Vegan Guide to Venice: 13+ Restaurants, Tips & More

After feasting on pizza dripping with vegan cheese in Rome or endless bowls of plump ravioli in Florence, you might think that you’re in for more even more fabulous vegan restaurants and options in Venice. 

Well, my friend, you should think again.

After being spoiled for choice in vegan wonderlands like London or Hamburg, coming to Venice will probably feel like you’re going on a diet (well, it did for me). Don’t get me wrong; there are options; some are circa 1990 (think cheese-less pizza and house salad), and some just aren’t advertised, making it more challenging to plan your foodie adventure. 

I’ve heard both ends of the vegan spectrum for people — some felt they ate well in Venice, while others posted SOS messages in vegan travel forums looking for anything other than another bowl of spaghetti. 

I wonder where you will fall?

Well, I reckon it won’t be too rough for you because you have me, and I’ve done all the vegan investigative journalism for you (you’re welcome).

Vegan Restaurants in Venice 

There used to be two vegan restaurants in Venice, sadly, as of the end of 2024, there is only one! I hope the number grows ASAP.

La Tecia Vegana 

Calle dei Secchi, 2104, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Since there’s only one vegan restaurant on the island in Venice, I thought that I would try and come here more than once — not so fast! I think because it’s the only vegan game in town, it gets busy. The first night that I tried to visit, I was politely told, sorry about your luck, but no, and I had to make a reservation for the following day. The menu is heavily Italian, with a bit of Asian influence. You can dive into bowls of cheese-filled ravioli, rich lasagna with a meaty house-made sauce, or go for raw spaghetti with zucchini noodles for a superfood boost. I was feeling weighed down from all my travel eating, so I ventured for the raw spaghetti, and the creamy cashew sauce with black garlic didn’t disappoint. If you can, save a little room for dessert — all are house-made, from rich cheesecake topped with citrusy marmalade to decadent chocolate hazelnut cake. 

Africa Experience 

C. Lunga S. Barnaba, 2722, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
There’s a bit of a theme in Venice. Want vegan options? Head to Asian, Middle Eastern, or African restaurants! As soon as you step into this quaint restaurant, your spirits are immediately lifted by the bright colors and beat of the drum music dancing in the background. The menu focuses on dishes from Ethiopia with a bit of Middle Eastern influence, and their verdure section (and side dishes) is the best spot for vegans to check. The staff were also very familiar with what vegan meant, so there was no uncomfortable pause when I inquired what was safe. The veggie stew with okra and rice was filling and flavorful — this would be a great place to go if you have to please a group. 

Brunch Café 

Calle de la Madoneta, 1457, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
I’d say make a reservation at this tiny breakfast spot, but even then, you might not get in quickly — come mid-morning, there is always a line streaming out the door! The breakfast and brunch spot is extremely popular, not because of its vegan options but because it offers a pretty good diversity of popular fare. You’re limited on the vegan side of things, but during the breakfast hour, that’s pretty standard — take what you can get! Their online menu is well-marked for vegan and vegetarian options, which include avocado toast, fresh juice, and fruit. They also have a variety of nondairy milk options. 

Sullaluna Libreria & Bistrot

Fondamenta de la Misericordia, 2535, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
The love of books meets the love of organic, veggie-friendly food at this charming café and bookshop. The walls of books surround a petite bistro filled with rustic tables accented with wildflowers; it’s a calming place to enjoy a meal. On the food side, they have a vegan menu (hooray!) that includes fresh, colorful salads, falafel, croutons (think bruschetta but with variety), sweet treats, and even vegan wine! One more bonus: they can make just about anything gluten-free. 

Orient Experience 

Rio Terà Farsetti, 1847, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
This lovely spot in Cannaregio features a flavorful mix of dishes from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with plenty of vegan options. The online menu (the pdf.) is well marked for vegan (v) and vegetarian (ve) options like mujaddara, dahl, curried veggies, and more. It’s also unique that they share where the dishes originate, like Afghanistan, Lebanon, Turkey, and more! 

Ristorante da Mario alla Fava 

Calle dei stagneri 5242, e Calle Galiazzo, 5265, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Between Rialto and San Marco, you’ll find this fine-dining spot that is well known for its Venetian dishes and famous patrons. It’s also one of the first restaurants in Venice to offer a vegan menu (with gluten-free options), and it’s not just four items! The well-developed menu includes delicious dishes for every course, from zucchini and avocado tartare as your starter to a crusted beetroot fillet with porcini pate and truffle sauce, but it doesn’t end there. Their pastry chefs know that vegans love sweets and have also developed multiple creative dessert options — you’ve got to try the strawberry soup with champagne ice cream!

Crepes House by PePe 

Fondamenta S. Giobbe, 548/B, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Thankfully, Pepe remembered vegans when he developed his crepe menu! You’ll find separate vegan and vegetarian options (so there’s no confusion) filled with various sweet and savory options. Sweet tooth fans should check out the Tradizionale filled with banana, chocolate hazelnut spread, and hazelnut cream! If you’re more of a savory fan, the Grecia Veg with hummus, roasted veggies, and olives might be more your speed. 

Laguna Lubre Eco Ristorante 

Fondamenta Cannaregio, 969, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Check out this vegan-friendly restaurant and jazz club for those looking for a special dinner and musical performance. Throughout the week, the restaurant hosts a variety of live music and activities that pair nicely with its veggie-focused dishes. There are two vegan menu options — a multi-course set menu and an a la carte menu. All of the dishes are seasonal and feature locally sourced ingredients. 

Bistrot de Venise 

Calle dei Fabbri, 4685, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Although this spot doesn’t have a massive lineup of options, it’s a charming little place for a fancier evening out. Each course on their dinner menu (not lunch) features a clearly labeled vegan dish. You can start with a fresh green salad, then move on to giant shells stuffed with carrot cream and roasted tempeh. There’s even a vegan sweet ending — rich coconut mousse with coconut crumble, strawberry crisp, and your choice of sorbet. 

H2NO Enobirrateca

Rio Terà S. Leonardo, 1815, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
I would’ve sailed right past this spot, but a local brought it to my attention! The casual brewpub is well known for its massive beer lineup and diverse cicchetti (small snacks), which include vegan options like tramezzini (cold Italian sandwich). This is the perfect place to come for a mid-day or late-night snack (they close at 10 p.m., so not too late).  

Pizzeria L’Angelo 

Calle de la Mandola, 3711, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
You’ll find many places that say they have vegan pizza, but it’s almost always without cheese! That doesn’t count in my book. Thankfully, that’s not the case at this vegan-friendly pizzeria. They offer a Vega option, which includes a variety of veggies and delicious formaggio vegano. They also have focaccia, which is naturally vegan.

Additional Vegan Pastries & Sweets in Venice

These bakeries and cafes offered various vegan options but weren’t marked. You might be able to find cookies, pastries, chocolate, and more. It’s best to do what I did and just wander in and ask what’s vegan.

Teraferma

Rio Terà S. Leonardo, 1382, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy

Panificio Giovanni Volpe

Cl. Ghetto Vecchio, 1143, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy

Gelato Fantasy 

Multiple locations throughout Venice
This bright little gelateria proudly displays its vegan options, and it’s way more than just strawberry sorbet! Each location might vary slightly with its options, but I found yummy flavors like pistachio, hazelnut, banana, coconut, chocolate mint, and more! On top of having a great flavor lineup, they also have vegan and gluten-free cones (I didn’t find anywhere else with that)!

Gelateria Ca’ d’Oro

Strada Nova, 4273/b, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
This small artisanal shop has great, well-marked vegan options like hazelnut, chocolate, and fruity flavors. Just look for the little green writing on the flavor names! They have a rotating mix of fruity popsicles, too. 

Vegan Shop in Venice

Save the Duck

Calle dei Fuseri, 4462, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
I was super surprised when I walked by this vegan clothing shop! If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, it’s well known for its feather-free down and super warm, cruelty-free coats. In addition to winterwear, they might also stock lightweight jackets, vests, and even jackets for your pup.

Is Venice Vegan-Friendly?

Venice isn’t the most vegan-friendly city, but it’s also not the worst. A vegan visit to Venice takes much more effort and planning than, say, a visit to a vegan mecca like NYC or Berlin. To my surprise, there aren’t a few vegan restaurants in Venice, only one! The rest is a fun game of menu decoding to find out what’s friend or foe. You can visit markets for fresh produce, but don’t expect to find a laundry list of vegan alternative products. Sadly, because Venice has become such a tourist Disneyland, there are far more convenience stores than full grocery markets, making it challenging to find a diversity of products — but hey, you can live on wine and bread for a few days, right? 

A Few Tips About Other Activities in Venice 

If you want to book a gondola ride, don’t book it in Venice.

This romantic activity is generally on most visitors’ lists, and while it’s a lovely experience, it can be super expensive! Most gondoliers charge over 100 euros (or more) for a short trip around the canals. In my mind, it’s not worth it. A much more cost-effective option is to book a shared ride ahead of time! Depending on when you book, I’ve seen shared rides range from $20 – $30. There are also guided tours that include it with other activities.

Book St. Marks & Doge’s Palace ahead of time

Most visitors come to Venice just for this and then leave, which means this area and these two places are always packed! Both places are worth visiting if you have the time but not worth it if you waste hours in line. The best way to see both spots and understand their historical significance is on a guided tour (I booked this tour).

Venice is going through A LOT.

As you wander through Venice, you might see signs that say 49999 or SOS Venice, and that’s because locals are quickly losing their homes and culture to tourists. Venice is heavily over-touristed and has become a tourist Disneyland. While I was there, it was announced that there were more beds for tourists than locals. Locals are being kicked out of their rentals to make way for visitors throughout the high seasons. On top of that, there are substantial environmental implications facing the sinking island. I say all of that to encourage you to take a walking tour with a local to understand better what’s going on in the city vs. what tourism boards want to sell you.  

With that in mind, spend money with locals at their shops, restaurants, etc., instead of any type of chain store while you’re there. 

Getting around the island can be challenging.

There are no cars, buses, or even bikes on the island, so your only options are your own two feet or a boat ride. If you’re coming from the train station, depending on where your accommodations are, you might want to check the water bus schedule. Otherwise, you’ll have to drag your luggage over bridges and down narrow alleys (it can be done; I did it, but it wasn’t enjoyable).

Book a shared water shuttle in advance if you’re going to the airport; this will save you some cash! Private transfers to the airport are well over $100 one-way. The water shuttle is also way more efficient than getting the bus near the St. Lucia train station.

Venice is actually made up of a TON of islands. 

Most people don’t realize that the main island of Venice is made of over 100 different islands, all connected by bridges. Every time you cross a bridge, you’re on a new island. In addition to the main islands, there are also the islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello, and Lido. Each of them is known for something different. Go to Murano to see how Murano glass is made, go to Burano for lace and colored homes, go to Lido for the beach (it’s also where the Venice Film Festival is held), and Torcello used to be the commercial capital of Venice.  

You can book guided tours to some of the islands or purchase ferry tickets at the Alilaguna transit port; there are ticket offices throughout Venice. One of the most convenient is on the Lagoon by St. Mark’s Square.