Aperitivo if You’re Pregnant! Check out
Non-Alcoholic Italian Drinks – That We Actually Drink in Italy
Italian Mocktails
Italian Cedrata Long Mocktail
Apertass Italian Mocktail
Italian Lemon Ginger Mocktail
Italian Limonata
Aperol Spritz Mocktail
Crodino Spritz – Italy’s Non-Alcoholic Spritz Made Easy
My Tips and Advice for Eating in Venice While Pregnant
- Raw vegetables will always be washed before being served but if you have any concerns, order cooked vegetables found under the contorni section of the menu (after secondi).
- Always wash fruits and vegetables that you buy from markets and supermarkets. Keep an eye out for city water spickets or carry a small bottle of water and some napkins with you.
- Always confirm with the waiter if you have any doubts that cured meats or raw eggs are being used in a dish.
- Notify your waiter that you are pregnant and you cannot eat unpasteurized cheese and cured meats.
- Travel with nuts or dried fruit that you can sneakily eat in long museum tours (you are not permitted to eat in museums but if you are doing a long tour you may need to. Nuts are easy to eat without making a mess and without anyone noticing).
- Ask before ordering creamy gelato flavors that they aren’t made with raw eggs.
- Carry hand sanitizer to wash up before chowing down between meals.
- Order decaf coffee after you have already had your allotted caffeine intake.
- Order non-alcoholic cocktails for aperitivo.
Foodie Travel: Are you interested in planning an itinerary revolving around eating in Venice? Read
Eating Around Venice in 48 hours – 2 Day Venice Itinerary For Foodies
24 Hour Food Guide For Venice – A Self Guided Tour For Foodies in Venice
Eating Meat-Free in Italy? Check out How to Eat Vegetarian in Italy.
Helpful Phrases for Eating in Venice While Pregnant
| Italian Phrase | English Translation |
| È pastorizzato? | Is this pasteurized? |
| Vorrei il carne ben cotto per piacere. | I would like the meat well-cooked please. |
| Ci sono salumi crudi in questo piatto? | Are there cured meats in this dish? |
| Ci sono le uova crude in questo piatto? | Are there raw eggs in this dish? |
| Il vostro gelato è fatto con le uova crude? | Is your gelato made with raw eggs? |
| Posso ordinare … senza i salumi? | May I order … without the cured meat? |
| Posso ordinare questo con prosciutto cotto invece di prosciutto crudo, per favore? | May I please order with ham instead of prosciutto? |
| Il pesce è crudo? | Is the fish raw? |
| La carne è cruda? | Is the meat raw? |
| Vorrei un cappuccino decaffeinato, per piacere. | I would please like a decaf cappuccino. |
| Posso avere un drink senza alcool? | May I have a cocktail without alcohol please? |
