There are countless spots across Venice where you can try local street food.
Needless to say, it’s one of the most enjoyable, amusing and affordable ways to explore Venetian cuisine.
Whether you need a quick bite between museums or want to skip full meals, street food lets you mix things up and keeps things fresh and varied.
You’ll eat on the go, soak up the Venetian vibe with locals (if you know where to go), and keep your budget in check, all while tasting something new at every stop.
From sweet pastries to fried fish cones and cicchetti, Venice street food isn’t just budget-friendly; it’s a fun, flavourful part of the city experience.
7 Places to eat Venetian street foods
With this guide, you’ll discover a delicious mix of sweet and savoury spots where you can taste some of the best street food Venice has to offer.
These places are perfect for breakfast, lunch on the go, or a casual aperitivo.
It’s also worth noting that these are some of my local favourites that combine high food quality standards, affordability and most importantly, flavour.
1. Pasticceria Tonolo
Since 1953, Pasticceria da Tonolo has been the most famous pastry shop of Venice, and the best place to find the queen of sweet street food in Venice: the Carnival ‘frittella’! I made a video about this sweet treat on my Instagram profile.
If you’re in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood and looking for a place to have breakfast, then this ‘pasticceria’ is the perfect spot in town.
It’s a short walk from the Santa Lucia railway station or Piazzale Roma, and having a sweet treat here will make you feel recharged straight away.
You can try the following:
- With custard as well as shortbread
- Petit four, dry pastries
- Custard and fruit baskets
- Cream puffs, diplomatics
- Meringues
- Croissants and kipfel
📍 Pasticceria Tonolo: Calle San Pantalon Dorsoduro 3764, 30123 Venice
2. Acqua e Mais
Just steps from Campo San Polo and Rialto, Acqua e Mais is one of the top spots for classic Venetian fried street food, served in a paper cone, called “scartosso de pese frito”.
The takeaway-only stall is tiny but always draws a queue thanks to its generous portions, fair prices and freshly made offerings.
Expect a mix of golden fried squid, sardines, prawns, polenta and even fried mozzarella. It’s the perfect place for a quick lunch on the move, especially if you’re exploring the nearby Frari Church or Rialto area.
Prices range between 6 and 10 euros depending on the size of the cone or the food portion and the ingredients you choose.
📍Acqua e Mais: Campiello dei Meloni San Polo 1411/1412, 30125 Venice
3. Al Mercà
In the San Polo district, a few metres away from the crowded Rialto bridge, there’s a tiny bacaro that sells directly on the street: Al Mercà.
This is a famous wine bar and one of the most loved by Venetian people in the Rialto market area. There’s no space inside to take a seat. Literally there’s only a counter, but you should definitely stop by, as the quality of the food and wines is excellent.
The price for one ‘cicchetto’ is around 1 or 2 euros. One of the most popular ‘cicchetto’ is the one with creamy cod on top, a typical Venetian speciality.
If you’re looking for a great place for your aperitivo on the go in Venice, then Al Mercà is your next foodie spot.
📍 Al Mercà: Campo Bella Vienna San Polo 213, 30125 Venice, Italy
4. Sepa
Sepa is an osteria and gastronomy in the heart of Venice, hidden in a narrow calle between St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge. It’s known for its creative twist on traditional cicchetti and takeaway dishes.
This spot is perfect if you’re looking for something quick but high quality, and it’s ideal for vegetarians too.
Alongside traditional options like meatballs and baccalà mantecato, you’ll find vegetarian lasagne, artichoke flan, and mini seafood pasta trays ready to eat on the go as well as their popular seafood risotto.
The portions are very good and perfect to try a mix of flavours, and everything is made in-house with seasonal ingredients. Expect to pay around a minimum 2–3 euros per cicchetto.
📍 Sepa: Calle de la Bissa San Marco 5482, 30124 Venice
5. Rosticceria Gislon
A local institution for quick, hot meals since the 1930s, Rosticceria Gislon is a few steps away from Sepa, and is always buzzing with locals and tourists alike.
It’s best known for the mozzarella in carrozza, a fried mozzarella sandwich filled with either ham or anchovies, crispy outside and gooey inside.
Also, other bites, such as pasta portions, meatballs, fried vegetables, and risotto dishes are available at very affordable prices.
Perfect for a filling lunch or snack between sightseeing stops. Prices start from around 3–5 euros.
📍 Rosticceria Gislon: Calle della Bissa San Marco 5424, 30124 Venice
6. Bar Alla Toletta
Bar La Toletta is a tiny, no-frills bar close to the Accademia bridge in Dorsoduro, loved for its delicious tramezzini, Venetian-style sandwiches.
The selection here is incredible, with over 20 options available daily, from tuna and eggs to mushrooms, crab, asparagus and prawns.
They’re made fresh throughout the day, and while they may look humble, they’re flavour-packed and generously filled.
Most tramezzini cost between 2 and 3 euros and are perfect to eat on the go or with a quick coffee.
📍 Bar Alla Toletta: Dorsoduro 1191, 30123 Venice
7. Testo
Just a few metres from the Rialto Fish Market on Ruga dei Spezieri, Testo is a street food spot built around one thing: a flat, griddled bread made with ancient grains and a 20-hour leavening that makes it surprisingly light and digestible.
It’s crisp on the outside, soft inside, and filled with carefully sourced Italian ingredients. I tried the sandwich with mortadella, pistachio and burrata and the Soleggiato made with capocollo, stracciatella and crushed taralli, which I enjoyed.
The sandwich is made in front of you, to order, and the wrapper comes with a QR code that points you to nearby spots where you can actually eat it in peace.
📍 Testo: Ruga dei Spezieri, 374, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Where to try Venetian street food
Street food in Venice is more than just a budget-friendly option, it’s one of the best ways to taste local traditions while keeping your trip spontaneous.
From sweet pastries to tasty seafood cones and super stuffed sandwiches, there’s a lot to get excited about.
Save these places in your list or save on your phone the map I shared above. Let me know if you end up trying any of them and what your experience was!
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