Venice Evening Food Tour in Cannaregio with Authentic Sit-Down Dinner

Experience top notch Venetian cuisine and wine with a local foodie and dine at a premier restaurant

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5 / 5 See All 261 Reviews

· 3.00h · Venice, Italy

Finding real Venetian food without falling into overpriced tourist traps is nearly impossible unless you know where to look. Our evening food tour through Cannaregio takes you to 5 local spots for 8 tastings and 4 drinks, including cicchetti, baccalà with polenta, fresh pasta, and artisan gelato. Along the way, sip wine, swap stories with your guide, and discover how Venetians really eat, drink, and live.

Venice Evening Food Tour in Cannaregio with Authentic Sit-Down Dinner

A group of tourists in front of Despar Teatro Italia with a guide from The Tour Guy.

Plate of cicchetti (Italian tapas) with various tastes

A bartender pouring multiple Spritz in a bar in Venice.

People walking in Cannaregio, discovering Venice local streets and histories from a The Tour Guy guide.

People enjoying and cheering with wine in the Venetian style - standing

Ending the tour with delicious and artisanal ice cream - gelato

People admiring Venice from the Rialto bridge at the end of the tour

Tour Itinerary

Meet your guide outside Despar Teatro Italia
Cannaregio
Venetian Spritz Demo
Sample Cicchetti
Regional wine

Authentic Pasta
Venetian 'ombra'
Artisanal gelato
End your tour near Ponte de l'Ogio

Your evening food tour begins near Venice’s historic Teatro Italia, where you’ll meet your local guide and small group. Over the course of the evening, you’ll explore the Cannaregio district, visiting 5 local businesses for 8 traditional tastings and 4 drinks. Sample cicchetti, baccalà with polenta, fresh pasta, and artisan gelato as you learn about Venetian food, wine, and culture along the way.

Venice Evening Food Tour in Cannaregio with Authentic Sit-Down Dinner Description

Your 3-hour tour includes:

Small plates called cicchetti
Prosecco, wine, and cocktails
Sit-down Venetian dinner and gelato
Short walking tour of Cannaregio
English-speaking, local guide
Local, expert storytelling
Maximum of 10 people per group

Cannaregio

Your evening in Venice is set in the beautiful neighborhood of Cannaregio. Originally a working-class neighborhood, it has become the center of local Venetian cuisine and culture.

As you explore the small canals and streets, you’ll see a more authentic, less touristy side of Venice that will make you fall in love with the city all over again.

Cicchetti and Bacari

There are two words that are vital to know when visiting Venice—cicchetti and bacari. The word cicchetti comes from Venetian dialect, meaning "a small savory snack.” They’re served at various bacari (wine bars) and come in many delicious varieties. Traditional bacari date back to at least the 1300s and have become an integral part of life in Venice.

Your local Venetian guide will explain the history of bacari and why people visited them during the day (and even in the morning!). When Italians drink wine, they always have something to eat with it to make sure that they don't get too tipsy. So over time, the bacari started offering cicchetti and a new tradition was born: drinking wine with cicchetti.

The Spritz

Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something bitter, there’s a spritz for everyone. For example the Campari spritz has a higher alcohol content than an Aperol Spritz, and it also tastes more bitter than sweet.

The Select Spritz Apertivo-- the original signature Venetian Spritz-- has been a staple in the Venetian lifestyle since the 1920s and is a local favorite.

If you’ve ever seen pictures of people in Italy drinking a bright orange cocktail in a stemmed glass, that’s an Aperol spritz. Both drinks are made with prosecco. You’ll learn how to make the classic Italian aperitivo drink from an expert, local bartender.

Traditional Sit-Down Dinner

An ombra in Venice is a small glass of wine, but the word itself means "shade." Legend says wine sellers used to set up near the bell tower of St. Mark's Square, moving their carts to stay in the shade—hence, drinking in the shade. Today, Venetians simply say, "Let’s grab an ombra." During your final stop, you’ll sip local wine and enjoy a relaxed, sit-down meal featuring traditional Venetian dishes, all while sharing stories and conversation with your guide and group.

Gelato in Venice

No Italian foodie experience is complete without some refreshing gelato. On this Venice food tour, you’ll learn how to spot the difference between authentic and artificial gelato by visiting one of Venice's best gelateria or gelato shops. Your guide can tell you which flavors are in season, and what makes gelato different from the ice cream you have at home.

You may feel like staying out and exploring Venice after the tour ends, or you might need a rest after all the eating and drinking! If you're ready to head home, your guide will happily show you where to catch the nearest vaporetto (water taxi) so you can cruise back to your accommodation for the night.

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What you get with this tour

Local, English-speaking guide
8 Food Tastings & 4 drinks
Cicchetti & Prosecco
Traditional Venetian sit-down dinner
Artisan gelato dessert
Captivating storytelling
Small group of 10 max
Wheelchair accessible
Gratuity

Customer reviews

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Tour with Sareena

11 October 2025

Reviewed by
John Williams

What a fun and delicious tour. Sareena our guide was perfect. She was engaging and full of fun tidbits about each dish we stopped and tasted. The dinner was still the best we’ve had on our trip throughout Italy! Absolutely recommend Sareena and this tour

10 October 2025

Reviewed by
Sueann Frank

04 October 2025

Reviewed by
John Peter Owsiany

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

Comfortable shoes and a hearty appetite.

What to bring?

Comfortable shoes and a hearty appetite.

I have doubts about my mobility, is this the right tour for me?

Venice is a car-free city, so you'll be walking between stops and may come across some uneven streets and stairways. If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest taking a Venice in a Day Tour with a Gondola Ride instead.

Do the tasting stops on this tour ever change?

Occasionally, the stops and tastings on this tour are subject to change due to seasonal/holiday venue closures. As the places we visit on this food tour are local institutions and family-run businesses, they can close at any time with very little notice. If this happens, your guide will take you to another excellent nearby eatery.

Can I bring my kids and do I have to pay for them?

Kids are welcome on our food tours, but we understand that sometimes young children won’t be interested in what’s offered. You don’t have to pay for children who are under 6 years old and won’t be eating the food. You're welcome to bring some food for them to enjoy. Otherwise, if children under 6 will be eating food at any of the stops, please choose the “Child” option when booking.