Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
A risotto-soup hybrid of rice and fresh spring peas, traditionally served to the Doge on St Mark's Day (25 April). Loose, soupy, never stiff.
Risi e bisi is the canonical Venetian Republic dish, traditionally served to the Doge in the Doge's Palace on the Feast of St Mark (25 April) using the first peas of spring. The texture is risotto-but-looser, somewhere between a soup and a risotto, made with the pea pods reduced to a broth (the canonical version uses both pods and peas). It is on the menu at every spring carte from Vini da Gigio to Anice Stellato, and the proverbial Venetian saying goes that it should be ne troppo brodoso ne troppo asciutto (neither too soupy nor too dry).
5 editor picks for Risi e bisi in Venice, ranked by editorial score. All Venice signature dishes · Risi e bisi across every city.
Osteria alle Testiere in Venice's Castello is the 22-seat room with two seatings, run by Bruno Gavagnin and Luca di Vita on Calle del Mondo Novo since 1993.
OrderGnocchetti with calamari and cinnamon, branzino in salt crust, the salty antipasti.
TipTwo seatings only: 12:30 + 13:30 for lunch, 19:15 + 21:30 for dinner. Book at least a fortnight ahead through their online form.
Vini da Gigio in Venice's Cannaregio is the Lazzari family's canal-side trattoria, a Slow Food-listed family room running the canonical Venetian carte.
OrderBigoli in salsa, fegato alla veneziana, branzino in salt crust.
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays. The wine cellar runs to 1,200 labels. Book a week ahead online or by phone.
Osteria Anice Stellato in Venice's Cannaregio is the canal-side modern Venetian seafood room on Fondamenta de la Sensa, with outdoor tables along the rio.
OrderBigoli in salsa, marinated anchovies, the daily ravioli.
TipClosed Mondays. Book outdoor terrace on the rio in summer through their email or the dishcult listing.
Trattoria alla Madonna in Venice near the Rialto is the 1954-founded room with a turnover that fills 200 seats twice a day, the canonical Venetian fish.
OrderSarde in saor, spaghetti vongole, fegato alla veneziana.
TipWalk-in only. Arrive at 12:00 for lunch or 19:30 for dinner. Closed Wednesdays. Two waves through the dining room every service.
Bistrot de Venise near San Marco is the 1993 room that cooks from manuscripts of the Anonimo Veneziano and Renaissance Venetian cookbooks, the only.
OrderThe historic-tasting carte, the Renaissance saor of sole, the medieval risi e bisi.
TipTwo carte: contemporary and historic. The historic side is the reason to book; their Renaissance tasting needs 48 hours' notice.
Risi e bisi makes more sense with someone from Venice explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Embark on a bacaro food tour in Venice and savor Spritz, Prosecco, cicchetti, warm dishes, and gelato while discovering local culinary traditions with a guide.
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Taste your way through Venice's bacari culture, crossing the Grand Canal like a local and discovering the neighborhoods where Venetians gather for cicchetti, wine, and...
2 hours
Experience a pasta and tiramisu-making class in a local home in Venice. Learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and tiramisu, and enjoy the fruits o...
