Just Eat It: The “Secret” to Eating Venice on a Budget (And Some Secret Budget Places)

Trattoria Pizzeria Con Giardino, Venice.
Mozzarella pizza with asparagus and egg.

It would be extremely hard to pass up eating all of the amazing cuisine Italy has to offer in Venice, even while knowing that it is one of the most expensive cities in Italy. With absolutely divine pastas, pizzas, and wine, you are bound to gain a “so worth it” muffin top at the same time you are gaining a guilty skinny wallet. First of all, you can't come to Italy and expect to be watching your carb intake. Plus, you don't have to worry because you’ll be walking that muffin top right off while getting lost in Venice (and trust me, you will get lost). Most importantly, don’t stress too much about your wallet…for I have just the secret to keeping it full, plump, and satisfied (like yourself).

Dolfin Pizzeria, Venice
Seafood Risotto.

The “secret” to saving money on food in Venice while still being able to devour all of the heavenly foods in sight is simply one of two options each day: eat a light breakfast and heavier lunch, or a heavy breakfast and lighter lunch. That's it! {end of blog post}


Ok, ok.  You ask, “How will this save me money?” I'll explain…

Depending on the plans for each day of your trip should determine the size of breakfast and lunch you choose. If your day’s itinerary will be packed with sight-seeing, museums, tours, etc., you may want to eat a heavier breakfast so you don’t have to pause your day to find a time and place to sit down and eat lunch. With this option, you may just need a light lunch/snack on the go. If you are able, I highly suggest eating breakfast at your hotel or B&B. Our hotel had a buffet breakfast for 5€ a person (about $5.50 US)! As I stated in one of my previous blog posts, European hotels and B&Bs’ complimentary breakfasts are ten times better than the average US continental breakfasts. We got our fill by eating many pastries, hard-boiled eggs, meats, cheeses, breads, yogurts, and cappuccino (a hot caffeine drink alone at a cafe will cost you about half that price, by the way).

Cafe, Murano
Cappucino with latte; lemon creme-filled pastry.

Hotel Airone, Grand Canal,Venice
Meats and cheeses spread in hotel.

Hotel Airone, Grand Canal,Venice
Cappucino; fruit bowl; roll; meat; cheese; pastry.

Hotel Airone, Grand Canal,Venice
Breakfast buffet lay-out at hotel (typical European hotel breakfast).

If you decide to eat a bigger breakfast, take advantage of cicchetti (Italian version of Spanish tapas) throughout the rest of your day to keep you satisfied. Not only will you be exploring many types of Italian foods through these delicious delicacies, but you will only be spending about 1-3€ per treat.

Bacarando In Corte dell'Orso, Sotoportego De L'Orso, Venice
Many types of cicchetti items.

You should know that if you choose a smaller breakfast, cicchetti is a perfectly acceptable choice for lunch as well as for dinner. In fact, I recommended as much cicchetti as possible. As for the popular Italian cuisine such as pizzas and pastas (which you will eat a lot of on your trip), lunchtime is the time to do it. As you would have guessed, lunchtime is by far much cheaper than dinner. Therefore, choose the sit-down type of meal during lunch only (typically served until about 3pm). Prices at some restaurants will nearly double for dinner. Also, a plus to eating at a sit-down restaurant for lunch not only means eating the incredible Italian foods Italy is known for at a decent price, but also not missing out on eating more cicchetti later in the night when you start to get hungry (many cicchetti bars stay open late). And don’t forget to try their vino della casa (house wine).

Bacarando In Corte dell'Orso, Sotoportego De L'Orso, Venice
Many types of cicchetti items.

Bacarando In Corte dell'Orso, Sotoportego De L'Orso, Venice
Cicchetti. Fried pastry filled with mozzarella and prosciutto;
sliced bread topped with fresh Baccala Mantecato, sardines, and olives.

In Venice, you may not always be hungry, but you will always have an appetite. I recommend making countless stops throughout your day at local vendors, shops, bakeries, and cicchetti bars. These may not be on your itinerary, but they will certainly add to your Venetian experience. Just make sure to plan your sit down meals smart...that way you can devour Venice with no regrets to your credit card or wallet. And, hey, just remember, your waistline in Italy does not exist, ok? Go ahead! Just eat Venice...Saluti!

Osteria Alsquero, Venice
Cicchetti. Breads topped with sardines, vegetables, salmon, fresh fish; Polpette; vino della casa.

Osteria Alsquero, Venice
Many items of cicchetti.

5482 Calle De La Bissa, Venice
Many items of cicchetti.

5482 Calle De La Bissa, Venice
Many types of cicchetti items.

5482 Calle De La Bissa, Venice
Cicchetti. Hard-boiled egg topped with
pickle and sardine; Venetian potato pastry.

La Perla ai Bisatei, Murano
Seafood spaghetti in clam sauce.

Marciana, Venice
Mozzarella pizza; pesto spaghetti; Gnocchi with arugula in creme sauce.

Dolfin Pizzeria, Venice
Seafood Risotto; bread; breadsticks; vino della casa.

Trattoria Pizzeria Con Giardino, Venice
Mozzarella pizza with sardines; breadsticks.

Dolfin Pizzeria, Venice
Mozzarella pizza with prosciutto, artichoke hearts, mushrooms.

Caffe & Pasticceria, Rizzo Venice Food, Lido
Spritz with olives; potato crisps.