Best Cicchetti in Venice: Local Spots Where Venetians Go

This guide covers the best cicchetti bars in Venice – eight personally visited spots and two more on my radar for next time, sorted by character and occasion, with a self-guided crawl route, drink pairings, and everything you need to eat the way Venetians actually eat.

There’s something about cicchetti that just works in Venice.

Maybe it’s the simplicity – fresh ingredients, bold flavours, and a small glass of wine to wash it down. Maybe it’s the ritual – standing at a centuries-old bacaro, rubbing shoulders with locals as you snack your way through the city.

Or maybe it’s the fact that nowhere else in Italy does food quite like this.

On my last trip, I made it my mission to find the best cicchetti in Venice, revisiting old favourites and uncovering new gems.

I wandered through the quieter streets of Dorsoduro, soaked in the lively bacaro culture around Rialto, and stopped for a quick bite in tucked-away spots you’d never stumble upon unless you knew exactly where to look. In this post, I’m sharing it all with you.

This guide isn’t just a list – it’s a first-hand, curated itinerary based on real experiences, designed to help you eat like a local in Venice.

Whether you’re looking for the best wine and cicchetti pairings, a self-guided cicchetti crawl, or just want to know how to navigate a bacaro without looking lost, this post has you covered.

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What are Cicchetti and How Do Bacari Work?

Cicchetti (pronounced chi-KEH-tee) are Venice’s version of tapas – bite-sized snacks served at traditional wine bars called bacari. A crostino of baccalà mantecato, a polpetta, a small glass of house wine: this is how Venetians eat between meals, and it’s one of the best things about the city.

The beauty of cicchetti is the flexibility. You can eat them as a quick mid-morning snack, mix and match for a light lunch, or do what this guide is built around – hop between bacari, sampling a bite and a drink at each one, and building your way through a neighbourhood on foot.

Bacari are not restaurants. There are no menus, no table service, and usually no seating. Walk up to the counter, point at what looks good, order a drink, and pay on the spot – almost always cash, though I used card throughout my most recent visit without issue. 

If you’re not sure what to order, just ask. Venetians take their food seriously and will happily point you toward the best thing behind the counter that day.

Prices are one of the few genuinely affordable things in Venice. Cicchetti typically run €1.50-3 each; a small glass of wine (an ombra) can be as little as €1.20. Even in a good bacaro, you can eat and drink well for well under €15.

The best times to go are lunchtime (roughly 12:00-2:30pm) and aperitivo hour (6:00-8:00pm), when the counters are freshest and the atmosphere is at its best. Many bacari close between lunch and evening service, so check opening hours before you plan your route.

Best Cicchetti in Venice: Where to Go & What to Order

1 Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

Address: Fondamenta Nani, 992, Dorsoduro, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €1.50, wine from €1.20

Cantine del Vino già Schiavi is the kind of place you plan to visit once but end up wanting to return to again and again. On my first trip to Venice, I arrived too late and found the shutters down. I wasn’t about to make that mistake twice!

This family-run bacaro, set along a quiet canal in Dorsoduro, feels as local as it gets.

Shelves line the walls, packed with bottles of wine, and while plenty of people stop in to buy a bottle, most come for the cicchetti. The counter is piled high with dozens of small bites, each carefully assembled and labelled.

The tuna with cocoa powder is what they’re most famous for, so naturally, I had to try it. Somehow, the mix of savoury tuna and bitter cocoa works.

I also went for gorgonzola with walnut, a cheese and tomato crostino, and an egg mayonnaise cicchetto topped with edible flowers, which looked almost too pretty to eat….almost!

Schiavi is standing-room only, with a lively crowd spilling out onto the canal. Locals drop in for a quick ombra of wine (as little as €1.20 a glass), while a handful of visitors who have done their research jostle for space at the counter.

I visited in the late afternoon when it was at its busiest, but arriving earlier would have been a smarter move. They open from 8:30 am, and a mid-morning stop, with a glass of wine and a couple of cicchetti before the lunchtime rush, would be ideal.

If you want to experience one of the most iconic cicchetti bars in Venice, this is it.

2 Bacareto da Lele

Address: Campo dei Tolentini, 183, Santa Croce, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €1, wine from €1

Bacareto da Lele is proof that the best places don’t need to be fancy. This tiny, no-frills bacaro, tucked just minutes from Piazzale Roma, is as local as it gets—a favourite with students, professors, and workers grabbing a quick bite between lectures or meetings.

I arrived straight from the airport, rolling my suitcase across the cobbles, and was immediately struck by how incredibly cheap everything was. A mini sandwich for just €1, a small glass of wine for about the same—in Venice, this almost feels like a mistake.

I ordered two sandwiches, one with speck and the other with porchetta, plus a glass of crisp white wine. The whole thing came to just €3.60, which is unheard of in this city.

There’s nowhere to sit, just a couple of barrels outside, where locals perch with their wine in hand.

The atmosphere is casual, fast-paced, and undeniably Venetian—the kind of place where neighbours bump into each other and regulars know exactly what they want before they even step up to the counter. I was the only non-Italian there, but no one batted an eye.

Bacareto da Lele is open all day from 6 am to 8 pm, making it an easy stop whenever you arrive in Venice. Whether you need a quick snack, a budget-friendly lunch, or just an excuse to soak up some local energy with a glass of wine in hand, this place delivers.

3 Adriatico Mar

Address: Fondamenta della Misericordia, 2535, Santa Croce, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €2.50, wine from €4.50

Adriatico Mar is the kind of place you could happily lose an afternoon in. Set on a quiet corner where Santa Croce meets Dorsoduro, it has all the charm of a traditional bacaro but with a slightly more refined, modern feel.

I arrived just after opening, wanting to snag a good spot before the crowds rolled in.

Inside, it was cosy but bright, with white walls, dark wooden beams, and a touch of nautical decor that felt like a nod to Venice’s seafaring history.

The bar was lined with small panini and classic cicchetti in the form of crostini, but they also had an extended menu written up on a blackboard—cheese and charcuterie plates, larger dishes, and a carefully curated wine list.

I started with a delicious panino topped with dried rosemary and filled with delicate slices of bresaola, the kind of thing that melts in your mouth, and immediately ordered another.

A glass of crisp white wine followed, recommended by the friendly host behind the bar. The whole experience was unrushed, relaxed, and exactly what I’d hoped for.

By the time I was leaving, the place was heaving. Locals and visitors packed the small indoor space and the decking area outside, some standing by the canal with a glass of wine in hand.

They don’t serve spritz here—just excellent wine. For a more upmarket take on the classic bacaro, this was easily my favourite discovery in Venice.

4 Al Mercá

Address: Campo Bella Vienna, 213, San Polo, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €2, wine from €2.50

Some bacari invite you to linger, but Al Mercá is the definition of grab-and-go.

This tiny hole-in-the-wall, tucked into a corner near the Rialto Market, has no tables, no seating, and no frills—just excellent cicchetti and an ever-present crowd gathered around with glasses of wine in hand.

I stopped by for a quick spritz but immediately regretted not being hungrier.

The counter was lined with perfect little sandwiches, with a range of ingredients: mortadella, speck and gorgonzola, tuna and celery. At just €2 a piece, I could see why people were ordering two or three at a time.

The wine list was short but well chosen, and my spritz was exactly what I wanted—simple, unfussy, and refreshing.

There’s nowhere to sit, just a handful of wine barrels where you can stand and people-watch. Locals and market traders swing by for a quick bite before moving on, making it feel like a natural part of daily life in Venice rather than a stop for tourists.

The busiest times are during Rialto Market’s peak hours in the lead up to lunch and of course, in the evening, but if you come slightly outside of these times then, you might find a quieter moment.

This isn’t a place for a leisurely meal, but for a quick, perfect bite in the heart of Venice, it doesn’t get much better.

5 Cantina do Mori

Address: Calle Do Mori, 429, San Polo, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €2.50, wine from €3.50

I hadn’t planned to visit Cantina do Mori the day that I did – I was actually trying to go to Bar All’Arco, but when I arrived, the shutters were already down. As it turned out, I couldn’t have asked for a better backup plan!

Tucked away in a quiet alley near the Rialto Market, Cantina do Mori feels like stepping back in time.

The low wooden beams, dim lighting, and copper pots hanging from the ceiling give it the atmosphere of a centuries-old tavern—which, to be fair, it is. This place has been around since 1462, making it one of the oldest bacari in Venice.

I arrived in the mid-afternoon when it was unexpectedly quiet—just a few locals chatting at the bar over small glasses of wine. The cicchetti selection was traditional and unfussy, exactly what you’d want in a place like this.

I had shrimp on courgette, prosciutto on melon, and a crispy croquette, washed down with a glass of refreshing sparkling wine. For those wanting something more special, they also pour Amarone (€15) and Brunello di Montalcino (€17) by the glass—a rarity in a bacaro.

There’s nowhere to sit, just standing space at the wooden counter, making it perfect for a quick stop but not somewhere you linger for hours.

If you’re looking for an old-school Venetian bacaro with a serious atmosphere, this is it – although do expect to have to share the space with some food tours who pop by regularly for a few minutes.

7 SEPA

Address: Calle della Bissa, 5482, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €2.50, larger plates from €8, wine from €4

SEPA feels like a modern take on the traditional bacaro.

Unlike many of Venice’s old-school cicchetti spots, this place has a more contemporary interior, a well-organised ordering system, and a menu that extends beyond the usual crostini and polpette.

I arrived in the early evening, and there was already a queue out the door. The setup is simple: order at the counter, take your food, and either find a spot inside or take it to go.

The cicchetti selection is excellent, with baccalà mantecato, roast beef with mustard, and a range of vegetarian options. They also offer hot dishes like risotto, pasta, and seafood plates, which you won’t typically find at a bacaro.

Unlike most bacari, SEPA is open throughout the day and late into the evening, making it a flexible stop whether you’re after a quick bite or something more substantial.

Another thing that sets it apart is its commitment to sustainability—everything is 100% plastic-free and compostable, including the cutlery and packaging.

8 Ostaria dai Zemei

Address: Ruga Rialto, 1045/B, San Polo, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €3, wine from €3

Ostaria dai Zemei offers something rare in Venice: outdoor seating.

Unlike most bacari, where standing at the bar is the norm, here you can actually sit and enjoy your food and drink at one of the tables outside. As a result, it tends to be more popular with tourists, but the setup and offering remain authentically Venetian.

The small shopfront features a glass counter packed with cicchetti, while inside, the wood-panelled walls are covered in photographs, giving it a warm, traditional feel.

We tried speck and pistachio, ham and red pesto, a delicious tuna and spring onion concoction, and a mini-sandwich with salami. They also offer a range of classic options like sardines in saor and baccalà mantecato.

We washed it down with two large glasses of Aperol Spritz, though they also serve wine, with glasses starting at €3 and cicchetti priced the same.

Its location in San Polo, not far from the Rialto Bridge, makes it an easy stop for a break while exploring the area. If you’re looking for a bacaro where you can sit down and enjoy great cicchetti, this is a solid choice.

Bonus Picks: Two More Bacari to Consider

9 Estro – Pane e Vino

Address: Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2831, 30121, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €2.50–3, wine from €5.50+

Estro – Pane e Vino is one of the most highly regarded wine bars in Venice, but I didn’t manage to visit on my last trip as my focus was elsewhere in the city.

Located in Cannaregio, it might be a little out of the way unless you’re staying nearby, but from everything I’ve heard, it’s well worth a detour if you’re within 20 minutes of it.

This is a modern take on the bacaro, with higher-end wines and a refined atmosphere.

While the cicchetti selection covers all the usual staples, they also serve toast (Italian-style toasted sandwiches). Prices are slightly elevated, with cicchetti from €2.50–3 per piece and premium wines starting at €5.50 per glass.

There’s seating both inside and outside, with a canalside setup that makes for an atmospheric experience. Inside, you can stand at the bar or find a spot along the wall at the counter.

10 Vino Vero

Address: Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2497, Cannaregio, Venice (Google Maps)
Price Range: Cicchetti from €2.50–3, wine from €5.50–7+

Vino Vero is another highly rated wine bar that I regret missing on my last trip, and it’s firmly on the list for next time. Also located in Cannaregio, it’s a little less convenient unless you’re already in the area, but it’s hugely popular with locals and discerning wine drinkers.

The focus here is quality wine, not spritz—they don’t serve the latter at all.

Their cicchetti are top quality, generously topped, and beautifully prepared, making them one of the best spots in Venice for wine and food pairings.

Prices are reasonable for the quality, with sparkling wine from €5.50 per glass and plenty of reds and whites in the €5–7 range, with a few options above that.

Seating is available canalside outside if you’re lucky enough to grab a table, with additional seating and standing room inside.

If you’re serious about good wine and great cicchetti, this should be on your radar.

Map of the Best Cicchetti Bars in Venice

To make it easier to find the best bacari in Venice, I’ve put together a Google My Maps with all 10 featured spots from this guide.

Whether you’re planning a self-guided cicchetti crawl or just want to drop into a few along the way, this map will help you navigate the city’s best places to eat like a local.

Cicchetti Tours of Venice: Self-Guided & Paid Suggestions

Self-Guided Cicchetti Crawl in Venice

A cicchetti crawl is a great way to fit in as many spots as possible and taste as many cicchetti as you can too—hopping between bacari, sampling small bites, and sipping wine as you go.

This route follows a logical walking path, allowing for a relaxed, enjoyable pace while visiting some of the city’s best bacari.

How to Do This Crawl

• Start at around 11am or 4.30pm to hit each bacaro at its best. Follow the route in the order it’s listed if you start in the morning, and follow it in reverse if you start in the evening so you catch all opening hours at the right time!
• Check opening times in advance—some bacari close between lunch and evening service, and others don’t open until late afternoon. I’ve left a general overview of opening hours below, but note that this is subject to change and also has nuances based on weekdays/weekends.
• Adjust based on the day of the week. Adriatico Mar, for example, doesn’t open until 5 PM Monday to Thursday, so if you’re doing this crawl on a weekday, it makes sense to visit later in the day.
• Note that many close on a Sunday, as well as early in the afternoon on a Saturday.
• Pace yourself. Order 1–2 cicchetti and a small glass of wine (ombra) at each stop, so you can comfortably visit multiple places. Don’t feel like you have to go to all the places I’ve included either!

Step-by-Step Cicchetti Crawl Itinerary

Stop 1: Bacareto da Lele (Budget-Friendly Start)

Santa Croce (Near Piazzale Roma)
Opening Hours: Open throughout the day

Start with €1 mini sandwiches and a small glass of wine—a light, affordable introduction to the crawl. There’s no seating, so stand by the canal and ease into the experience.

Stop 2: Cantina do Mori (Historic Atmosphere & Traditional Cicchetti)

San Polo (Near Rialto)
Opening Hours: Open throughout the day

One of Venice’s oldest bacari, dating back to 1462. Try classic cicchetti like baccalà mantecato and sarde in saor, paired with a small glass of local wine.

Stop 3: Al Mercá (Quick Bites Near Rialto Market)

San Polo
Opening Hours: Closes between 2.30pm – 6.00pm

A tiny, no-frills bacaro where you’ll grab a mini sandwich and a drink and keep moving—perfect for keeping the momentum going.

Stop 4: Adriatico Mar (Refined Cicchetti & Wine – Adjust for Opening Hours)

Dorsoduro
Opening Hours:

• Fri-Sun: Mid-morning
• Mon-Thurs: Early evening (opens at 5 PM)

A modern take on the bacaro, perfect for a mid-afternoon break on weekends or an early evening stop on weekdays.

Stop 5: Cantine del Vino già Schiavi (The Wine Lover’s Stop – Opens at 4 PM)

Dorsoduro
Opening Hours: Closed from 2.00pm – 4.00pm

A classic bacaro with an incredible cicchetti selection and excellent wine pairings. Grab a glass of prosecco or a Venetian white and enjoy it by the canal outside.

Best Cicchetti Tours in Venice

If you’d rather let a local expert lead the way, these two highly-rated cicchetti tours offer the perfect way to experience Venice’s food culture.

My Top Pick: Venice at Sunset – Cicchetti, Food & Wine Tour (Devour Tours)

This evening tour run by my favourite food tour operator, Devour Tours, meanders through San Polo and Dorsoduro stops at five authentic bacari, where you’ll enjoy seven cicchetti, four drinks, and a traditional pasta dish.

With prosecco on tap, expertly paired wines, and a Venetian spritz, plus a visit to a century-old gelato shop, it’s the perfect way to experience Venice’s cicchetti culture away from the crowds.

Alternative: Experience Venice Like a Local – Small Group Cicchetti & Wine Tour

A similar food and wine experience, this tour includes seven cicchetti, five wines, a spritz, and a dessert, plus a ride on a traghetto gondola ferry. A great alternative for those wanting a mix of history, local flavours, and a small-group setting.

What to Drink with Your Cicchetti

Venice’s food and wine culture is deeply tied to its surroundings, and choosing the right drink enhances the cicchetti experience.

Whether it’s a crisp glass of prosecco, a rich Amarone, or the city’s famous spritz, each sip offers a taste of Veneto’s unique terroir and history.

Ombra di Vino: The History of Venice’s Small Glasses of Wine

An ombra di vino is very much a Venetian peculiarity.

Meaning “shadow” in Italian, the term dates back to a time when wine vendors in Piazza San Marco followed the shade of St. Mark’s bell tower to keep their barrels cool. Over time, the phrase “Andiamo per un’ombra” (Let’s go for a shadow) became a casual invitation to grab a drink.

An ombra is typically a small, 100ml pour of house wine, served casually in Venice’s bacari.

Unlike the formal wine tastings of Tuscany or Piedmont, drinking an ombra is all about simplicity, affordability, and conviviality—something to enjoy alongside a few bites of cicchetti, just as Venetians have done for centuries.

Veneto: A Wine Region of Diversity

Venice sits in the Veneto, which produces some of Italy’s most distinctive wines – from the light, fizzing prosecco that started life in the hills above Treviso, to the Amarone della Valpolicella, made from dried grapes and one of the richest reds in the country.

Most bacari will pour locally – what’s on the board is usually a fair reflection of the region’s range.

Veneto is best known for two things:

• Prosecco, a sparkling white wine made primarily from the Glera grape, known for its lively bubbles and refreshing notes of green apple, pear, and white peach.
• Amarone della Valpolicella, a powerful red made from Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes, which are dried before fermentation to create a rich, full-bodied wine with deep flavours of dried fruit, spice, and dark chocolate.

Beyond these, Veneto offers a wide range of excellent wines that pair beautifully with cicchetti. Usually, what’s on the board will include a majority of wine from the locality.

Best Venetian Wines & Spritz Variations to Order

Venetian Wines to Try

• Prosecco – The ultimate Venetian aperitif, perfect with seafood and light cicchetti.
• Soave – A crisp white wine made from Garganega grapes, with flavors of citrus, almond, and green apple. Great for pairing with baccalà mantecato.
• Raboso – A bold, slightly tart red wine, well-suited for rich, meaty cicchetti.
• Valpolicella Classico – A light-bodied, fruity red, ideal for charcuterie-based cicchetti.
• Amarone della Valpolicella – A rich, full-bodied red with deep flavours of dark fruit and spice—best for heartier cicchetti.

Venetian Spritz Variations

Venice is the birthplace of the spritz, but there’s more than just the classic Aperol version:

• Spritz Select – The most Venetian choice, made with Select bitters, prosecco, and soda, garnished with an olive.
• Spritz Campari – Stronger and more bitter than Aperol, with a deep red hue.
• Spritz Cynar – A unique, herbal twist using artichoke-based Cynar liqueur.

Practical Tips for Enjoying Cicchetti Like a Local

Bacari operate a little differently from regular restaurants, and knowing what to expect will help you order confidently and avoid common mistakes.

Best Times of Day for Cicchetti

Bacari are busiest at two key times:

• Lunchtime (12:00–2:30 PM): A good time to grab cicchetti in quieter areas. Some bacari close in the afternoon, so check before you go.
• Aperitivo Hour (6:00–8:00 PM): When locals stop for a drink and a snack after work. Bacari are lively, standing space fills up fast, and things move at a quicker pace.

If you want to avoid the crowds, arriving just as a bacaro opens for aperitivo is usually a good strategy. For more on timing your days well in Venice, the Venice travel tips post covers this alongside everything else worth knowing before you arrive.

Standing vs. Sitting

Most bacari are designed for standing, with a few ledges or barrels to rest your drink on. Some have tables, but these are often for full meals or come with a service charge.

If you see a table, check whether others are sitting with just drinks and cicchetti before assuming it’s available. In busy bacari, standing is the norm—even outside on the street.

More on Eating and Drinking in Venice

A cicchetti crawl is one of the best ways into Venice – it gets you off the main routes and into the kind of places tourists rarely stumble on. 

If you want a guide to take the whole experience further, the Venice food tours post covers the best guided options, including the one I did myself. 

For a broader look at eating well in the city – sit-down restaurants, the dishes worth seeking out, where to avoid – the Venice food guide has it all. 

And if you’re still deciding when to go, Venice in winter makes the case for the quieter months – when the bacari are at their most local and least crowded.

You can find all my Venice posts below – or head to the Venice travel hub for the full collection.

Planning a wider Italian trip? The Italy section brings everything together in one place.