During the 2024 Biennale we walked by almost everyday but were never able to get a table. It is now…read morethe 2026 Biennale and I finally was able to eat at Ai Artisti. Well worth the wait and the perstence. Great spot and highly recommended.

A MUST! We were so lucky to get in. Beware, you MUST have a reservation. We went to the website and…read more"joined the waitlist" for 8:30, but when we arrived we found out that really meant they were fully booked and you were waiting for a cancellation. However, the server was so kind and made space for us about 20 minutes later. 10/10 food, service, and atmosphere. It's a very small space but so intimate.

I really didn't know what to expect when visiting Venice. I knew there were lots of canals, boats…read moreand gondolas. What I didn't know was that you could walk almost anywhere and that you didn't need to go by boat. That said, Venice is a pedestrian city but it's not handicapped friendly. Even walking short distances, you need to keep crossing canals and the bridges are not easy for anyone with mobility issues. It's steps up one side and down the other. However, if you're not mobility challenged, this is a beautiful city to explore. We had multiple walking tours of the city and fell in love with it. We even took a water taxi from the airport to our hotel. I hope we might someday have another chance to visit Venice.

I have a rollercoaster relationship with Venice because I probably got the most beautiful pictures…read morein Venice for my European travels, but what you don't see in the pictures is how much I had to suffer getting around. On the island side of Venice, the buildings are extremely dated and there are no nice hotels to stay at. You relied on the vaporetto, or waterbuses, as the city's main public transportation system. It was inconsistent with long waits and it would be completely packed. Otherwise you mostly walked to get around, many narrow alleys, a lot of stairs and bridges, cobblestone streets. THE STREETS EVEN GET FLOODED!! Not even slightly but a few inches when we went in October. And ENDLESS SMOKING. There is smoking in other European and Asia countries, but the smoking in Venice is next level because YOU CAN'T ESCAPE IT. The alleys are so tight and narrow, if even one person smokes, the scene will fill the whole alley and there is no fresh air to help you escape. The best attraction is the Palazzo Ducale, or the Doge's Palace. It was absolutely stunning and terrifying at the same time. A true depiction of the Venetian past. I owe any enjoyment I had in Venice to my amazing photographer Marta from Picster who helped me capture stunning photos in the St. Mark's Square area. She also referred me to a Gondolier, Simone Furlanetto Sandolista, and we got to experience an authentic tour in a quiet part of the canals. We were here for less than 48 hours and it was quickly after getting here that we knew we would never want to come back. Also we were in agreement that we didn't need any more time here. It was crowded, hectic, and smokey. The hassle exceeds the enjoyment for us, but I understand if others would want to experience it for themselves. The only nice thing I got from the city was gorgeous photos.

Well off the beaten path, next time I intend on making Giudecca more central to the plan. Tucked…read moreaway from the tourist crush of Venice, Giudecca feels like the city's best-kept secret. Quiet canals. Ghostly calm. Locals who actually say buongiorno. Its facades at sunset are cinematic magic; like walking through a dream that forgot to wake up. There's raw authenticity, like Venice without filters. Skipping the gondolas and getting lost on the archipelago could well have an appeal all its own.

This is an island all to itself. It sits across from St. Mark's and the Grand Canal. When you…read morewant to escape the crowds in Venice take a 3 minute vaporetto ride from St. Marks to Giudecca. Here you will find such peace and quiet. Giudecca has been many things - from large palaces to an industrial zone with shipyards, factories, etc. Today it is a quiet residential neighborhood.

Of all the spots we ate in Italy for pasta, I'm almost laughing that this ended up being my most…read morefavorite. It was the literal hole in the wall, no seats, more like street food from an ordering window. The place was clean but you couldn't eat there. Too small. The team was super fast and friendly. Here's a pic of the tomato pasta. I wish I could get the recipe, it was that good.

We checked into our hotel around 1:30pm when most restaurants were closing after the lunch hour. I…read moresaw that Dal Moro's was nearby, and pasta on-the-go sounded like a good option for a late lunch. My husband and I found the queue, which didn't appear to be that long of a wait. There were a lot of people, of course, but they were filling orders quickly. While waiting in line, you pass by the window into the kitchen where you can see staff members freshly making pasta. It was good to know that even pasta out of a box can be prepared with the freshest ingredients. I ordered the pesto with garlic and pecorino, and it was honestly one my favorite pastas I've had in Italy. My pasta came with rigatoni, which was perfectly al dente.

Our hotel offered us a free water taxi ride at our convenience to the glass center. Obviously, it's…read morea tourist trap. But it is also a truly venetian experience. The glassworks are extraordinary. You see the pieces being created in real time and then you wander the store. There's no hard sell but, hey, you just got a free ride and a lovely show. On a personal note, I fell in love with a piece. It's the most beautiful art I've ever purchased. Any subsequent questions or help I've needed, they've been extremely responsive. Even had I not found anything I loved, I would have bought something small and found it well worth the price of adventure.

Murano glass is most definitely art. You can buy anything from chandeliers to little glass…read moretrinkets. I have a couple unique drinking glasses that no one will ever touch! I also have the most adorable kissing fish trinket. It's one of my favorites. This is most definitely a must stop while in Venice.

Amazing food with friendly and professional service. You can taste the fresh ingredients and the…read moreexpertise of the chef in the preparation. Perfetto! We got: Squid ink spaghetti Mixed fried calamari and shrimp Margherita pizza Sea Bass for two Chocolate gelato Tiramisu (ridiculous) Soave white wine Chianti Lemon soda

Had an amazing meal here. The Tagliatelle with mushrooms and shaved Parmesan and a spicy sausage…read morepizza . Both were excellent! Great service and ambiance in the courtyard.

In Sostanza: Good quality food and service in a quiet location at reasonable prices…read more Quiet location five minutes from the Fondemente Nove ACTV stop and down the way from Campo Dei Gesuiti. The short, scenic walk rewards you with a simple but charming trattoria with more tables spilling around the corner. The wait staff are pleasant, efficient, professional. Everything is molto fresco, rich with deep, layered Mediterranean flavors. I don't think you can really go wrong here.

One of the best meals I had in Venice! Venice is known for the squid ink pasta and I'm happy I…read morechose Trattoria Storica to have it for the first time. I wasn't sure what to expect from this unique dish but it was absolutely delicious. It was rich and creamy and not squid tasting at all. It was surprisingly light and I didn't feel heavy afterwards. The branzino was also delectable and paired perfectly with the squid ink pasta.

OMG! If you can, go here. Yes, it's a bit of a hike from the non touristy spot but it's kinda 20…read moremins walk from the galleria Accademia/accademia water taxi spot/ pointe del accademia(the bridge). So take the stroll through non touristy galleys of Venice. We were looking for non touristy spot esp. to eat good quality baccala mantecato. and trusted a spot where the fishermen used to go or even the local pilots or the Motoscafo drivers go to. Oh yes, the best baccala mantecato and the freshest of sardines(in olive oil) is what we got. Best part: The waiter told us, kitchen is closed and can serve only wine/beer. Looking at us being so disheartened he asked, what brought us here as clearly an Indian with Indian accent is not even a give away tourist sign. We told, baccala and he was oh that we can give as it's a cold dish. I wanted two orders but he cautioned and suggested us to start with one. In my mind I was thinking cicchetti size but damn the size was big. He asked, where we are from and hearing we are from India, the owner, in his 70s came out and also asked if we eat fish. Duhhhh!!! yes please!!!! What a lovely conversation and came to know about Tony Bourdain and his visit. Exchanged stories and the mutual love of fish. Over all, might be a bit pricey but the good and fresh quality it's okay. Way better than the similar priced horrible touristy food available elsewhere. Pro Tip: try not to ask for meat or say you are from USA.

Our waiter was very polite and quite informative. We had the antipasti, every morsel was exquisite!…read moreThe spaghetti with clams and the branzino ai ferri just as wonderful! We drank a local house wine and were satisfied beyond measure. Unfortunately their coffee machine was broken but Im sure that would have been exceptional as well. The freshness of the seafood and the simple ingredients' combination make for fine dining. And we were on the water great spot!

I am writing this review because weeks/months after my visit, I still think about one dish in…read moreparticular: the seppie in nero, spuma di patate, paprika (cuttlefish in black ink, potato foam, paprika)--wow. My husband is from Toscana and found this restaurant for us on a day trip to Venezia. We live in Los Angeles. We're very judicious about where we spend our money at restaurants, but we will 1000% return here (multiple times) when we come back to Venezia. Modern spin to traditional dishes. Seems like it was designed for locals, but very friendly to tourists. The staff was very friendly, attentive, helpful. A+.

First dinner in Venice!! The restaurant is small so make reservations in advance. I will say this…read moreis one of the best food we had in Venice. It's too bad we were still jet lag and could not try the desserts. Service and food is really good.

Food was amazing and very filling. The portions are large specifically on the steak/protein…read moreoptions. Our table ordered two different steak boards. The tomahawk and flank steak. Both were served with a a mound of fresh cut potatoes, grilled vegetables and two sauces to dip into. We barely used the dips as everything was seasoned to perfection. No steak sauce needed as the steak was well seasoned and served hot. We also have a bottle of white wine and tried the lasagna for our starter. Everyone at the table was happy with this option for dinner. Also this is not fancy dinner but still dining at its fines. If you are a steak lover and in the Venice area Al Timon is a must have for dinner.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Definitely get the Lombatello steak if you are feeling carnivorous…read more Throngs of lively people sipping wine and snacking on cichetti late into the evening along the canal. The cichetti selection looked very good (variety thinned out throughout the night), but our party of 3 was starving and we opted to sit inside for a late ~8:30pm dinner. We got one order of grilled lamb and the Lombatello steak for 2. The lamb was also good, no gamey taste. The Lombatello steak was simply fantastic, choose this cut specifically!! A heaping pile of medium-rare meat (cannot buy single portions) that was very tender and flavorful. It's cushioned with steak fries and grilled veggies on the side. Paired with two glasses of house wine, this meal was fantastic. Ended up with a to go box of steak and fries. Servers are very busy, bustling around clearing tables, taking orders, etc, but they are vigilant if you need anything. We saw one table of ~10 order a steak platter, and it was a sight to behold - a massive wooden cutting board packed with steak, transported by two waiters.