Eating Vegetarian In Venice, Italy - My Top Five Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants + Tips

Last updated on May 13th, 2024

Because Venice is built on the water, all you vegetarians out there might be thinking it will be hard to eat in Venice as a vegetarian.

Yes, there are a ton of fish on menus in Venice, Italy, but guess what? There are also plenty of vegetarian restaurants in Venice to explore, including restaurants on the water in Venice, great pizzerias, and classic osterie.

Although I am not vegetarian, my Italian family eats a ton of vegetables (including while traveling), and it makes us feel better about all the gelato and other pastries we are eating in Venice!

In this article, I will share my top vegetarian restaurants to try while in Venice, including specifics on what they serve and what each is known for.

Although some of my recommendations are not vegetarian-specific restaurants, the quality in each place is top notch with plenty of vegetarian options.

And if you are hoping to find a vegan friendly option too in Venice, there are plenty. Check out Where to Eat Vegan in Venice.

More Veg Please: Check out my list of Vegetarian Dishes to Try in Italy.

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Map Of Eating Vegetarian In Venice, Italy

Quick Guide To Eating Vegetarian In Venice, Italy

Vegetarian Restaurant in Venice	Neighborhood	Best For
La Zucca	Santa Croce	Casual meal in rustic setting
Frary’s	San Polo	Mediterranean Cuisine
Gam Gam	Cannaregio	Eating at before catching your train at the Santa Lucia Train Station
Terrazza dei Nobili	Dorsoduro	Restaurant on the water
Sullaluna Libreria & Bistro	Cannaregio	Book lovers

La Zucca

A piazza in Italy with people walking around and sitting on benches. Piazza is surrrounded by buildings and a few trees.

Sestiere Santa Croce 1762, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy

Closed: Sunday

La Zucca is a mostly vegetarian restaurant just off of Campo San Giacomo in the Santa Croce neighborhood of Venice, best known for their vegetarian spins on classic Venetian cuisine. Take their saor di zucca e melanzane, a vegetarian variation on the classic sarde in saor, made with squash and eggplant instead of sardines cooked in a sweet and sour sauce.

La Zucca is not unlike other classic Italian osterie. It’s casual with paper placemats and wooden walls and furniture with small tables lining the street (6-8).

They also boast a pretty good local wine list and even have gluten-free dishes as well.

Good To Know: Some of the best coffee in Venice at Majer, best gelato in Venice at Gelateria di Natura and Campo San Giacomo are just around the corner from La Zucca.

Frary’s

Couple walks by Fran's restaurant in Venice. On right is narrow canal with gondolas.

Fondamenta Frari, 2558, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily for lunch and dinner

Frary’s is a Mediterranean restaurant with a Middle Eastern flare in the heart of Venice, offering plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

It’s located right on the Rio del Frari with outdoor seating overlooking a quiet, quant corner of Venice. If you want to get a table outdoors though, be sure to book ahead because they fill up quickly.

What sets Frary’s apart is their commitment to organic produce and their female-only staff. 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.

Even if you are not vegetarian, there are plenty of vegan and meat options as well. They are well known for their stewed mutton.

Look the Part: Check out these 5 Items Not to Wear When Dining Out in Italy and What to Wear to Dinner in Italy.

Gam Gam

Cannaregio, 1122, 30121 Venezia VE

Open: Lunch and dinner (closed Saturday)

Speciality: Kosher food

Gam Gam is located just a five minute’s walk from the Santa Lucia Train Station in Venice, in the Jewish Ghetto of Cannaregio, offering a wide selection of Kosher vegetarian dishes as well as vegan options, and also traditional Italian first courses. There really is something for everyone!

The atmosphere is casual, with wooden tables and paper placemats but don’t let its casual vibe keep you away. The food is authentic and always reliable. Check out some of their most popular dishes including hummus, couscous, latkes, and falafel.

And if you are traveling with kids in Venice, they have plenty of traditional Italian food as well such as tagliatelle and pappardelle.

Although they do have outdoor seating, there aren’t too many tables so I recommend calling ahead to get a view of the Guglie Bridge on the Canal di Cannaregio.

Good To Know: Baldin Romaina Bakery is one of the best bakeries in Venice, located just down the street from Gam Gam!

Terrazza dei Nobili

Zattere, Dorsoduro, 924, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily 11:30 am – 11:30 pm

Terrazza dei Nobili is not a vegetarian restaurant but it’s my top pick for vegetarians who want a restaurant with a view on the water in Venice, Italy. It’s located right on the Zattere in Venice with a large, covered terrace overlooking the water.

They have both a pizza menu and a regular menu with classic Italian dishes including local favorites. If you are vegetarian, I suggest ordering pizza – you can’t go wrong!

Unfortunately, if you are looking for something other than pizza, there aren’t too many options. The majority of the dishes on the rest of their menu are made with fish, except for the paccheri alla norma, a Sicilian pasta with eggplant and tomato sauce.

Tip: Just next door to Terrazza dei Noboli you will see Gelateria Nico, one of my top picks for best gelato in Venice.

Sullaluna Libreria & Bistro

White chairs and wooden tables are covered with a small umbrella on a canal in Venice, Italy.

Books on shelves and tables and chairs set up inside cozy restaurant Sulla Luna in Venice, Italy.

Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2535, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily 9:00 am – 11:30 pm

Sullaluna is one of the best small hole in the walls for vegetarian and vegan food in Venice, offering a wide selection of healthy, whole grain, meatless alternatives in a warm atmosphere.

Sullaluna doubles as a small bookstore and cafè as well with a small curated selection of Italian books for adults and children.

Come to Sullaluna at any time of the day for breakfast, lunch, snacks, aperitivo and dinner.

It’s quiet and off the main drag, perfect for getting away from the crowds and tourists. It’s quite and small, with only about seven tables indoors but it also has 6-8 tables outdoors along the canal. If it’s nice weather, Sullaluna is my top pick for eating vegetarian food in Venice along a quiet canal on Rio della Misericordia.

The menu changes seasonally and be sure to ask if they have daily specials!

Tips for Eating Vegetarian in Venice

Piles of colorful vegetables with price signs at a market in Venice, Italy.

Although I do eat meat, my natural tendency is to eat vegetarian. I often eat vegetarian when I am out eating at restaurants. Follow these top tips for eating vegetarian in Venice, even if you aren’t at a specific vegetarian restaurant:

Many regular restaurants in Venice have vegetarian options on their menu, including bacari for cicchetti.
If you are at a regular restaurant, look at the appetizers and first courses, and side dishes to find the best vegetarian options.
If you don’t find a vegetarian option, don’t be afraid to ask your server for a suggestion.
Feel free to make a whole meal out of side dishes and appetizers without ordering a first or second course.
If you don’t feel like sitting down for a meal, check out my street food guide for Venice to learn more about the local street food, including vegetarian options such as mozzarella in carrozza and tramezzini.
Perusing markets in Venice for snacks is one of my top tips for being a vegetarian in Venice. The local Rialto Market has plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and small shops surrounding it.

Foodie Travel: Are you interested in planning an itinerary revolving around eating in Venice? Read 24 Hour Foodie Itinerary for Venice and 48 Hour Foodie Itinerary for Venice.

Helpful Vocabulary For Vegetarians In Venice

side dish of grilled various vegetables on a white platter sprinkled with green garnish.

Italian	Pronunciation	English Translation
Sono vegetariano/a	soh-noh veh-jeh-tah-ree-ah-noh/nah	I am vegetarian (male/female)
Siamo vegetariani	see-ah-moh veh-jeh-tah-ree-ah-nee	We are vegetarians
Non mangio carne	nohn mahn-joh cahr-neh	I don’t eat meat
È possibile fare un piatto vegetariano?	eh pohs-see-bee-leh fah-reh oon pee-aht-toh veh-jeh-tah-ree-ah-noh	Is it possible to order something vegetarian?
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