Tour description

Sweets lovers and coffee lovers alike will want to jump on this tour of traditional Venetian bakeries! Discover the secrets behind Italian caffè culture and taste some of Venice’s best desserts as you mingle with locals in Cannaregio and Castello. 

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Italians love their coffee but there are certain rules one must follow if you’re going to do Italian café culture the right way. This private tour introduces you to those rules and customs and invites you to become a genuine caffè expert. If that wasn’t enough, we will also introduce you to the traditional pasticcerie of Venice and the history behind the city’s sweet treats as you wander through the most local neighbourhoods in town!

You’ll meet your local guide at the steps of the Santa Lucia train station (the only train station in Venice) and begin your adventure exploring the Cannaregio neighbourhood.

Our first stop on your private Venice food and drink tour will be at a family-owned pasticceria, a favourite breakfast venue of locals on their way to work. It’s conveniently located at the entrance of the island, for those coming to work from the mainland, it become an institution for its well-known pastries. By visiting this stop, you will be supporting a family run business (which is fast becoming a thing of the past in Venice). You’ll also learn the secrets to sipping coffee the proper way so that you’ll blend right in with the locals for the rest of your Italian holiday.

After breakfast, we will head to the heart of the ancient Jewish Ghetto, a neighbourhood that is 500 years old and remains an important part of the Venetian community. It’s here that you will have the chance to buy kosher desserts in a small bakery.

We will continue our stroll through the neighbourhood of Cannaregio, passing by the main corners of this residential area. Your guide will stop for those who fancy doing some shopping, at a family bakery that’s famous for its torrone and other traditional desserts of Venice. Get a lesson on the history and traditions of local Venetian cuisine as we munch on our delicious sweet treats.

We’ll then continue our way toward the Castello neighbourhood, the largest sestiere on the island and home to the Arsenale (naval dockyard). We’ll explore its narrow lanes before stopping at our next pasticceria, an elegant family-run spot that has become the most beloved and famous place to buy seasonal desserts; panettone at Christmas, Colomba at Easter… Depending on the time of year, you’ll get a mix of different desserts to try, appropriate to the season. You’ll also have the chance to relax your legs here while sipping the famous Venetian spritz overlooking the beautiful Church of San Giovanni e Paolo.

After your energy boosting spritz, we’ll visit one of the most amazing bookstores in Europe, Libreria Acqua Alta, a hidden gem in the heart of Castello.

Our private tour ends on a high with some famous Italian tiramisu! Learn everything about this Veneto dessert as you shovel delicious spoonfuls of homemade tiramisu in your mouth!  Do you love chocolate? We do too, so we decided that with your tiramisu, you will also try the traditional hot chocolate that was drink by Venetians in the 17th century! Rescuing an old recipe from that time, you will go back in time to taste this chocolate perfection. (In summer, we’ll do the cool version of this!). 

From there, we’ll walk toward our ending point at the Rialto Bridge where It’s time to say a presto at the steps. Your local guide will give you some tips for continuing your day in Venice or help you with directions back to your accommodation.