Move over tapas! Venice Cicchetti bars serve big flavors on small plates plus glasses of wine and other potent potables at affordable prices. Discover our picks for Cicchetti in Venice that you shouldn’t miss.
Spanning the gap between upscale restaurants and cheap eats, Venice Cicchetti bars are having a moment.
Despite this trendiness, Cicchetti in Venice is not a new concept. Venetians have enjoyed finger foods and small plate snacks at wine bars known as bacari for decades if not centuries. It’s a key part of the Venetian lifestyle and it’s one of the reasons why we consider Venice to be one of the great Italian food cities.
What Are Cicchetti In Venice?
As we first found out in Verona and then experienced throughout Venice, Cicchetti bars serve little plates of inexpensive food (i.e. Cicchetti) in addition to wine, prosecco and the occasional Aperol Spritz.
The concept is informal, simple and wonderful – a marvelous way to pass the time in between romantic boat jaunts on Venice’s network of canals and intimate, romantic afternoon strolls through the city’s narrow, maze-like alleys.
In many ways, Cicchetti in Venice is similar to tapas in Madrid. But the Venetian version features Italian bar classics like crispy polpetta (meatballs), miniature sandwiches (tramezzini, crostini and panini) and all kinds of fried and roasted seafood.
Eating Cicchetti in Venice doesn’t require reservations or a lot of money. Each Cicchetti item is typically value-priced at just a couple euros, give or take, with a handful of dishes adding up to a meal. Some people consicer Cicchetti to be the best cheap eats in Venice and we don’t disagree.
Tour Tip
Food travelers with just a day or two in Venice can get a bang for the buck by taking a three-hour Venice Food Tour chock-filled with Cicchetti bars, a Rialto Market visit and a gondola ride.
How To Order Cicchetti In Venice
Don’t be shy when ordering Cicchetti at Venice bars. Instead, gently push you way to the counter and select little plates of seafood, tiny sandwiches and other nibbles. Just point if you don’t feel comfortable ordering in Italian or if you can’t quickly translate the menu.
Once you choose a selection of snacks, you’ll want to order an ombra, the local vernacular for a glass of local wine. Specify if you want rosso (red) or bianco (white). If you’re not in the mood for wine, you can always order an Aperol Spritz or Negroni.
Where To Experience Cicchetti In Venice
As curious food travelers, we devoted a good bit of time hunting for the best Cicchetti in Venice when we weren’t eating at the city’s best restaurants and gelaterias. We visited some bars in the morning when the wine flowed along with coffee and others in the late afternoon when crowds jammed tiny baccaro spaces.
Based on our self-guided Venice Cicchetti crawl, these are our five favorite spots to enjoy Venetian Cicchetti:
1. Osteria all’Arco
Osteria all’Arco stands out as the first Cicchetti bar we visited in Venice. This classic Cicchetti bar specializes in simple crostinis topped with local favorites including baccalà mantecato (codfish mousse), acciughe (anchovies) and porchetta (stuffed pork roast).
Options at Osteria all’Arco go beyond open-faced sandwiches, with much of the bacaro‘s seafood and vegetables sourced from the nearby Rialto Market. Overwhelmed by the choices, we ordered by pointing at food both behind the counter and on plates.
Squeezing our way into a table (or was it a ledge?), we nibbled with glee between sips of prosecco spritzes. And so began our Cicchetti adventure in Venice.
Pro Tip
You may get lost if you follow Google Maps to Osteria all’Arco. However, an informed reader has suggested using the address Calle Arco, 436 instead of the address listed in Google Maps. Once you find the popular Cicchetti bar, you’ll be happy you made the effort.
Osteria all’Arco is located at Campo S. Polo, 436, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy.
2. Cantina Do Spade
Cantina do Spade is another classic Venice Cicchetti bar located near the Rialto Market. The popular spot fills with locals and food travelers all day every day. We were more than happy to join the party during our midday visit.
After securing a standing spot outside the 15th century building, we greedily scarfed down plates topped with mezze uova (boiled eggs), calamari fritti (fried calamari) calamari ripieni (stuffed squid) and polenta.
Follow our polenta recipe and cook the creamy dish at home.
Our favorite snack was easily the bacaro‘s signature polpetta made with spicy sausage and smokey scamorza. Somehow, eating a trio of crispy meatballs on a stick made the meaty morsels taste even better.
Pro Tip
Plan to stand while you eat Cicchetti at Cantina do Spade. Tables are typically reserved for people with meal reservations.
Cantina do Spade is located at Calle del Scaleter, 859, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy.
3. Al Mercà
Literally translating to on the market, Al Mercà lives up to its descriptive name. This tiny yet popular cicchetti bar is indeed located on a square close to Rialto Market.
However, its prime location isn’t what draws crowds to Al Mercà six days a week. Instead, it’s the bacaro‘s vast selection of affordable panini sandwiches filled with Italian meats, cheese and even truffle paste.
Discover our Italian food favorites.
Beyond food, Al Mercá serves a vast selection of wine, Prosecco and other liquid libations. Our only question is how they fit so many tasty bits into such a small space. If you can picture a clown car, then you know what we mean.
Pro Tip
Bring your spare change to Al Mercà. Unless prices change, you can enjoy a sandwich and a glass of wine for under €5.
Al Mercà is located at Campo Bella Vienna, 213, 30125 Venice VE, Italy.
4. Vino Vero
Focusing on organic producers, Vino Vero is about as real as it gets when it comes to drinking wine next to a canal in Cannaregio. This should not be a surprise since vino vero translates to real wine.
A blackboard lists the bacaro‘s available glasses and breaks them down in the categories of red, white, rosé and bubbly. Additional bottles line the wall. And that’s just the wine.
Vino Vero also serves an impressive selection of Cicchetti snacks that pair well with its natural wine selection. We ordered a crostinisti to eat while we sipped red Italian wine. Our favorites were generously topped with a burrata and creamy baccalà mantecato.
Ironically, we later discovered that Vino Vero has a second location. Not only is it in Lisbon, but it’s literally less than a kilometer from our apartment. It truly is a small wine world after all.
Pro Tip
Don’t attempt to order an Aperol Spritz at Vino Vero. This Venice wine bar is a no-spritz zone.
Vino Vero is located at Fondamenta Misericordia, 2497, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy.
5. Salvmeria
Situated in a former salumeria (the Italian word for delicatessen) in Venice’s Castello neighborhood, Salvmeria is just far enough away from St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Market to feel like a local haunt.
We went to Salvmeria for a wine break and couldn’t resist eating meatballs gloriously drowned in tomato sauce. Had we been hungrier, we would have also ordered tuna tartare and typical Cicchetti fare. However, even our stomachs have their limits.
Pro Tip
Stop by Salvmeria after attending an event at nearby La Biennale di Venezia.
Salvmeria is located at Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1769, 30122 Venice VE, Italy.
Cicchetti In Venice FAQs
Cicchetti are little plates of savory foods. Most Venetian pair these plates with wine or spritzes.
The most typical Venetian cicchetti are small sandwiches (crostini, panini and tramezzini) and fried meatballs called poplette.
Most Venice bacari (i.e. bars) serve cicchetti. You’ll want to visit several to find your favorite.
It’s always a good time to eat cicchetti in Venice. Many Venetian bacari (i.e. bars) open for breakfast and stay open until dark.
Anthony Bourdain visited two Venice cicchetti bars – Cantina da Mori and Pronto Pesci – while filming the fifth season of No Reservations. Pronto Pesci has permanently closed.
Phil Rosenthal nibbled on cicchetti at All’ Arco and Cantine del Vino già Schiavi while filming the second season of Somebody Feed Phil.
Stanley Tucci started his day at All’ Arco and Osteria Ai 4 Feri Stori while filming his second season of Searching for Italy/
Simply point at desired plates and specify your drink preference.
Most Venetians pair cicchetti with wine, prosecco or a spritz.
No! In fact, most Venetian cicchetti bars are highly affordable both for the food and the wine.
No. Tipping is optional in Italy.
Book A Venice Tour
Why not take a Venice tour between Cicchetti bar visits? Click here to find a fun tour.
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About The Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.
Original Publication Date: September 9, 2020
Lisa Cantrell
Sunday 17th of October 2021
One of the reasons Osteria all'Arco might not be found on Google Maps is the address you have listed (Campo San Polo, 436) is not where it is. It is easily located using the address, Calle arco, 436. Also, if using English on Google maps it may come up as Bar All'Arco.
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Monday 30th of May 2022
Thanks for the information! We have noted the article accordingly.