Last updated on June 22nd, 2024
If you are coming to Venice and are trying to pack a lot into a short visit, you may be curious to eat some amazing Venetian food – but without sitting down for a long meal at a restaurant.
In this article, I will share with you the best street foods to eat in Venice and the best places to try them. With these quick eats, you will have plenty of time for sightseeing, museums and all other top tourist attractions in Venice without missing out on delicious Venetian food.
So much of what makes Venetian food and culinary traditions unique is the grazing culture, from quick cicchetti bites to small sandwiches, all of which should be washed down with local white wine or spritz.
I am lucky enough to have Venice at my fingertips, just a quick train ride away, which has given me ample opportunity and first hand experience eating street food in Venice over the past 15 years. Read on to get my top advice, tips and Venice restaurant recommendations for the best Venetian street food!
Head to Tuscany? Check out my favorite Tuscan Street Foods!
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Map Of Best Street Food in Venice, Italy
Best Street Food in Venice – Quick Guide
| Name | Neighborhood/Area | Street Food To Try | Also Good For |
| Frito Inn | Santa Lucia Train Station | Fried Fish | N/A |
| Acqua E Mais | San Polo | Fried Fish | Mozzarella in carrozza |
| Fried Land | Cannaregio | Fried Fish | Venetian takeout pasta |
| El Sbarlefo | Cannaregio/San Polo | Mozzarella in Carrozza | Cicchetti |
| Rosticceria Gilson | Rialto Bridge | Mozzarella in Carrozza | Tramezzini |
| Bar All’Arco | Rialto Bridge | Cicchetti | N/A |
| Cantina Do Spade | Rialto Bridge | Cicchetti | Lunch or dinner |
| Al Mercà | Rialto Bridge | Cicchetti | Cicchetti and sandwiches |
| Cantina Del Gelato | Cannaregio | Gelato | Souvenirs |
| Suso | Rialto Bridge | Gelato | Vegan flavors |
| Gelato di Natura | All over Venice | Gelato | N/A |
| Estro Vino & Cucina | Dorsoduro | Tramezzino | Natural wines Cicchetti |
| Bar Alla Toletta | Dorsoduro | Tramezzino | Budget Travelers |
Scartosso De Pesse Fritto
Scartosso de pesse fritto is Venice’s most famous street food, made from a variety of local flash fried fish served in a large, paper cone.
You can order different types of scartosso, this means that you can pick exactly what kind of fried fish will be in your cone. Originally, it was only made with what was freshly Fished that day from the Venetian lagoon but today, you can really get whatever you like including:
- Pesce misto – mixed fresh fish
- Gamberi e calamari – shrimp and octopus
- Baccalà – cod fish
The proportion is usually quite large, certainly large enough to enjoy as a meal but it also makes a great street food snack to share.
Expect to pay around €10.00-12.00 per cone, depending on the type of fish you get, market value, and time of year.
Where To Eat Scartosso In Venice
Frito Inn
Campo San Leonardo, 1587
Frito Inn is my top pick if you are catching a train or just getting off of one and need a recharge. This hole in the wall serves up fried fish 24 hours ago, made to order.
Acqua e Mais
Campiello dei Meloni, 1411/1412
Best for fried fish but also other cicchetti and fried treats such as crocchette, mozzarezza in carrozza and prepared meals to bring home with you (grilled seafood salad, grilled vegetables, etc.).
Fried Land
Campiello dei Fiori, 2287
Despite its name, this is Venice’s coolest hole in the wall for fried fish, including other takeout options such as traditional Venetian dishes like spaghetti with squid ink in a chinese food to-go container.
Good To Know: All three of my scartosso recommendations are true Venetian street food vendors with no seating areas or tables. Grab your paper cone of fish and eat it standing, just as the locals do!
Mozzarella in Carrozza
Mozzarella in carrozza is not a street food you will only find in Venice but it’s enjoyed throughout all of Italy, especially in Southern Italy and in Naples (Campania).
Venice is, however, one of the best cities to enjoy this friend mozzarella sandwich. It’s made by deep frying a white bread mozzarella sandwich, oftentimes with a couple anchovy slices.
You will see trays of fried mozzarella in carrozza throughout Venice, especially after 10 am when locals stop in for a midmorning glass of wine and snack.
Where To Eat Mozzarella In Carrozza In Venice
El Sbarlefo
Salizada del Pistor, 4556/C, 30121
Calle S. Pantalon, 3757
With two different locations, El Sbarlefo is not only one of the best spots in Venice for street food but also cicchetti and nibbles such as charcuterie boards and cheese. El Sbarlefo is also one of my top picks to try if you are interested in trying some of Venice’s local food chains.
Rosticceria Gilson
Calle de la Bissa, 5424/a, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Rosticceria is definitely my top pick for picking up mozzarella in carrozza in Venice. It’s ideal to stop in and eat with kids and to order takeout.
Acqua e Mais
Campiello dei Meloni, 1411/1412, 30125 Venezia VE
Acqua e Mais is open everyday, perfect for any type of take out, in particular, a piping hot mozzarella in carrozza.
Cicchetti
Cicchetti (pronounced cheek-keht-tee in Italian), sometimes seen written as cichetti or cicheti in the local Venetian dialact, are small snacks or bites that are typically served in bacari in Venice throughout the day.
Many Italians will even make a meal out of cicchetti but feel free to just order one or two with an aperitivo.
Where To Eat Cicchetti In Venice
Bar All’Arco
S. Polo, 436, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Closed: Wednesday
You’ll be lucky if you can get one of the few tables outdoors. If not, standing room only, as I always do when at Bar All’Arco. Their cicchetti are some of the best in Venice, boasting classics like baccalà mantecato on rounds of crisp bread.
Cantina Do Spade
San Polo, 859, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Open: Everyday
Cantina Do Spade is famous for their fried cicchetti snacks, in particular, the fried meatballs. There are only three indoor tables to sit down with your cicchetti. If not, enjoy them standing or on the benches outdside.
Of all the bacari in Venice, this is one of my favorites for cicchetti. My Italian friends I have in Venice tell me it’s one of the best casual places for a quick plate of pasta not far from the Rialto Market.
Good To Know: These are some of the cheapest and most authentic cicchetti in the city. For just a drop of wine, ask for un bicchierino di vino (a small glass).
Al MercÃ
Campo Bella Vienna, 213, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Closed: Sunday
Al Mercà is the best stop for cicchetti around the Rialto Market, especially if you are looking for a small sandwich. No sitting room, standing outside only!
Gelato
Years and years of gelato in Italy has brought me to the conclusion that it’s pretty good no matter where you are in Italy. In Venice, however, it’s particularly good to balance out and soak up all the small glasses of wine you should be drinking between sightseeing.
Where To Eat Gelato In Venice
Bacaro Del Gelato
Bacaro del Gelato is my favorite gelateria in Cannaregio, a small, quiet neighborhood in the Northern part of Venice. It’s small but on a wide walkway along Rio della Misericordia.
Along with their delicious nut flavors, they also sell their own sweet nut spreads to bring home as souvenirs or gifts.
Suso
Gelateria Suso prides itself on combining their love for traditional Italian gelato with their passion for Venetian pastry.
Don’t miss all their sorbet flavors as well, vegan-friendly and particularly refreshing in the unbearable summer heat!
Gelato di Natura
With six locations in Venice, this local chain has become a fast favorite among locals and tourists alike. They are committed to all-natural gelato made with local ingredients. Order seasonal flavors and you won’t go wrong!
Best Gelato In Venice: For a full list of my all-time favorite gelaterias in Venice, read Where to Find the Best Gelato in Venice.
Tramezzino
Tramezzini are white bread sandwiches stuffed with some kind of creamy filling or salad such as tuna salad, shrimp salad, egg salad, tomato and mozzarella or turkey and truffle.
Where To Eat Tramezzino In Carrozza In Venice
Estro Vino & Cucina
Dorsoduro 3778 Crosera, Calle S. Pantalon, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Estro is not only one of the best places to pop in for a tramezzino in Venice but also great for natural wines, cicchetti and other small bites.
Rosticceria Gilson
Calle de la Bissa, 5424/a, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Rosticceria Gilson always has a wide selection of tramezzini wrapped up ready to be consumed standing, sitting down or as takeout.
My favorite is made with eggs and tuna salad but pick from plenty of other seafood, cured meat and vegetarian options as well.
Bar Alla Toletta
Dorsoduro, 1191, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Bar Alla Toletta is a small bar, great for coffee, cookies, baked goods and also sandwiches to eat at one of their tables standing indoors or outdoors.
Catering mostly to locals and Venetian students, Bar Alla Toletta is best for those on a budget!
Venice bound? Get prepared with all of our Venice posts:
20+ Must-Try Foods And Drinks In Venice – And My Favorite Places To Eat Them
What Are Cicchetti? + Where To Eat Them In Venice
What Is A Bacaro? + A Local’s Self Guided Bacaro Tour Itinerary
My Favorite Cicchetti In Venice – The 10 Best Bacari To Try
Best Restaurants in Venice + Nearest Cicchetti Stops
Best Gelato In Venice – My Italian Family’s 10 Favorite Gelaterie
7 Food Markets In Venice Worth Your Time
Where To Get Coffee In Venice
Where To Eat Breakfast In Venice – A Local’s Favorite Breakfast Nooks
10 Amazing Bakeries In Venice – Where to Get Your Pastry On
Best Spots In Venice For Aperitivo – My Top Bars & Squares for Pre-Dinner Drinks
Dinner On The Water In Venice – My Top 7 Restaurants
Best Pizza In Venice – My ‘Don’t Miss’ List
My Favorite After Dinner Drink Spots In Venice
Shopping at the Rialto Market in Venice – Tips + Printable
5 Street Foods To Try In Venice & Where Eat Them
Best Places To Get Takeout In Venice – My Top Picks
Where To Eat Before Catching Your Train At The Venice Santa Lucia Train Station
My Favorite Food Chains To Try In Venice
Eating Gluten-Free In Venice – Restaurants, Cicchetti & Gelato
Gluten-Free Cicchetti In Venice – What To Order (& Avoid) and How to Order
Eating Vegetarian In Venice – My Top Five Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants + Tips
Eating Vegan In Venice, Italy – My Top Five Vegan Friendly Restaurants
Eating in Venice While Pregnant
8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice
Best Squares To Eat And Drink With Kids In Venice
24 Hour Food Guide For Venice – A Self Guided Tour For Foodies in Venice
Eating Around Venice in 48 hours – 2 Day Venice Itinerary For Foodies
10 Best Food Souvenirs From Venice, Italy + Where I Buy Them
