The medieval Rialto market quarter, the city's bacari heart with Cantina Do Mori (since 1462), All'Arco, Do Spade and Al Merca. The Pescheria fish market opens 07:30.
Antiche Carampane in Venice's San Polo is the 1983 family-run seafood trattoria the Rialto fishmongers send friends to, the room with the no-tourist-menu sign on the door.
Signature: Spaghetti with lagoon clams, Fritto misto, Sarde in saor
Order: Spaghetti with vongole, fritto misto della laguna, sarde in saor.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The dining room has 10 tables, so flexibility on date is more useful than time.
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 lunchroom.
Signature: Sarde in saor, Spaghetti vongole, Fritto misto
Order: Sarde in saor, spaghetti vongole, fegato alla veneziana.
Tip: Walk-in only. Arrive at 12:00 for lunch or 19:30 for dinner. Closed Wednesdays. Two waves through the dining room every service.
Osteria Bancogiro in Venice's San Polo is the Grand Canal terrace bistro at the foot of the Rialto, with a downstairs bacaro and an upstairs dining room.
Signature: Tagliata di tonno, Sarde in saor, Crab and ricotta ravioli
Order: Sarde in saor at the bacaro counter, then ravioli with crab and ricotta upstairs on the canal.
Tip: Lower-floor cicchetti are walk-in. Book the upstairs dining room with a Grand Canal table through the website a week ahead.
Trattoria alla Madonna near Rialto in San Polo is the 1954 lunchroom with 200 seats that turn twice a day, the canonical Venetian fish trattoria for the budget end of mid-range.
Signature: Sarde in saor, Spaghetti vongole, Fritto misto
Order: Sarde in saor, spaghetti vongole, fegato alla veneziana.
Tip: Walk-in only. Arrive 12:00 for lunch or 19:30 for dinner. Closed Wednesdays.
Osteria Bancogiro on Campo San Giacometto in San Polo at the foot of Rialto is the Grand Canal terrace bistro with a downstairs bacaro and a dining room upstairs.
Signature: Tagliata di tonno, Sarde in saor, Crab and ricotta ravioli
Order: Sarde in saor at the bacaro counter, then ravioli with crab and ricotta upstairs on the canal.
Tip: Lower-floor cicchetti are walk-in. Book the upstairs dining room with Grand Canal table a week ahead. Closed Mondays.
Cantina Do Spade in San Polo near Rialto is one of the oldest bacari in Venice, with a stand-up cicchetti counter and a small sit-down room for the bigger plates.
Signature: Fried moeche in season, Sarde in saor, Polpette al sugo
Order: Sarde in saor at the counter, then a primo of bigoli al ragu di pesce in the dining room.
Tip: Combines bacaro counter and table service. Book the dining room for groups of three plus; walk-in works for the bar.