Florence and Venice are two of the pillars of Italian tourism, and they have a lot to offer everyone. Here are some of our favorite bars, hotels, and restaurants in the two cities, as well as a few pieces of travel advice for getting around Venice.
Traveling around the Mediterranean? Check out our Guide to Mediterranean Port Cities.
Don’t know what to pack? Here’s Jess’s Packing List.
Top Restaurants
Overall: Highly Recommend
Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Food: 8/10 Beverage Program: 8.5/10
If you are going to Venice for one meal- eat here. Located on an alley called Calle Frezzaria (they are number 1610), this cozy local somewhat modern trattoria is a triple theat- with good wine, good food, and good service. Matteo and Fabio own and run this place, and on our last trip to Venice both of our families went multiple times. If there is a downside, it is that the AC is not super consistent, and there can be mosquitos (but both of these things can happen all around Venice… and even after knowing this- we still went back the next day). The menu changes, but last time we loved the veal entree and the pigeon appetizer (we’re not big fans of pigeon, but dipping the homemade bread in the pigeon sauce was our favorite bite).
Overall: Recommend
Service: 5/10 (quickly an 8 if you order good wine) Atmosphere: 3/10 Food: 6.5/10 Wine List: 9.5/10
Do not be thrown off by the absolutely brutal google reviews- go here for the wine list. It is about 50 steps from San Marco square. It is touristy. But they have a literal hidden wine vault across the bridge (a family member may offer to show you) with practically a wall of Masseto and much more. Even before seeing that, we knew they had one of the best wine lists we have ever seen (selection 9/10 and value 10/10). Go in the afternoon for a nice bottle of wine, and don’t expect a lot other than that… but do enjoy yourself. If you are hungry, order the lasagna (we upped the food an entire point just because it was so good).
Overall: Highly Recommend
Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Food: 8/10 Beverage Program: 7.5/10
If you have one dinner in Florence- eat here. Owner Saldano is a quirky prince with the most amount of jewelry you will ever see on a person, and chatting with him makes this restaurant a must-visit every time we are in Florence. The food can also be phenomenal. Jess loves the boar ragu. Reservations are required.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 7/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Food: 8/10 Wine List: 8/10
Located in central Florence, Gobi is the best place to get angel hair pasta with red sauce (a family favorite). This rustic, underground setting provides a comfortable and traditional atmosphere, and the wine list is great. Reservations are essential.
More Restaurants & Bars...
Overall: Recommend
Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9.5/10 Food: 6.5/10 Wine List: 8/10
The restaurant at the Aman Hotel is as beautiful as you would expect, and the service also meets the high-end hotel’s luxury standards (George Clooney got married at this property). While the food fell short, we would still recommend a dinner at the restaurant (it usually takes a lot for us to say that, but it’s easy to say here). Get dropped by a water taxi (they’ll call a return for you) and enjoy the stunning high ceilings, paintings, and design. If possible, go to the equally beautiful bar for a nightcap.
Overall: Maybe
Not rating
This is a small, rustic and very famous trattoria, and it has been pumping out Italian food for decades. Da Ivo is a Del Dotto family favorite, so we are not going to rank it… but Jess doesn’t love it. If you do go, make sure to book a reservation well in advance, and do not go with a group larger than 4 (even if there is a bigger table available). Be cautious of them trying to sell you a different wine than the one you ordered, and don’t order the clams (the steak however, was very good). The bathrooms are child-sized, so hold it.
Overall: Recommend
Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 7.5/10 Wine List: 9/10
We really loved our dinner at Quandri. Overlooking San Marco square (after all the tourists are gone), this is one of the most romantic spots in Venice. We had an excellent server, great wine, and great company in a stunning setting. The food is modern Michelin-y without being too pretentious. If you’re on the edge about this, go.
We highly recommend spending an afternoon with an aperol spritz in San Marco square. There are tons of restaurants to choose from, almost none of which have great food, but they do provide a perfect location for people watching and enjoying a nice day outdoors. Be careful of the birds, they will steal food right out of your hand.
Hotels
The only hotel we’ve stayed at in Venice recently was Hotel Danieli, which we likely won’t return to. The concierge service was frustrating (leading us to almost miss our flight because they gave the boat we ordered to someone else), and there are many annoying tour groups in the lobby (so large groups of tourists can take pictures, while blocking the door so hotel guests have a hard time getting in and out). The bar is okay and the bartenders are nice, and the rooms are relatively comfortable. It is a busy hotel. Rooftop breakfast may be a plus for some.
A bit outside of the main part of Florence (a 15 minute walk), The Four Seasons Firenze is currently our top hotel to stay at in Florence. The property is huge, the gym is spacious, and the rooms have high ceilings and great bathrooms. While we would recommend skipping the Michelin restaurant, we highly recommend spending afternoons at the bar here, as it is one of our favorite spots. There are also several bars and restaurants walkable (such as La Giostra), that make this semi-far away location worth it.
Venice: After having dinner at the Aman hotel, it would certainly be the first place we would look if we return to Venice. The bar is stunning and remains open late for hotel guests. The grounds are beautiful. It is very high-end and in a great location slightly outside the main tourist hub, with helpful concierges (that gave us a tour).
Tourism & Travel Notes
You may have noticed that we have not posted much content on Florence here, and that is because we have not been in a few years. We do not want to provide information that is out of date. Still, we have been many MANY times, and we get a lot of requests for Florence tips- so we have included our top 2 restaurants and favorite hotel, because friends and family have visited more recently and they ensure us our favorites are still great.
Getting from the airport to Venice requires an additional boat. We highly recommend booking a private transfer service online or through your hotel. A private driver will pick you up at the terminal and drive you about 5 minutes to the water boat area (there is often a long line for water taxis that you can cut by getting private transfer).
If you have any health conditions at all (that may lead to you needing a visit to the hospital) do not go to Venice. As you can imagine, a city underwater does not have great infrastructure for transporting people quickly. Getting an ‘ambulance boat’ to Hotel Danieli took over 40 minutes. Plan accordingly.
Notable Places Visited & Not Reviewed
Venice: Al Covo: We personally did not enjoy it. Harry’s: Every time we have tried to go to Harry’s, it has been absolutely packed. Please let us know how it goes for you, maybe get there before opening time.
favorite moments
