Best Places To Eat On A Budget In Venice, Italy

1. Be where the locals are: Al Muro

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This is the place you want to be on a Saturday afternoon. Get there early as this is where the locals go, Al Muro. As the Rialto fish market calms down, the chef of Al Muro sets up a tent and serves a fresh fish meal of the day. For about 10 EUR (11 USD) with a glass of wine included, you will feast on an authentic Venetian seafood dish.

Al Muro

Address: Campo Bella Vienna, 222 San Polo

Price: 10 EUR (11 USD) (a glass of wine is included)

Opening Hours: Saturday afternoons only

Website: Al Muro

2. Quick and perfect: Ristorante Alla Basilica

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The next restaurant is a quick, perfect and cheap stop! Located behind the Doge’s Palace along a little side street is Ristorante Alla Basilica. A canteen-style restaurant that turns food out in a fast pace manner without skimping on the quality. For 14 EUR (15 USD), you will receive a 3-course meal consisting of a large plate of pasta, a choice of roast potatoes, salad, or a vegetable of the day. It also includes a half a litre of still or sparkling water.

Ristorante Alla Basilica has just done a large renovation and has created a very welcoming place for all to visit. It has a bar at its entrance and a large hall area that seats 120 people. When you’re on the go and still have a lot of sightseeing to do, visit Ristorante Alla Basilica.

Ristorante Alla Basilica

Address: 30122 Venezia - Castello, Calle Albanes

Price: 14 EUR (15 USD)

Contact: +39 0415220524

Website: Ristorante Alla Basilica

3. A hidden gem: Trattoria Alla Rampa

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mary (@galarosemary71)

At the very end of Via Garibaldi canal, in front of one of the last fruit and vegetable boat stands, is this little hidden gem, the Trattoria Alla Rampa. This rustic restaurant only serves a “workers menu” lunch from 12pm - 12:45pm. At 1pm the menu changes with Venetian dishes made with only fresh local ingredients. For 13 EUR (14 USD), they serve a fixed “workers menu” of pasta, main course, wine and coffee. If you’re able to find a seat you can have a table and order from their menu. Pasta dishes are around 10-14 EUR (11-15 USD). There is typically a line starting before noon to grab lunch so if you want to eat here make sure you arrive early!

Trattoria Alla Rampa

Address: Via Garibaldi 1135, Castello

Price: from 10-14 EUR (11-15 USD)

Opening Hours: 12-2pm; Serving Lunch only, closed on Sundays.

Contact: +39 415285365

4. Tiny but mighty: Osteria Alla Ciurma

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by aurum (@aurumaurum)

This teeny little restaurant, Osteria Alla Ciurma, once use to be an ancient storeroom. It has been converted into this quaint, tiny restaurant that resembles the inside of a boat. In the small kitchen the chef prepares small meals of creamy cod, and meatballs. But for 1-15 EUR (1.09-16 USD) you can order a small variety of sharing plates of meats and cheeses or up to a large sharing plate of cheeses and salami. They do offer an excellent house wine for 90 cents a glass! They do have a few tables inside but most people stand outside. Osteria Alla Ciurma is a great and inexpensive snack being that it is so close to the Rialto Bridge.

Osteria Alla Ciurma

Address: San Polo 406

Price: from 1-15 EUR (1.09-16 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am - 3pm, 5:30 - 8:30pm; Closed Sundays

Contact: +39 3406863561

5. A dash of romance, beauty and history: Quanto Basta

Quanto Basta is located in the famous, historical neighborhood of Cannaregio. This restaurant is known for its amazing service, and quality cheap food. They serve all home-made, fresh ingredient dishes such as pizza, kebabs, gelato, and chocolate. A great variety for everyone!

Quanto Basta has its own Gelateria that you can walk up to and order from. They have over 40 flavors that may change hourly. This is a must stop restaurant for quick and cheap food, and gelato of course!

Quanto Basta

Address: Cannaregio 148, 30121 Venice, Italy

Price: 5 - 20 EUR (5.5 - 21 USD)

Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays.

Contact: +39 0415242939

Website: Quanto Basta

6. A hole-in-the-wall wine bar: Al Merca

€4 Coppa di Parma with a cup of Rosé = Perfecto ?? #almerca #parmaham #italianfood #venice #foodielife

A post shared by H2O? (@h2ookk) on Feb 11, 2017 at 3:37am PST

One of the most popular wine bars in Venice is the Al Merca. This tiny hole-in-the-wall wine bar serves a simple, and delicious selection of Venetian meats and cheese with great regional Italian wines and proseccos by the glass. A glass of wine will run you around from 3 EUR (3.25 USD). You will find this little hot spot in the bustling area of the Rialto Market. For 1.50 EUR (1.65 USD) you can sample from tiny trays of meat, cheese, seafood, and homemade panini.

All the locals come here to grab a glass of wine and a small meal before heading back to work, or home.

Al Merca

Address: Campo Cesare Battisti, San Polo 213, Venice

Price: from 1.50-3 EUR (1.65-3.25 USD)

Opening Hours: 10am - 2:30pm, 6 - 8pm

Contact: +39 3471002583

Eat up Venice while not breaking the bank

You can definitely eat your way around Venice, Italy no problem. These are just a few of the restaurants that make home-made, fresh meals for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay at a large, main stream restaurant. Just go and explore the side streets, alleys and near the canals and you will discover little local cafes, restaurants and Gelaterias that won’t disappoint.