Private Eating Venice Food & Drinks Tour

Private Venice Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Food Tour

A private cicchetti and canal experience for families, corporate groups, and celebrations. Your schedule, your pace, your people.
National Geographic
Rick Steves
Lonely Planet
Fodors
Virgin

Secure your spot at Venice's most exclusive venues.

Ages: 4+
Duration: 3 hours
Departs: Daily 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm
Stops: 6
Group Size: Max. 10
Location: Jewish Ghetto, Cannaregio
555 Reviews

Highlights

Walk Venice’s Jewish Ghetto — the world’s first, dating to 1516 — and the quiet canal-side streets of Cannaregio, exclusively with your group and a private guide.

Savour classic cicchetti (Venetian tapas) paired with local DOCG prosecco or Veneto white wine.

Sit down for a typical Venetian main: seafood risotto, lasagna, or mozzarella in carrozza, paired with a glass of Veneto white.

Experience aperitivo culture with an authentic spritz — and the story behind one of Italy’s most iconic drinks.

Taste two more cicchetti including baccalà mantecato (creamy salt cod) and sardines.

Hear Venetian legends and superstitions inside the historic Jewish Ghetto, far from the tourist tide of San Marco.

Finish with a seasonal dessert — tiramisù, Carnival frittella, or gelato.

Built for families, couples and celebrations, corporate teams, and groups of friends — it’s just your group, your guide, and the Venice locals actually live in.

Tour Description

Looking for a private Venice food tour that goes beyond gondolas and tourist menus? Our Private Jewish Ghetto & Cannaregio Food Tour walks the world’s first Jewish Ghetto and the quieter canal-side streets of Cannaregio — Venice without the performance — across 6 stops as a progressive lunch or dinner, designed exclusively for your group.

Cruise through Venice’s culinary heart with a private guide who knows every bacaro owner and every fishmonger by name. Escape the crowded tourist spots and wander quieter alleys where the true essence of Venetian life unfolds, cicchetti and all. As you savour each dish and each ombra of wine, your guide unpacks centuries-old influences that have crafted Venice’s distinct flavours — from medieval Jewish-Venetian baking traditions to the spritz culture that defines the city’s evening rhythm. The Ghetto and Cannaregio are where Venice still belongs to the Venetians, and on a private tour the route is built entirely around your group.

Who this private food tour is for

  • Families with kids 4 and up — Venice’s quieter streets and small-plate cicchetti are family-friendly
  • Couples and celebrations — anniversaries, milestone birthdays, romantic Venice weekends, proposals on the canals
  • Corporate groups and team building — Biennale and film-festival programs, executive offsites, conference experiences, premium client entertainment
  • Groups of friends — private celebrations, hen and stag weekends, foodie reunions
  • Heritage travellers exploring the world’s first Jewish Ghetto and Jewish-Venetian food traditions
  • Cruise passengers and short-stay visitors — the most efficient way to taste real Venice in three hours

Dietary Information

Vegetarian-friendly tour. Vegan, gluten-free, and kosher options may be limited — the menu features baccalà, sardines, and seafood risotto. Please share dietary restrictions when booking and we’ll do our best to accommodate. Tastings outside those catered for your needs are at your own risk; the company assumes no responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances. Guests with severe or life-threatening allergies cannot participate in this activity for their safety.

Why Eat with Us?

  • Expert Local Guides — Fun, knowledgeable, English-fluent Venice locals who know every bacaro owner and every alley in Cannaregio
  • Venice’s Hidden Gems — Exclusive access to the world’s first Jewish Ghetto, family-run bacari, and a Cannaregio bakery known for traditional Jewish-Venetian pastries
  • Culinary Diversity — Cicchetti, baccalà mantecato, sardines, polenta, risotto, mozzarella in carrozza, plus prosecco, chardonnay, and a proper spritz
  • Cultural Immersion — The 1516 Jewish Ghetto, Venetian aperitivo culture, and centuries-old superstitions, told as you walk
  • Established Expertise — Since 2011, simply the best food tours in Italy; 500,000 clients; 25,000 five-star reviews
Tripadvisor Awards
555 reviews
"Had a lovely tour with Romena. She did such a great job showing us a side of Venice we didn’t even know existed! Highlight was definitely the sweets at Panificio Volpe. Thank you Romena! "
— Tracy L | Google

Share the experience

Love this itinerary but prefer a more social setting? Join our shared group version of this tour for a vibrant atmosphere at a more budget-friendly price.

  • (ages 4+) From €200 per guest

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Free cancellation 7 days in advance for a full refund

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❤️ This experience gives back.

With every booking, we donate a fresh meal via World Central Kitchen.

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The Flavors You'll Taste


  • Mortadella, pesto, and buffalo mozzarella pizza
  • Meatball cicchetti (Venetian tapas)
  • Polenta with shrimp or seasonal vegetables
  • Seafood risotto, lasagna, or mozzarella in carrozza
  • Two cicchetti with baccalà mantecato (creamy salt cod) and sardines
  • Seasonal dessert — tiramisù, Carnival frittella, or gelato
  • DOCG prosecco
  • Italian chardonnay
  • Authentic Venetian spritz
  • Water

Offerings may vary by day or season, but you’re sure to enjoy a delightful array of authentic Venetian flavours.

Meeting Point

Campo Santi Apostoli
Venice 30100

Your guide will be waiting for you and wearing our purple Eating Europe bag!

What’s included in your private booking

  • Private Venice food and wine tour led exclusively for your group
  • All food and drink tastings across 6 stops
  • Authentic spritz experience with the story behind the drink
  • DOCG prosecco, Italian chardonnay, and an authentic spritz
  • A dedicated English-speaking local guide (other languages on request)
  • Flexible date with daily 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, or 4:00 pm start times
  • 7-day cancellation policy for private tours
  • Company invoicing, advance payment, and dedicated event coordination for corporate bookings
  • A donated meal via World Central Kitchen with every booking

What Makes the Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio Special

Venice’s Jewish Ghetto — the world’s first, dating back to 1516 — is a place of quiet power. Its tall, narrow buildings rise around a peaceful campo where centuries of history settle into the stones. The food here honours that heritage — traditional Jewish-Venetian pastries, artichoke dishes, and cicchetti with a story behind every bite. It’s a corner of Venice that feels deeply personal, far removed from the tourist tide just minutes away.

Cannaregio, the wider neighborhood embracing the Ghetto, is where everyday Venice lives and eats. Its long, sunlit fondamente and canal-side walkways lead past local bacari pouring ombre of wine and serving tiny plates of baccalà mantecato, sarde in saor, and creamy polenta. This is Venice without the performance — neighbours chatting at the bar, fishmongers selling the morning catch, and family-run trattorias where a plate of bigoli in salsa and a carafe of house wine cost less than a coffee in San Marco. Cannaregio rewards you for getting a little lost, feeding you simply and well in a part of the city that still belongs to the Venetians.

What people are saying

Private tours

A private Venice food tour means just you, your group, and your guide — no strangers, no fixed pace, no compromises. Available for 2 to 10 guests (larger groups accommodated on request) with a flexible morning, afternoon, or early-evening start time you choose.

How our private tours work

Pick your date and start time. We’ll confirm your private guide, route the tour around your group’s interests, and handle every reservation, pour, and pairing in advance. Pricing is all-inclusive — no hidden fees, no upsells. Your schedule, your pace, your people.

Corporate Venice food tours and team experiences

A private Venice food tour is one of Italy’s most distinctive corporate hospitality experiences — perfect for Biennale and Venice Film Festival programs, conference end-of-day experiences, executive offsites, and milestone client dinners. The progressive cicchetti format works as either lunch or early dinner, and the route stays clear of the San Marco crowds. We offer company invoicing, advance payment, purchase orders, and dedicated event coordination.

Popular corporate use cases:

  • Venice Biennale and Film Festival client programs
  • Executive retreats and leadership offsites
  • Conference and summit end-of-day experiences
  • Premium client entertainment and partner hosting
  • Cruise group programs and shore excursions
  • Sales incentive trips and reward experiences
  • Team building, milestone celebrations, and proposal-style experiences for couples

Languages available

English by default; Italian native. Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German on request. Other languages may be available — please ask when booking.

Get in touch

For private bookings, custom corporate proposals, or specific requests, contact [email protected] or call +1 917-909-6432. Private tours can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure.

Why Eat with Us?

#1 food and drink experience in Europe - 14 years. 500,000 Clients. 25,000 Five-Star Reviews!

Every tour is meticulously curated to showcase the very best of Vince’s food scene.

Exclusive access to the most legit local spots, from the famous hole in the wall to the trendy new restaurants.

Premium tours with expert guides, outstanding food, and drinks always included

Dining with Purpose

We proudly support World Central Kitchen. Every tour you book helps provide meals to communities in crisis.

Looking for a Unique Corporate Experience?

Treat your team or clients to a private food tour tailored to your needs. Flexible group sizes, seamless organization, and unforgettable moments in Europe’s top cities.

Meet Your Local Venice Tour Guides

Our Venice food tours are led by locals who know a different city entirely — not the one on postcards, but the one where fishermen unload the morning catch, bacaro owners pour ombre for their regulars, and grandmothers argue about the proper way to make sarde in saor. They take you into the Venice that visitors rarely find, where the food is simple, the stories are real, and every cicchetto comes with a piece of the city's soul.

Cecilia
Cecilia
Born on the banks of the Po, today my heart beats for the magic of the Venetian lagoon.
I live on bread and pasta, with my soul steeped in a glass of good wine.
Don’t miss a glass of crisp Prosecco with a cicchetto of creamy baccalà mantecato! Never along the main street, always lost in the back alleys.
Daniela
Daniela
Born in Milan and adopted by Venice in 2012. Travelled everywhere and I decided to settle here!
I love the bubbles of Prosecco which I pair with a cicchetto with creamy Baccala mantecato.
I recommend a spritz along the Zattere at sunset with a view of the Giudecca island.
Anna
Anna
Born and raised in Venice, I spent nearly 15 years abroad before returning to my hometown and now I love it even more.
I love all kinds of food and discovering flavors from around the world. My favorite Venetian dish is creamy baccalà mantecato served on warm polenta.
Getting lost in Venice is the best way to discover it! Wander through the narrow alleys of Castello district and get a real taste of local life.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Tour Information

Is a private food tour in Venice worth it?

Absolutely. Venice is a small city with a big tourist crowd — a private tour gets you off the San Marco trail and into the Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio, where Venetians actually live and eat. Cicchetti, baccalà, prosecco, and a proper spritz at a flexible pace, with a guide focused entirely on you.

What’s included in the price of the private Venice tour?

All food and drink across 6 stops, prosecco and chardonnay pairings, an authentic spritz experience, your dedicated private guide, and a donated meal via World Central Kitchen. No hidden charges, no upsells.

How long is the tour?

This private food tour runs 3 hours, with daily 10:30 am, 3:30 pm, or 4:00 pm departures. Custom timings available for corporate groups on request.

What neighborhoods does the tour cover?

The Jewish Ghetto (the world’s first, dating to 1516) and the wider Cannaregio district — Venice’s most authentic neighbourhood, where locals still drink ombre at the bacari and the morning catch is sold canal-side.

What is the private group size?

Private bookings are available for 2 to 10 guests. For larger groups, we can arrange a custom experience — get in touch.

How far in advance should I book?

We recommend at least 2 weeks ahead. Corporate groups should book 4+ weeks in advance — and around the Biennale, Venice Film Festival, and Carnival, much earlier.

Can I customize the private tour?

Yes. Stops, pacing, dietary focus, wine selection, and start time can be adjusted. We can also build extended itineraries with our private tour team — including Sant’Erasmo island programs, lagoon visits, and Bologna day trips.

 

What’s the minimum age?

This tour is suitable from age 4 and up. Wine and spritz are for ages 18+; non-alcoholic alternatives provided for younger guests.

Food and Drink

What kind of food will we taste?

A full meal’s worth of Venetian classics — mortadella and buffalo mozzarella pizza, meatball cicchetti, polenta with shrimp or vegetables, a sit-down main of seafood risotto, lasagna, or mozzarella in carrozza, two more cicchetti with baccalà mantecato and sardines, and a seasonal dessert.

Are drinks included?

Yes. DOCG prosecco, Italian chardonnay, an authentic Venetian spritz, and water — all included in the price.

Do the tours accommodate vegetarian or gluten-free diets?

Vegetarian-friendly. Vegan, gluten-free, and kosher options may be limited given the seafood-heavy Venetian menu. Share dietary restrictions when booking; on a private booking we have more flexibility to plan around dietary needs.

Are portions enough for a meal?

Yes — you’ll eat at least the equivalent of a full meal across the 6 stops. The progressive lunch or dinner format means no separate meal needed afterwards.

Booking and Payment

Booking and Payment

Book directly via the Book Private Tour button above, or contact [email protected] / +1 917-909-6432 to discuss custom requirements.

What forms of payment are accepted?

Major debit and credit cards, iDEAL, and Bancontact. Corporate invoicing, advance payment, and purchase orders available on request.

What is the cancellation policy for private tours?

Private tours can be cancelled and fully refunded up to 7 days before tour departure.

Do you offer corporate invoicing?

Yes. We handle company invoicing, advance payment, purchase orders, and dedicated event coordination for corporate bookings — including Biennale programs, Film Festival client experiences, and Venice conference end-of-day programs.

Tour Experience & Expectations

Will the guide speak my language?

All guides are fluent in English; native Italian. Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German are available on request — let us know when booking.

Will we visit the same places as other tours?

No. The majority of Cannaregio stops are family-run venues that work exclusively with us, and on a private booking the route is built entirely around your group.

Is the tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?

Venice has many bridges with steps and narrow walkways. The Cannaregio area is generally easier than Venice’s tourist core, but accessibility is limited city-wide. Please contact us before booking and we’ll plan a route that works.

Do you offer other private food tours in Italy?

Yes. We also run private food tours in Rome, Florence, Naples, Milan, Palermo, and Bologna. Get in touch and we’ll help plan your full Italy itinerary.

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