Dinner in Venice: When do the restaurants open?

In Venice, mealtimes work a little differently than in many German cities. Anyone looking for a cozy restaurant for a hot dinner as early as 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. will often find the doors closed or end up in places that cater exclusively to fast-paced mass tourism.

Standard business hours Most authentic Venetian restaurants (Trattorias and Restaurants) have strict service hours:

• Lunch: Usually from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Dinner: Not until 7:00 p.m. or even 7:30 p.m.

Between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., the kitchens are usually quiet. The staff uses this time to prepare for the evening.

What should you do if you get hungry earlier than expected? If you don't want to wait until 7:30 p.m., you have two reliable options:

1. The Cicchetti Bar: Take advantage of the time between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for an aperitivo. At the bacari, you’ll find excellent little bites that are perfect for satisfying your early evening hunger.
2. Hot meals served all day: There are a few—mostly larger—restaurants that offer „Orario Continuo“ (continuous service). Look for signs indicating this, but be aware that this is more the exception than the rule.

Our advice to you: Get into the rhythm of the city. A candlelit dinner at 8:00 p.m., when the day-trippers from the Adriatic have long since left the city, is a much more enjoyable experience. Now Venice is all yours.

Reservation: At good, small restaurants, making a reservation for the evening (especially on weekends) is highly recommended. A quick phone call in the morning or stopping by during your lunchtime walk is usually all it takes.

And after dinner: Go to St. Mark's Square to dance. Everyone else is doing it, too.