Venice: Food Tasting Walking Tour with Cicchetti & Wine

Summary

Venetian flavors, old wine bars and pastry secrets in quiet alleys

You’ll wander through Venice’s quieter corners with a local guide, tasting cicchetti in old wine bars, sipping regional wines, and learning why Venetian sweets are unlike anywhere else. Expect laughter over mispronounced dishes, stories about Casanova’s favorite haunts, and enough food to fill you till dinner — or longer.

What’s the experience like?

It’s noisy around the Rialto Fish Market — I could smell the sea and something sweet, maybe coffee, drifting out of a café. Our guide, Marco (he waved his hands like he was conducting traffic), started us off with espresso and pastries that were so delicate I nearly dropped one. There was a moment when someone spilled sugar on their sleeve and just laughed — nobody cared. The locals at the bar didn’t even look up; they were too busy arguing about football in Venetian dialect.

We ducked into a bacaro that Marco said Casanova used to haunt. I don’t know if that’s true, but the wood beams looked ancient enough to believe it. Standing elbow-to-elbow with Venetians eating cicchetti — little bites with anchovy and pickled onion — I tried saying “sarde in saor” properly. Marco grinned and corrected me (twice). The wine was poured straight from a tap behind the counter. It tasted sharp but somehow right for the place, especially after all those salty snacks.

I lost track of how many stops we made — there was another family-run pastry shop where the owner told us about Venice importing sugar centuries ago. He handed me something dusted with cinnamon and orange peel; I still think about that flavor sometimes when I pass bakeries at home. At one point, we sat down for pasta and fish so fresh it almost tasted like the lagoon itself (not in a bad way). Someone asked if we’d ever be hungry again after this day trip in Venice — honestly, probably not for a while.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Venice food tasting and wine tour

• Start with coffee and pastries
• Stroll through wine bars
• Taste cicchetti and local drinks
• Visit oldest bacaro and hear Casanova story
• Try more cicchetti at local bar
• Sample regional cured meat and cheese
• Enjoy special pasta or risotto dish
• Try freshly caught fish and sarde in saor
• Visit another bar for cicchetti
• Experience artisan gelato tasting

Top questions

How many tastings are included on the Venice food tour?

The tour includes at least 13 tastings across multiple stops.

Is lunch or dinner included during the tour?

Yes, you’ll have a sit-down meal at a locally frequented restaurant as part of the experience.

Are drinks included on this Venice walking food tour?

Yes, local wines are served at several stops along with food tastings.

How long does the food tasting walking tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours.

Is this Venice food tour suitable for vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions?

Diets can be accommodated if you notify them at least 24 hours before departure.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet your guide at the designated starting point in Venice.

How many people are on each group tour?

The group size is usually up to 15 people but may reach 19 during high demand periods.

Is this Venice food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible but ferry passes may be needed for canal crossings.

What’s included

Your day includes an expert local guide sharing stories behind every dish as you stroll through Cannaregio and San Polo districts. You’ll visit seven to eight bars and restaurants for cicchetti, pastries, regional cheeses and meats, plus plenty of Venetian wine — all included in the price. There’s always more food if you’re still hungry by the end; just ask your guide before finishing up your small-group adventure.