Last updated on June 22nd, 2024
Are you planning your next vacation to Italy and wondering if Venice has vegan options?
The answer is yes! Despite all the fresh fish, Venice is also a wonderful city for vegetables, especially in the winter when all the winter greens, radicchio and lettuces are in season.
Living just a short train ride from Venice has given me ample opportunity to sample Venice’s local cuisine and after a while it’s nice to change things up, which has led me on the hunt for the best vegan restaurants in Venice.
In this article, I will share with you my top five vegan friendly restaurants to try in Venice, including what each is best for.
All my Venice vegan recommendations in this article are also great spots for eating vegetarian in Venice as well.
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Map Of Eating Vegan In Venice, Italy
Eating Vegan In Venice, Italy Quick Guide
| Vegan Restaurant in Venice | Neighborhood | Best For | Reservations |
| OKE Zattere | Dorsoduro (Zattere) | Eating on the water in Venice | YES |
| Pizzeria Angelo | San Marco | Pizza or a quick meal in Venice | NO (takeout only) |
| Frary’s | San Polo | Mediterranean cuisine | YES |
| Sullaluna Libreria & Bistro | Cannaregio | Quiet corner off the beaten path | NO |
| Africa Experience | Dorsoduro | Foreign food | Recommended |
Look the Part: Check out these 5 Items Not to Wear When Dining Out in Italy and What to Wear to Dinner in Italy.
OKE Zattere
Sestiere Dorsoduro, 1414, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Open: Daily for lunch and dinner
Best For: Eating on the waterfront in Venice
This Venetian restaurant is owned by the Pizzeria Ae Oche Santa Lucia, one of my top picks to stop and eat before boarding your train at the Santa Lucia Train Station.
In this establishment, however, they are more focused on dietary restrictions, offering a wide selection of high quality gluten-free and vegan items as well as classic Venetian dishes.
OKE Zattere is my top pick for vegans in Venice, looking to order pizza or vegans looking to eat on the waterfront.
OKE Zattere is located on the large boardwalk overlooking Giudecca in Venice, right on the water, serving up a wide selection of pizza with over 40 tables outdoors.
If you hope to eat outdoors, I highly suggest you pre-book your table but if that doesn’t matter, they have both a ground level and top floor seating area with ample seating, catering to over 150 guests at any given time. Don’t let this scare you away though – they do a fine job even with such a large capacity!
Pizzeria L’Angelo
Calle de la Mandola, 3711, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Open: 11:30-10:00 pm
Best For: Takeout pizza on-the-go lunch
Pizzeria L’Angelo is where I recommend if you are looking for a takeout vegan lunch option in Venice, Italy.
This hole in the wall pizzeria in the center of Venice, just around the corner from Piazza San Marco, has very good pizza by the slice that you can eat standing or to-go in a box.
Catering mostly to students and hungry travelers on a dime, this pizzeria is a great choice for anyone, be you vegan in Venice or not. Choose from classics such as margherita and salsiccia but look for their vegan marinara pizza that is delicious as well.
Frary’s
Fondamenta Frari, 2558, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Open: Daily for lunch and dinner
Best For: Mediterranean cuisine
Frary’s is located on the Rio del Frari with outdoor seating overlooking the small camel. If you want to eat outside, be sure to book ahead because they fill up quickly.
They specialize in Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern flare, offering plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as vegan dishes
Frary’s is committed to preparing their food with organic produce. All of the organic produce they use at the restaurant comes from the Venetian island of Giudecca, grown by the female prisoners who are housed there. The staff is also all female as well.
Even if you are not vegan, there are plenty of other meat options for you here as well.
Sullaluna Libreria & Bistro
Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2535, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Open: Daily 9:00 am – 11:30 pm
Best For: Off the beaten path and a quiet meal
Sullaluna is one of my favorite cozy nooks for vegans in Venice looking to get off the beaten track and into a quiet neighborhood.
This place actually doubles as a cafe and a bookstore, making it an intimate, quiet corner of Venice for vegans.
You can come here for breakfast, lunch, a snack or even a full dinner as both a vegan or vegetarian and be satisfied by their attention to local ingredients, whole grains and meatless alternatives in a cozy spot.
You can even sit outdoors at one of their 6-8 tables and enjoy an aperitivo in Venice along the canal with locals.
Good To Know: Sullaluna is also a great place to bring kids to eat. They can play on the wide sidewalk while you wait for your food or you can purchase one of their kid-friendly Venice activity books to keep them busy while you wait.
Africa Experience
C. Lunga S. Barnaba, 2722, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Open: Daily for lunch and dinner
Best For: Foreign food (non Italian)
Africa Experience is one of my top picks for eating in Venice as a vegan if you are looking for something other than local dishes (which is sometimes refreshing if you are on a longer trip to Italy) but also because of its unique story. The restaurant was opened by Hamed Ahmadi, a political refugee who came to Venice to show his documentary at the Venice Film Festival.
He fell in love with the city and after various jobs, started his own initiative helping immigrants in Italy to find work within the community.
Africa Experience is managed and run by immigrants in Venice, sharing some of their family’s recipes from home. The menu has a ton of vegan and vegetarian options at a budget friendly price in a colorful, welcoming atmosphere.
There is even an outdoor garden in the back if you wish to dine outdoors.
Tips for Eating Vegan in Venice
Being a vegan in Venice isn’t as hard as it seems, especially if you keep my top tips for eating vegan in Venice in mind as you go.
- If you are not at a vegan-specific restaurant in Venice, order a whole meal from their sides and appetizers, sticking to vegetables and starches.
- If you don’t see anything that is vegan on the menu, don’t be afraid to ask the waiter. Most restaurants can make pasta with vegetables or tomato sauce.
- Eating cicchetti in Venice as a vegan is challenging from my experience. For meals, stick to restaurants, bars, pizzerias or other Italian eateries instead of bacari for food.
- Shopping at markets in Venice and buying snacks is a great way to stay full as a vegan in Venice. The local Rialto market has plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and small shops surrounding it, full of goodies to eat along your travels and bring home as souvenirs.
- Many of the best bakeries in Venice have vegan specialties including local cookies, focaccia and savory snacks.
Foodie Travel: Are you interested in planning an itinerary revolving around eating in Venice? Read my 24-Hour and 48-Hour Venice Foodie Itineraries.
Helpful Vocabulary For Vegans In Venice
| Italian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Sono vegano/vegana | soh-noh veh-gah-noh/nah | I am vegan (male/female) |
| Siamo vegani | see-ah-moh veh-gah-nee | We are vegans |
| Non mangio prodotti di origine animale | nohn mahn-joh proh-doht-tee dee oh-ree-jee-neh ah-nee-mah-leh | I don’t eat animal products |
| Posso avere la pasta ma senza il formaggio? | poh-soh ah-veh-reh lah pah-stah sehn-zah eel fohr-mahj-jee-oh | May I have the pasta but without the cheese? |
| È possibile fare un piatto vegano? | eh pohs-see-bee-leh fah-reh oon pee-aht-toh veh-gah-noh | Is it possible to order something vegan? |
| Non mangio… | nohn mahn-joh… | I don’t eat… |
| latticini | laht-tee-chee-nee | dairy products |
| latte di soia | laht-teh dee soy-ah | soy milk |
| latte di avena | laht-teh dee ah-veh-nah | oat milk |
| latte di mandorla | laht-teh dee mahn-dohr-lah | almond milk |
| carne | cahr-neh | meat |
| pesce | peh-sheh | fish |
| frutti di mare | froot-tee dee mahr-reh | seafood |
| uova | oo-oh-vah | eggs |
| formaggio | fohr-mahj-jee-oh | cheese |
| burro | boor-roh | butter |
| panna | pahn-nah | cream |
| brodo | broh-doh | broth |
| pollo | pohl-loh | chicken |
| maiale | my-ah-leh | pork |
| manzo | mahn-zoh | beef |
| fagioli | fah-joh-lee | beans |
| lenticchie | lehn-teek-kee-eh | lentils |
| ceci | cheh-chee | chickpeas |
| verdure | vehr-doo-rah | vegetables |
| insalata | een-sah-lah-tah | salad |
