5 bacari where Venetians love to go in Venice

A brilliant idea by two locals who wanted to take ‘cultured’ music out of the hallowed halls and bring it to places where you would never expect to hear it, like Venice’s bacari for example. Every year, in May and June, the association organises travelling concerts, with artists performing while people sit back and enjoy their glass of wine and cicchetti. Check their Facebook page for more details.

Exposed bricks, a counter with a generous spread of cicchetti, excellent spritz and ombre, a relaxed atmosphere: this typical Venetian tavern ticks all the boxes. There is only one difference: the house speciality is meat and not fish. A must-try!

A place where you can experience the real Venice. The interior of this traditional trattoria, with its wood-panelled walls and exposed beams, provides the perfect setting to sample simple, unfussy Venetian cuisine. In autumn and spring, you should definitely try their fried moeche, or soft shell crabs. This delicacy is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

If you need a break from Venetian cuisine and are looking for a more international menu, then head to Caconero. This large bistro – opened in 2017 – off the tourist trail, is popular with university students and for business lunches. Try their varied and tasty salads and their homemade cakes.

An amazing selection of cicchetti and cheeses, a good wine list and reasonably-priced spritzes: in short, this historic restaurant has it all and if you wish to stop for a more substantial meal, the fish dishes are definitely worth trying.