Reducing Your Environmental Footprint While Traveling: Veggie Dining in Venice
Reducing your environmental impact while traveling also extends to what's on your plate. Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, or not, you might want to eliminate meat from your meals without missing out on experiencing local specialties.
Venice, being a city built on water, boasts a cuisine rich in fish, shellfish, and ducks. But that's not all. Fortunately, there are numerous vegetarian options available, and the city's eateries know how to showcase this wealth. They even reinterpret traditional dishes into vegan versions. Let's mention some traditional vegetarian dishes: pasta e fasoi (pasta with beans), risi e bisi (rice with peas), polenta taragna (polenta made with whole cornmeal), pasta radicchio e noci (pasta with radicchio, a purple cousin of endives, and walnuts)... Here's our selection of great spots, from street food to upscale restaurants, from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy.
The place is tiny and well-hidden in the depths of the Cannaregio district, not far from the Ca' Foscari University economics campus. The specialty, whether to go or eat on a bar stool, is crepes, with vegan batter, as are most of the fillings. On the veggie side, try the Barese, with smoked buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, almonds, and arugula. In vegan, the Washington Vegan with peanut butter, roasted vegetables, almonds, raisins, and cabbage is outstanding. It's not a typically Venetian recipe, but the experience is local enough; nearby campus students can confirm.
Fondamenta S. Giobbe, 548/B Opening hours vary by season, check their Facebook page. +39 345 307 3333
Crêpes House by Pepe
Imagine a club sandwich, but delicious, soft, and filled with quality ingredients. In Venice, it's called tramezzino (plural: tramezzini), and it's served brimming with filling on the verge of explosion. It's the perfect mid-morning snack or a convenient and economical lunch on the go. At Ai Nomboli, the display case showcases a variety of different flavors, which change with the season, including many veggie options: eggs and asparagus, melon and robbiola cheese (trust me), zucchini and cheese, mozzarella and tomatoes... In winter, they sometimes serve very hot and cheap soups.
Calle dei Nomboli, 2717, C
Mon-Sat 9 am - 5 pm
+39 0415230995
Want to sit in the sun for a healthy and tasty lunch or a comforting snack? Head to Fondamenta della Misericordia, a long quay lined with bar and restaurant terraces. One address stands out, it's called Sullaluna: a bookstore dedicated to illustrated books for adults and children, where you can enjoy creamy cappuccinos or sparkling proseccos. On the dining front, it's fresh, veggie or vegan, very gourmet: for an aperitif, gorgonzola and fig toast, for a main course, a vegan salad of beans with seasonal vegetable pesto, for dessert, a warm almond tart served with cream. You'll leave with a full belly and sometimes a book.
Fondamenta della Misericordia, 2535
+39 041722924
Every day, 9 am - 9 pm
Sullaluna
Venture off the tourist circuits to discover La Tecia Vegana, in the residential Santa Marta neighborhood. Here, everything is vegan, from appetizers to desserts and even the wines. The menu changes every month: for lunch, choose a single dish between two options (for example, in February 2024, lasagna or pad thai). In the evening, pick a starter, a main course, a side dish... you'll usually find amazing ravioli, filled according to the season and served with cashews. For dessert, try a raw vegan cheesecake or a gluten-free tiramisu.
Calle dei Secchi, 2104
Tue-Sat lunch and dinner
+39 0415246244
In Italian, "zucca" means pumpkin. So logically, this squash appears in many dishes on the menu, mainly vegetarian when it's in season. Sinking your spoon into the pumpkin flan with Parmesan is an unforgettable experience. Even dessert features an original pumpkin and pistachio cake. In summer, it might be gazpacho with balsamic vinegar ice cream, or tagliatelle with zucchini pesto, pecorino, and almonds. If you're interested, don't forget to book; it fills up quickly.
Calle del Megio 1762
Mon-Sat lunch and dinner
+39 0415241570
Osteria La Zucca
This elegant and traditional restaurant, located in an alley between St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge, had the good idea of offering its menu in three versions. No, not fish on one side, meat on the other. But a daily menu, a vegan menu, and a vegetarian menu. It's great to have so many choices in a traditional setting that doesn't prioritize omnivorous cuisine.
Calle dei stagneri 5242
Tue lunch, Wed-Sun lunch and dinner
+30 0415285147