Eat in the alleys around the Rialto Bridge, not on it: all ten of our picks are within four minutes’ walk. They cover the whole day, from cicchetti at All’Arco and Cantina Do Mori to a standing lunch at Rosticceria Gislon or L’ Bacaro de’ Bischeri, an evening ombra at QuasiPronto or Bacarino, dinner at Ostaria Al Milion or Ca’ Dolfin, and gelato at Suso.
The short list
10 places, in the order they appear below.
- 01All'ArcoMorning cicchetti from the marketWalk from the bridge: about 3 min
- 02Cantina Do MoriWine at the counter in the oldest bacaroWalk from the bridge: about 3 min
- 03Rosticceria GislonFried food and tramezzini, standing or takeawayWalk from the bridge: about 2 min
- 04L' Bacaro de' BischeriFocaccia sandwiches at lunchWalk from the bridge: about 2 min
- 05Bar Rialto da LolloCoffee and tramezziniWalk from the bridge: about 3 min
- 06QuasiProntoMozzarella in carrozza and an ombraWalk from the bridge: about 4 min
- 07BacarinoGluten free cicchettiWalk from the bridge: about 3 min
- 08Ostaria Al MilionAperitivo, then a traditional dinnerWalk from the bridge: about 3 min
- 09Ristorante Ca' DolfinSeated seafood dinnerWalk from the bridge: about 4 min
- 10Gelatoteca SusoInventive and vegan gelatoWalk from the bridge: about 2 min
Where should I go for cicchetti near Rialto?
To All’Arco and Cantina Do Mori, both about three minutes from the bridge. All’Arco is a tiny bacaro run by the Pinto family, and its tray changes daily with whatever Francesco buys at the market that morning. Do Mori has poured wine since 1462, which makes it the oldest bacaro in Venice: low ceilings, copper pots hanging from the rafters, and everyone drinking standing at the counter.
Go to All’Arco early, because the best pieces go first and the shutters come down when the tray is empty. Order the baccalà mantecato on crostino and the sarde in saor, and if gorgonzola with anchovies is on the tray, know that it sounds wrong and tastes right.
All'Arco
Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–14:30 · Sun closed
Address: S. Polo, 436, 30125 Venezia VE, Italia
Legend has it Casanova brought his first dates to Do Mori. Ask for a Francobollo, the house mini tramezzino with prosciutto, egg and gorgonzola, with a glass of the house prosecco, and come on a weekday morning to avoid the crowd.
Cantina Do Mori
Hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–19:30 · Sat 08:00–15:00 · Sun closed
Address: Calle Do Mori, 429, 30125 Venezia VE, Italia
Where can I get a quick, cheap lunch near the Rialto Bridge?
At three counters two or three minutes from the bridge. Rosticceria Gislon, on the San Marco side, has sold fried food, tramezzini and full dishes in the same lanes since 1938. L’ Bacaro de’ Bischeri, in a narrow San Polo alley, makes schiacciate on hot, crunchy focaccia brought in from Florence. Bar Rialto da Lollo is a café for tramezzini, panini and focaccia.
Gislon is a bacaro and a rosticceria under one roof: eat standing or take it away, for noticeably less than the sit-down restaurants nearby. The line moves fast at peak times, so come outside the lunch rush if you want to study the counter before you point.
Rosticceria Gislon
Hours: Mon–Sun 09:00–21:30
Address: Calle de la Bissa, 5424/A, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Regulars order the Viola, the Verdi or the Venezia, but we’d let Roberto, the owner, pick whatever is freshest that day. The house wine is cheap enough to order by the glass, and the few seats by the canal go fast at lunch.
L' Bacaro de' Bischeri
Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00 · Sun 10:00–17:00
Address: Ruga dei Oresi, 57, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
At Lollo, eat your tramezzino standing, with a coffee or a glass of wine, and treat it as a quick stop on a Rialto walk rather than a meal.
Bar Rialto da Lollo
Hours: Mon–Sat 07:30–18:00 · Sun 09:30–17:00
Address: Ruga dei Spezieri, 234, 30125 Venezia VE, Italia
Where can I have an ombra and cicchetti near Rialto in the evening?
At QuasiPronto or Bacarino, both still serving after the morning counters have closed. QuasiPronto, four minutes from the bridge, came out of a spring 2026 merger of two long-running Venetian counters and makes mozzarella in carrozza with a run of fillings. Bacarino, three minutes away in Cannaregio, is where we send celiac travellers: the whole counter follows a certified gluten free protocol, so the cicchetti sit on polenta instead of bread.
The fillings go from anchovy, cooked ham or salmon to a squid ink version stuffed with baccalà mantecato, the one regulars steer newcomers toward. Skip the hunt for a table and stand at the counter with an ombra.
QuasiPronto
Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–23:00
Address: Campiello Riccardo Selvatico, 5666, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Tell them you’re celiac before you order, because the cicchetti are assembled to order and the whole selection opens up. Then ask for the ombra of the day instead of defaulting to a spritz.
Bacarino
Hours: Mon–Wed 11:30–22:30 · Thu 11:30–20:30 · Fri 11:30–22:30 · Sat 11:30–23:00 · Sun 11:30–22:30
Address: Cannaregio, Salizada S. Giovanni Grisostomo, 5755, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Where can I have a sit-down dinner near the Rialto Bridge?
In Cannaregio, at Ostaria Al Milion, three minutes from the bridge, or Ristorante Ca’ Dolfin, four minutes away. Al Milion cooks traditional Venetian food from a short seasonal menu, with a wine list that takes local producers seriously. Ca’ Dolfin is our pick for seafood, in a cozy room you settle into rather than rush through.
Al Milion is named after Il Milione, Marco Polo’s travel account, and his family reportedly lived in this courtyard neighbourhood. Come at aperitivo hour for cicchetti at the bar before the dinner tables fill, and order the crostini di baccalà mantecato first.
Ostaria Al Milion
Hours: Mon–Tue 12:00–15:00, 18:30–23:00 · Wed closed · Thu 18:30–23:00 · Fri–Sun 12:00–15:00, 18:30–23:00
Address: Corte Prima del Milion, 5841, 30121 Venezia VE, Italia
Start with the octopus salad, then move on to the fish soup or the seafood pasta.
Ristorante Ca' Dolfin
Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30–16:30, 18:00–22:30 · Fri–Sun 11:30–16:30, 18:00–23:00
Address: Salizada S. Canzian, 5903, 30121 Venezia VE, Italia
Where can I get gelato near the Rialto Bridge?
At Gelatoteca Suso, two minutes from the bridge. The gelato is artisanal, made with seasonal ingredients and techniques borrowed from pastry making, so the flavours tend to come with a twist. The vegan gelato, made with plant-based proteins and coconut oil, is a proper recipe rather than an afterthought.
Skip the safe flavours and take whatever combination the counter is pushing that day.
Gelatoteca Suso
Hours: Mon–Sun 09:30–23:15
Address: Sotoportego de la Bissa, 5453, 30124 Venezia VE, Italia
Which Rialto spot fits your plan?
Pick by time of day rather than distance. All’Arco and Do Mori suit the morning, the three lunch counters suit midday, QuasiPronto and Bacarino suit the evening, and the two Cannaregio restaurants are for dinner. Check each card for opening days: several of these counters close early or take a day off each week.
