Where to eat in Venice on a budget

You’d be forgiven for thinking that eating in Venice might be expensive, and if you go to certain places – like the famous Cafe Florian on St Mark’s Square – that’s true. Like anywhere, Venice has some pricey places to eat, but the good news is that there are still plenty of fantastic options for eating more affordably. That’s particularly true if you head away from the main tourist areas and find smaller osterias or bars where the locals like to pass the time of day. Here are some of our favourite options for eating in Venice on a budget.

1. Anywhere serving cicchetti

If you’re ever wondering where to eat in Venice on a budget, you can’t go wrong with anywhere that serves cicchetti. Venice’s answer to tapas, cicchetti is the term given to a variety of delicious and affordable snacks, often enjoyed with a glass of local wine or fizz. Head away from the main piazzas of Venice and you’ll discover these tasty snacks being served for about €1 to €3 in little bars called bàcari, where the drinks are cheap as well. Cantina Do Spade or All’Arco, both in San Polo, are good places to try cicchetti if you’re not sure where to head first.

2. Pizza al taglio

Proof that eating in Venice doesn’t have to be expensive, the city has numerous shops selling pizza al taglio, or pizza by the slice. You’ll be able to choose from lots of different toppings, and you can also decide how big a slice you want to take away. It’s priced by weight, so if you’re not that hungry you can go for a smaller piece to save some money. The pizza al taglio at Antico Forno gets rave reviews.

3. Family-run trattorias

Small, family-run trattorias are a great place to eat affordably in Venice, and Trattoria alla Rampa is one of the most popular. One of Venice’s oldest trattorias, this venerable joint conjures up delicious local dishes using the freshest seafood and seasonal ingredients. A meal here costs an average of €12 per person, so it’s a great place for sampling some local specialities at a great price.

4. Markets

Venice has some wonderful food markets, and they’re a great place to go to pick up fresh ingredients to cook with if you’re staying in a self-catering apartment. Head to the Rialto Market to experience the bustle of a historic Venetian market at the same time as stocking up on tasty supplies.

For more great restaurant ideas for your day trip to Venice, take a look at our post on where to eat like a local in Venice.