Hidden Venice Food Tour: Bacari, Cicchetti and Wine in…

Walking Tour

3 hours

Venice

This 3-hour tour is an immersive journey into the heart of Venetian food heritage, crafted for true connoisseurs and seasoned food lovers seeking depth and discovery. Join your expert guide as you glide from bacaro to bacaro, the city’s beloved family-run wine bars where Venetians have gathered for centuries. Step into places where you're greeted like family in these hand-picked spots, and live like a local for a few unforgettable hours.

Over the course of the tour, you'll savor ombre–small glasses of local wine–and cicchetti–bite-sized seasonal delicacies, as you explore the rich histories behind each dish. Each stop is a deep dive into tradition: taste velvety baccalà mantecato, tangy sarde in saor, and delicate pastella-fried vegetables, perfectly paired with wines like crisp Soave or robust Valpolicella. This tour goes beyond tasting: it’s about understanding. Your expert guide - who knows the city's food scene and history like the back of their hand will reveal the fascinating origins of these recipes, from the spice routes of the Serenissima to today’s vibrant wine bars.

Choose this tour if…

You’re a food lover who seeks more than an average bite, and you'd rather learn with your taste buds. You’re here to taste the history, culture, and stories baked into every dish.
You’ve been to Venice before, but this time, you want to belong. You’re ready to trade the tourist trail for true tradition and feel like part of the city.
You want the real local spots without the stress of bookings or guesswork. Just a seat waiting where your guide is already known by name, and you are treated as a friend.
You want to make every moment count and dine with a twist. Savor local dishes, sip great wine, and soak up stories all in the time it takes to sit through an ordinary lunch or dinner.
You want more than photos: new flavors, new pairing ideas, and unforgettable memories you’ll keep chasing back home.

What You’ll Taste

Creamed baccalà on polenta - creamy salted codfish
Sarde in saor and gamberi in saor - tasty sardines and shrimps in a sweet and sour version
Seasonal vegetables in delicate pastella or other delicacies
All paired with an ombra of refreshing Prosecco or a crisp Soave, or a ruby Valpolicella
These tastings replace a meal. Most clients should find this tour pretty fulfilling, and wouldn't want to follow it with a full dinner or lunch.
We are taking you to local establishments that are often family-run; hours and availability may vary.
Dietary restrictions should be shared in advance in order to possibly adapt the tour.

Route Details

Your authentic Venetian experience begins in the atmospheric sestiere of Dorsoduro, far from the tourist crowds, in the narrow canals with fluttering laundry. Here, your culinary history expert guide welcomes you into family-run bacari, intimate wine bars where Venetians have gathered for generations to enjoy ombre—small glasses of local wine—and cicchetti, the seasonal bite-sized dishes that are Venice’s answer to tapas.

You will deep dive into the rhythms and rituals of Venetian food culture, savoring traditional specialties like sarde in saor, creamy baccalà mantecato on polenta, and delicate pastella-fried seasonal vegetables., Sample each perfectly paired with wines with each stop, such as crisp Soave, mineral-rich Friulano, or robust Valpolicella. Every flavor opens a door into centuries of history, from the spice trade routes of the Serenissima Republic to the bustling stalls of today’s Rialto market.

Along the way, your guide will share fascinating tales about Venetian food culture. Learn how a glass of wine earned the nickname ombra (“shade”), and why cicchetti are meant to be so small to be eaten standing, with one hand always free for the glass of wine. You’ll leave with a satisfied appetite, a wealth of insider knowledge, and a list of authentic local spots to continue your Venetian culinary adventure.

Sites Visited

Dorsoduro Neighborhood - A charming, authentic district with art, canals, and some of Venice’s coziest bacari
San Polo Neighborhood - Venice’s historic heart of markets and culinary traditions
Local family-run bacari - Generations-old wine bars serving heartfelt cicchetti

Accessibility

We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have dietary restrictions. Can I take this tour?

We will do our best to accommodate you if you are on a group tour by ordering appropriate items. Please note that if you have severe allergies, we cannot guarantee that the foods prepared in restaurant kitchens will not be subject to cross-contamination. This tour centers on alcoholic tastings, but they can be replaced with other kinds of drinks (juices, soft drinks). If you prefer another tour option to avoid alcohol or are traveling with children, we suggest our Rialto Market Food Tour, which is better suited to those needs.

What does my tasting fee cover?

Your tasting fee covers drinks and snacks at three venues. This usually consists of local wine, with tastings of varieties of cicchetti. There will also be mineral water to cleanse your palate.

This walk takes place around lunch or dinner time. Will the tastings be enough for dinner?

Yes, this tour is designed to replace a regular meal. The food and wine pairings are carefully selected to be both satisfying and balanced, with generous tastings that most guests find more than enough. Depending on your appetite, you may not need anything more than a small bite or gelato afterward.

Will I be expected to try things even if I don’t like them?

Not at all. Tastings are not pre-selected or pre-ordered, and your guide will make choices based on what's available and suited to your preferences. You're welcome to share any dislikes or hesitations with your guide at the time of booking; they’re there to make the experience enjoyable and comfortable for everyone.

Can we bring our kids on the tour?

This tour is not specifically recommended for families with children, as it focuses on drinks and cocktail tastings, which can be challenging to replace with suitable alternatives for kids. If you’re traveling with little ones or prefer a non-alcoholic experience, we suggest our Rialto Market Food Tour, which is more family-friendly.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Venice can present challenges for wheelchair users due to its many bridges and narrow cobblestone streets, and this tour includes a light to moderate amount of walking with several bridge crossings. Some of our stops may not have accessible entrances or facilities. However, progress has been made across the city, including ramps and modified bridges, and we are happy to adapt where possible.

If you or someone in your group has mobility concerns, please let us know in advance so we can tailor the experience to be as accessible and comfortable as possible.

Cancellation Policy

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

Book a Tour

From iconic landmarks to tucked-away local favorites, these are the places you’ll explore and experience firsthand with your Expert.

San Polo Neighborhood
Dorsoduro Neighborhood
Local Wine Bars

Here’s a look at what your tour covers, plus anything you’ll want to consider arranging separately, so you can plan with confidence.

Included

English-speaking expert guide
Tours led in English, offering you unbroken understanding throughout.
Intentionally sized groups
A smaller group means more time for conversations and questions.
Tickets and entrance fees
All entry tickets included (unless clearly stated otherwise).
Headsets
Headsets are included on tours that need them, so every word can be heard.

Excluded

Gratuities

We encourage tipping as a way to thank your guide after your experience.
Food and drink

Refreshments are only included during a tour when clearly noted.
Transportation to and from the meeting point

Guests organize pre- and post-tour transport themselves - this service can be added by request.
Hotel pickup or drop-off

Unless noted, travel to or from accommodation isn’t included - this service can be added by request.

Map of Hidden Venice Food Tour: Bacari, Cicchetti and Wine general meeting point area

Some helpful advice for getting the most from your experience, from practical prep to small on-the-day tips.

Dos:

Wear comfortable footwear
Check the weather and dress appropriately
Bring a bottle of water (no glass)
Feel free to ask your Expert anything

Don'ts:

Bring firearms or weapons
Bring sharp objects (e.g. knives, swiss army knives, switchblades, hiking sticks)
Dress inappropriately to enter religious sites or sacred monuments

Any questions? You can always contact us.

4 Reviews

Cecilia was a delightful guide through Venice! From her we learned about culture, history, geography, customs, and most significantly food and wine. We observed her established, cordial connections with the people running the places we visited for delicious ciccetti and expertly chosen wines. As a native Venetian and Sommelier, Cecilia imparted uniquely valuable knowledge. And most of all, she was warm, welcoming, attentive, sharing and caring.

Jeanne Nov 3, 2025

Cecilia has a wealth of knowledge about food and wine ! We enjoyed learning about the many delicious varieties of cicchetti and charcuterie. The food was very attractive and scrumptious!! The wines Cecilia selected were perfect companions to the wide variety of food. She is a wonderful, engaging hostess and guide!!! We hope to see her again as we wander through beautiful Venice‼️

Stephen Oct 12, 2025

Cecilia was such a delightful, charming and knowledgeable guide to the back streets of Venezia’s incredible cicchetti and taverna scene. She is an expert sommelier and knows the regional varietals thoroughly, as well as knowing the proprietors of the osterias on a first name basis. If you want to dive into authentic Venice food far from the day tripping tourist crowds, this is the perfect Context experience.

John Oct 9, 2025

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