Venice - Dining and Shopping

If you ever get to visit Venice, I think you'll agree that an entire post devoted to food and shopping is appropriate. I can't remember where I read this, but I'm passing it on to you... Don't worry about a single calorie while you're visiting Italy. You will walk it off and then some, so take advantage of every pizza and gelato and wine tasting that you can!

Hotel Courtyard

We were lucky to start most of our days with a complimentary breakfast at our hotel. Most of the time, the spread was breads, butters, jams and coffee. In a couple of places we lucked into eggs and prosciutto, too. Usually there were some fruits and pastries thrown in, and that was plenty to fuel our morning adventures. Even if you don't stay in a place that offers a morning snack,
there were plenty of little coffee shops and bakeries around that offered reasonably-priced food. One tip: most coffee shops will include a service charge if you sit down, so save a few Euros and order at the bar and either stand to drink or get it to go!

Now that's a PIZZA!

Since our mornings were usually full of touring or exploring a new part of town, by lunch, we were usually starving! The best bet for us was to split a pizza - and sometimes we would share a salad, too. As I mentioned before, sitting at a cafe gets you the "service charge" - which should include bread and olive oil. Be ready to pay for your water, still or sparkling... or better yet, have wine at lunch, since you're on vacation!

Although we probably shouldn't have been, we were very surprised by the high-end shopping in Venice (and every town we visited in Italy).

The window displays were AMAZING. Most of the time, the designer stores were all in the same vicinity. And in Venice, where the streets are so narrow, anyway, walking through the shops made it seem like you were in an outdoor mall! A very fancy outdoor mall.

Window Shopping

And of course, the employees of the shops dressed the part. I imagine they have to project a certain image to be able to work there! 

We didn't really think we could swing getting everyone a souvenir from Prada or Chanel, so we tried our luck by checking out some of the local shops and stores. We had to be careful, especially with some of the shops near St. Mark's square. Some of the "Italian" scarves had very clearly marked tags that said "Made in China."

Our tour guide told us we had to visit a very special bookstore: Libreria Acqua Alta. It took us a while to find it (even if you have an address for a place in Venice, navigation is not always as easy as you think), but it was worth the search! There were new and used books stacked EVERYWHERE. As you walk into the store, the first thing you notice is a full-size gondola full of books! It's a great place to get a fun and quirky souvenir.

And in the back, the owner has built a staircase of books leading to a platform with a view of the winding Venetian canals. A one-of-a-kind experience, for sure!

After all of that shopping, you'll be ready for the Italian drink of choice for happy hour - a spritz! Everywhere we went, around 5 o'clock, the cafes would fill up with people and lots of these refreshing drinks. The basic spritz is made with Prosecco (sparkling wine), Aperol (an orange liqueur), and a little soda water, served over ice. I have to confess, my favorite part about this yummy drink was the ice. Most drinks are served at room temp - even if you get a soda, it's served in a can with a glass. So ice cubes were definitely a treat!

As I mentioned earlier, we usually split a salad when we could, just to save a little on the cost. However, you do need to be aware of the "house rules" about splitting or ordering - wherever you decide to eat.

One night, we had our heart set on eating at one of the cafes beside the Grand Canal... dinner with a view. In order to eat beside the water, we had to agree that we would each be ordering at least two courses each - an appetizer and an entree. We quickly agreed, because we were starving and ready to sit for a while. However, the couple next to us apparently did NOT follow through with their order, because they were asked (not too politely) to leave. 

Even though we were surrounded by water, sometimes we forgot about the abundance of seafood... I mean, we were in the land of pizza and pasta, but in Venice, don't forget to order the mussels and other seafood dishes, too!

No meal is complete without wine. As I mentioned in an earlier post - the water is almost as expensive as the wine, so you might as well splurge a little! And remember, if you're in Italy, no wine is bad.

Part of the fun of eating at the "fancier" restaurants was seeing how they would plate our meals... one night, our appetizer of fish and vegetables came in a delicate "basket" made from the same tempura used for the dish.

We tried every kind of pasta we could - even the gnocchi. Gnocchi is a pasta made from potatoes - delicious, but a little heavy for a summertime meal. Still it made for a beautiful plate!

Last tip: if you're willing to give up a little "atmosphere," you can save some on the costs for your meals. But I highly recommend at least one lunch or dinner at a place where you can see the water and hear the serenade of the gondoliers. Paired with a little wine, bread and olive oil... molto bella!