Venice Royal Gardens: Spritz Aperitif & Cicchetti Experience

Summary

Aperitivo in the greenhouse, laughter by the basin—Venice as locals do it

Settle into a sunlit greenhouse café behind St. Mark’s Square for a classic Venetian spritz and cicchetti snacks overlooking the Royal Gardens. With help from your local guide and a handy mobile app packed with city walks and stories, you’ll taste, laugh, and wander Venice in ways you’ll remember long after heading home.

What’s the experience like?

Li was already grinning when we ducked behind Piazza San Marco and found the old greenhouse café—Illy, I think it was called? The glass walls made everything feel bright even though the sky was doing that moody Venetian thing, half sun, half drizzle. Our guide (I never caught his full name, just “Marco—like the square!”) waved us to a table with a view of the Royal Gardens. There was this faint smell of wet grass and espresso, which sounds weird but actually kind of worked.

The spritz arrived—orange and fizzy, not too sweet—and Marco explained how every Venetian has their own “right” way to make it. He winked and said his secret is more Prosecco than Aperol (“Don’t tell my mother”). The cicchetti came on mismatched plates: little bites with anchovy, artichoke, something fried I still can’t pronounce. Li laughed when I tried to order another round in Italian—probably butchered it. We watched people wander through the gardens, some locals chatting with hands flying everywhere, others just sitting quietly under the trees.

There’s an audio app you get for exploring Venice after—the guide helped us download it before we left. I didn’t expect much from an app honestly, but later we used it to find a bacaro tucked down an alley near Rialto. It pointed out stuff I’d have missed otherwise (like why there are so many lions carved into doorways). Anyway, that first spritz in the greenhouse sticks with me more than any big landmark—maybe because it felt like we’d slipped into someone else’s daily ritual for a while.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Venice Aperitif and Garden Visit

• Enjoy spritz aperitif with cicchetti

Top questions

Is this Venice spritz experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the location is wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed at the Royal Gardens aperitif?

Yes, infants and small children can attend but alcoholic drinks are only served to those over 18.

Does this tour include food?

Yes, you’ll get a mix of Venetian cicchetti (tapas-style snacks) and vegetable chips along with your drink.

Where exactly is the café located?

The Illy café is just behind Piazza San Marco in Venice, next to the Royal Gardens.

What does the mobile app offer?

The app includes six self-guided itineraries around Venice and audio narration for 200 points of interest.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the meeting point.

Do I need to pay an access fee for Venice?

On certain dates non-residents visiting Venice for the day must pay a €5 access fee; check https://cda.ve.it for details.

What’s included

Your experience includes one classic Venetian spritz served at Illy café near St. Mark’s Square, savory cicchetti snacks with vegetable chips, views of either Saint Mark's Basin or the Royal Gardens depending on where you sit, plus access to a mobile app featuring six curated itineraries and 200 audio points across Venice—all guided by friendly local staff who’ll help you settle in or get started exploring after your aperitif.