8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice - From A Mom Of Four Living In Italy

Last updated on June 12th, 2024

Are you in search of Venice’s best restaurants that are also kid friendly? Whether you are traveling with toddlers or have teenagers, I have a restaurant for your family.

After years of living in Italy and countless meals out with my four kids, I have come down to my top kid friendly restaurants to try in Venice. Looking for pizza night? I have you covered. Takeout? No problem! I will even include my favorite bacari to share cicchetti with your kids.

In this article, I will outline my top restaurants in Venice to eat with children, including my tips for making the most of your meal.

Good To Know: Another great option for eating out with kids in Venice is getting takeout, which is becoming more and more popular. For my top takeout options for takeout in Venice, read Where to Get a Takeaway Meal in Venice.

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Map Of Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice

Kid-Friendly Restaurants In Venice – Quick Guide

Kid Friendly Restaurant	Address (Neighborhood)	Best For	Good To Know
Pizzeria Ae Oche	Cannaregio, 158 (Cannaregio)	Pizza	Great place to eat before catching your train at the Santa Lucia Train Station
Al Profeta	C. Lunga S. Barnaba, 2671 (Dorsoduro)	Outdoor terrace not on canal + Lots of options for whole family	Menu includes Venetian classics and Italian favorites
1000 Gourmet Venezia	C. Specchieri, 475 (San Marco)	Pizza after a climb up tower in Piazza San Marco	Centrally located just off of San Marco Square
Osteria Bancogiro	Campo San Giacometto (San Polo – Rialto Bridge)	Elegant Dinner /Older kids (6+)	Tables in Piazza on Grand Canal
Bacarando Corte dell’Orso	Sestiere di S. Marco, 5495 (San Marco – Rialto Bridge)	Cicchetti	Make a whole dinner out of cicchetti here
Osteria Alla Bifora	Campo Santa Margherita, 2930 (Dorsoduro)	Classic Italian cuisine in a kid friendly square (away from canals)	Tables outdoors overlooking large, open square away from canal
Cantina Do Spade	San Polo, 859 (San Polo – Rialto Bridge)	Cicchetti and Venetian pasta	Tiny hole in the wall – pre booking highly recommended!
Rosticceria Gilson	Calle de la Bissa, 5424/a (San Marco – close to Rialto Bridge)	Cafeteria-style meals (tavola calda)	Amazing pre-made food, including some of the best street food
Majer	Located throughout Venice	Eating at odd times when typical restaurants are closed for meals	Sevel locations scattered throughout Venice and most don’t close in the afternoon.

Pizzeria Ae Oche

Entrance to Ae Oche Pizzeria in Venice, Italy. Women sit and eat at table in front.

Cannaregio, 158, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy

Second Location: Ramo Quinto Gallion O del Pezzetto, 1552/A, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy

Pizzeria Ae Oche is a really good and large pizzeria close to the Lucia Train Station, perfect for filling up on pizza before boarding your train.

The pizzeria has both indoor and outdoor seating areas with a simple interior and wooden tables. It’s very casual and you don’t have to wait long for the pizza. TheY have a large menu with traditional Italian pizza toppings.

If your kids can’t finish a whole pizza by themselves, feel free to order one pizza to split although they won’t split the toppings (half prosciutto, half sausage, for example).

Al Profeta

Narrow canal in Venice, Italy, with paths on either side. People walk along the path on the left. Buildings on either side of the canal.

C. Lunga S. Barnaba, 2671, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily for lunch and dinner

Al Profeta is my top pick for families coming to Venice who are looking to eat on an outdoor terrace but not directly on a canal. At Al profeta you can enjoy a casual family meal either indoors or in their enclosed terrace on the backside of the restaurant.

Choose from a wide array of Italian dishes with an international flair including unconventional things such as hummus and pita, beef tartare, fish tacos, ceviche or stick to more traditional options such bigoli with duck sauce, fegato alla Veneziana or mixed fried fish.

There is literally something for everyone and you can even make a meal out of sharing a ton of different appetizers, salads and fried foods without committing to one dish.

1000 Gourmet Venezia

Front entrance to 1000 Gourmet Pizzeria in Venice, Italy. In the window a chef is working and waiter is getting tables ready for dinner.

C. Specchieri, 475, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm

1000 Gourmet Venezia is best known for their classic Neapolitan-style pizza with a fluffy, airy dough and fresh ingredients. They have a great selection of fried appetizers, other first courses and excellent Italian desserts.

You can find classic Italian pizzas such as margherita but they specialize in innovation, underlining the importance of using local, seasonal ingredients. They have one of the most creative pizza menus I have ever seen. Whether you are a classic pizza lover at heart or want to try something new, you can be certain to walk away satisfied at 1000 Gourmet.

The interior is modern yet with a casual feel, making it ideal for kids. I suggest coming here if you have kids that are used to eating out or 8+. From my experience, eating out with kids at a pizzeria is always a sure choice, even if it’s slightly upscale.

If not, you can go to their bakery 1000 Coffee & Bakery, offering great pizza by the slice, baked goods and coffee. The bakery is off the beaten track, in Cannaregio but it’s a great option if you are in that neighborhood exploring with kids.

Osteria Bancogiro

Empty piazza in Venice, Italy with tables in front of Bancogiro bar.

Campo San Giacometto, Ponte di Rialto, 122, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Closed: Monday

Osteria Bancogiro is where I would go with older kids (I would suggest kids who can swim and older) if you want a restaurant with a water view. It’s located in Campo Erberia right on the Grand Canal next to the Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market.

Osteria Bancogiro is one of Venice’s most famous bacari for cicchetti but what many don’t realize is that it’s also a great place to grab a meal as well. The food is traditional Venetian fare with a modern, elegant touch. The atmosphere reflects this and so does the table setting.

Glass display case with shelves of cicchetti in Venice, Italy.

Wooden tables and walls line the restaurants, a sure sign of a historic restaurant in Venice with elegant napkins, glasses and plates.

Osteria Bancogiro is one of my top picks for cicchetti in Venice but it wasn’t until I recently discovered their upstairs dining room and outdoor tables (which I wrongly assumed were reserved for aperitivo.

Start with enjoying cicchetti standing and then moving on to your pre-booked table (highly recommended!). If the season is right and weather permits, eat outdoors.

Osteria Bancogiro is really good at preparing freshly caught fish specials in several ways: in pasta, in risotto and as a main course.

Cantina Do Spade

Sign at entrance to Cantino do Spade in Venice, Italy. Woman at table inside.

San Polo, 859, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Everyday

Cantina Do Spade is an excellent choice for eating with kids whether you are looking for traditional Venetian cuisine or just cicchetti.

They have the most famous fried meatballs, from which there is always a wide selection including fish, vegetarian and beef.

Travelling with Your Bambino? Be sure to read
What Do Babies Eat in Italy?
Italian Baby Food – A Traveler’s Guide

Fried cicchetti in a glass display case at Cantina do Spade in Venice, Italy. Two women are behind the bar working.

Cantina Do Spade isn’t big so be sure to pre book your table ahead of time. Their pasta with shellfish is particularly delicious.

Osteria Alla Bifora

Campo Santa Margherita, 2930, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily 12:00 pm – 2:00 am

Osteria Alla Bifora is one of my top picks for eating at a classic Venetian restaurant with kids because of its cool location in a large, safe square with ample outdoor seating.

People in a piazza in Venice, Italy. Large tree, souvenir stands, and benches in the piazza which is surrounded by colorful buildings, about 3-4 stories tall.

While kids wait for their meal they can run around and play in Campo Santa Margherita without the nearby canals making you nervous (I am always thinking about this when traveling to Venice with kids who can’t yet swim).

Order classic Venetian dishes such as polenta with baccalà or spaghetti with squid ink and share plates of charcuterie and local cheeses. They also have a cicchetti plate with all the most traditional cicchetti spreads to make your own crostini with. It’s actually quite fun for kids and adults.

The atmosphere is casual with large wooden tables and traditional Venetian masks lining the walls (always fun for kids).

Good To Know: After your meal at Osteria Alla Bifora, consider getting some of the best gelato in Venice at Gelateria Il Doge.

Bacarando Corte dell’Orso

Entrance to Bacarando restaurant in Venice, Italy. Two people standing at register inside.

Sestiere di S. Marco, 5495, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily

Bacarando Corte dell’Orso is my top suggestion for families with kids looking to eat cicchetti as both an aperitivo and to make a whole dinner out of them.

At this traditional Venetian bacaro, they have one of the best selection of cicchetti with something for everyone, including gluten-free cicchetti, vegetarian and even vegan options. My favorite is their tortino, a savory quiche, made in many flavors and with various ingredients. They are hearty and filling.

Cicchetti loaded with toppings behind a glass display case in Venice, Italy.

Order at the counter and the barista or server will heat your cicchetti which you can then bring to the large wooden tables in the next room over. The indoor seating space is big enough to accommodate larger families. Be forewarned, however, that in the height of tourist season, these seats fill up quickly.

Rosticceria Gilson

Hand holds up tramezzino sandwich in front of shop in Venice, Italy.

Calle de la Bissa, 5424/a, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Open: Daily 9:00 am – 9:30 pm

Rosticceria Gilson is top of my list for eating with kids out in Venice. It’s what you would define as a tavola calda, meaning the daily food is already prepared and it’s served in individual proportions as ordered by patrons. A tavola calda is one of the most easy going and casual options you can choose in Italy in terms of eating out, kids or not.

Food displayed in platters behind glass at a restaurant in Venice, Italy.

Choose from traditional street food such as a tramezzino sandwich or more substantial options like lasagne, octopus salad, grilled seafood skewers, whole grain salads, vegetables of the day, and other prepared meats. They even have great first courses like stuffed pastas, risotto and spaghetti with squid ink. The options change daily.

If you choose from the first and second courses, you can choose to have it prepared to go or they will warm it up for you to eat at one of the tables.

Takeout food ready to be served behind glass display in Venice, Italy.

Gilson is where many locals come to eat a quick lunch on their break, so it gets pretty full around lunchtime. For the best selection, plan to eat on the earlier side (noonish). It’s also a large volume place meaning that a lot of traffic passes through here during lunch time. Be courteous and don’t take an hour to eat your pasta al pomodoro while others are waiting with their hot food in hand for a table.

Good To Know: They have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from in Venice.

Majer

Majer is one of Venice’s few local coffee roasters with six locations throughout the city center of Venice plus a wine bar (La Cantinetta) and two restaurants (one of which is on the water.

Although originally opened as a small cafe with unique blends, Majer soon took off as not only one of the best places for coffee in Venice but also as a good bar for pastries, breakfast, pizza by the slice, sandwiches and desserts.

What I like about Majer is that most locations don’t close after lunch. No matter what time you stop in to eat, they are serving something. In the morning this means pastries, at lunch and in the afternoon it’s great pizza and sandwiches, and in the afternoon there are several options including desserts such as tiramisù, local butter cookies, and cakes by the slice.

Italian panini behind glass display at shop in Venice, Italy.

Most of their locations have both indoor and outdoor, making it a great choice no matter the weather or time of year in Venice. The atmosphere is casual and the prices are right, making it perfect for families with children.

I have been to several locations but I prefer the Majer in Campo San Giacomo Da L’Orio, where you will also find some of the best gelato in Venice and plenty of space for kids to run around and in Piazza Santa Margherita (again, very safe with several other kid-friendly food options).

Display of shelves of packages of typical Venetian cookies at Majer in Venice, Italy.

Good To Know: Majer is one of my top picks for purchasing food souvenirs from Venice, such as the essi cookies and locally roasted coffee bean blends or single roasts.

Kids in Italy: Curious to read more about eating with kids in Italy? Check out
Best Squares To Eat And Drink With Kids In Venice
8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice – From A Mom Of Four Living In Italy
Where To Get A Quick Bite With Kids In Florence (Without Going Out Of Your Way!)
Where To Eat With Kids In Florence
School Lunches In Italy – What An Italian School Lunch Menu Looks Like
Kid-Friendly Foods to Order at Restaurants in Italy
Dining Out With Kids In Italy – What To Expect + Tips
Italy’s Best Supermarket Snacks for Kids
School Lunches in Italy

Bonus: Best Breakfast With Kids In Venice

Farini

Open: Daily 7:30 – 9:00 or 10:00 pm.

Farini is a local chain in Venice with four different locations in Venice.

Farini is my top pick for eating a traditional Italian-style breakfast out at a bar or cafe in Venice. It’s casual with different seating options (stools at window, large, communal tables, small family tables) and no table service.

Woman serving breakfast pastries from behind glass display at counter at Farini in Venice, Italy.

When you are ready to order, just go to the counter, choose what you like and bring it to your table. This way, you don’t have to flag down the server for assistance nor are you waiting for the food to come with hungry kids.

Farini serves lots of other easy to order foods, making it a great place to come anytime of the day for a snack or lunch. Don’t miss their pizzas, sandwiches and tasty desserts.

Tips For Eating At Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice

close up of maccheroni pasta covered in tomato sauce and garnished with basil chopped up.

As a mom of four living in Italy, I have done a lot of eating out with kids which isn’t always a piece of cake. Keep in mind my top tips for a better experience eating in Italy with kids:

Most of these restaurants don’t open until around 7:00 pm. If your kids are starving, order something for them right away when you sit down so that something comes right away before other tables start getting their orders in.
Many of these restaurants will not have kid menus. Most places can make very simple dishes, however, such as pasta al pomodoro or pasta al burro.
Sharing dishes isn’t very common in Italy, even among children. You can do this but you won’t see Italian children sharing their meals! Just ask for an extra small plate when the food arrives if you wish to do so.
Consider takeout in Venice to eat in your apartment or accommodation. Easy for parents and kids love fried takeout goodies!
When things are looking like they may go south fast, I always opt for pizza. Many of the best pizzerias in Venice serve other dishes as well such as pastas and salads, making it a good choice for the whole family.
When we don’t have a lot of time or I don’t want to actually sit down with my kids, I opt for eating street food. Most of it is easy to eat, even for small kids such as mozzarella in carrozza, fried fish cones and tramezzini, all local specialties.