Venice, Italy
Venice, I’m Gondola Miss You! LOL
Our last destination was the city of Venice in the northeast. This city was built on more than 100 islands. It is famous for its reliance on canals and boats for transportation. The principal canal is the Grand Canal, which is used by boats, taxi boats, and gondolas. However, to access the narrower canals, your only option is gondolas. These gondolas are more expensive, but they are a fun experience!
Hotel:
I found our room through Hotels.com. It was spacious, far bigger than the ones we had booked in Rome or Florence. This was because it was a family room. The hotel was within walking distance of the central square and St. Mark’s Basilica. We walked almost everywhere. The streets and alleys were so beautiful that we didn’t want to miss a thing.
On the day of our arrival, the weather was spectacular. We took advantage of this to do as much walking and exploring as possible, since the forecast called for rain. And, YES, it did rain, and it rained heavily. Unfortunately, this meant that we did not get to visit many restaurants. We visited just a few, and only those with easy access.
The only times we used the taxi boats were to and from the island, and when we were heading to the Morano glass factories.
Restaurants:
Cafe Florian: This cafe is located right in the center of the town square. Built in 1720, it is the world’s oldest coffeehouse. So, I don't need to tell you that you should definitely visit. Not surprisingly, everything is super expensive. But hey, why not! It's the oldest coffeehouse. You can just order drinks and sit and enjoy the live music outdoors, which by the way, you will pay for it like or not. Or, like us, you can order the full course menu. We got coffee, drinks, some small sandwiches, and dessert. It was almost $100. The price was shocking … but worth it. It was incredibly delicious.
Il riotto: There are a few Michelin starred restaurants in Venice, and this one is one of them. If you don’t know, Michelin stars are a way to grade the quality of a restaurant, and receiving a star is a big deal for both the restaurant and the chef. Over time, restaurants can gain or lose stars … up to a maximum of three stars. Luckily, when I called they had a reservation available. The restaurant offers a fixed menu to choose from. As you would imagine for a high end restaurant, the dishes are small. After our meal, I am definitely convinced that they deserved their star.
Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta To Go: A fun and mouth watering experience. This restaurant makes fresh pasta, and you can actually see it from behind the glass. In less than 10 minutes, it is ready for you.
Al merca: This establishment is located in close proximity to the outdoor fish/ vegetable market. We happened upon it randomly. It is a small deli that serves drinks and tiny sandwiches. This is a must go place, not because of its food or drinks, but because of its atmosphere. If you go in the afternoon, the cafe is crowded with the local kids hanging out and chatting while enjoying their food and drinks.
Ristorante Florida: As I mentioned, except for our first day, it rained every day. But, we really wanted to try one of the restaurants by the canal. It was fun to sit next to the canal and watch the people and gondolas. This place gets high reviews on Trip Advisor, mostly because of its location. It is right where the crowds are, so it gets more customers, and with that more reviews. The service was good, but our food and drinks were simply average. Nothing special was our conclusion!
Nino and Friends: We were just passing by and I saw this chocolatier passing out samples. The samples were definitely tasty. Even though $6-7 for a small box with only 5 pieces of chocolate is a little bit pricey, I still bought it.
La Maison de la Cre. pe: On our way back to our hotel after dinner, I saw this place. It had great reviews and a short line, so we got a nutella and strawberry crepe. It was simple and delicious.
Gelatoteca Suso: An absolute must. I went here before breakfast on our last day. I'm glad my friend texted me and told me about it. Their gelato is super fresh and yummy.
Trattoria Al Gallo d’Oro: This was another random spot. My husband and I were both hungry, and it was raining. We picked this place. The server was so funny and invited us, along with other passerbys to come in. At first, we thought it was a tourist trap. But, to our surprise, the food was delicious and savory.
