The 6 Best Pasta Restaurants in Venice

Venice and the wider Veneto region have a slew of scrumptious pasta dishes unique to the area. Better still, the locals here also know a thing or two about recreating specialties from the likes of Rome and Naples, making it quite the culinary paradise for pasta lovers.

It’s easy to assume that dining in the city is all about munching on tapas-like cicchetti and hopping between wine bars, but there’s so much more to Venetian cuisine. Those who have participated in one of my Venice food tours in the past will know exactly what I mean, as the pasta here is outstanding!

Throughout this guide, I’ll let you in on all the insider information about where to find the best pasta in Venice.

Trattoria Dona Onesta

 

Photo credit: Trattoria Dona Onesta

Trattoria Dona Onesta is the type of place you imagine when you think about idyllic canal-front eateries. I fell in love with this Dorsoduro restaurant on one of my first visits to the city, and despite being close to San Polo and the banks of the Grand Canal, it still feels quite hidden.

The indoor dining area is bright but cozy, with traditional wooden furniture and warm lighting. However, I had my heart set on the outdoor tables, of which there were just a handful. Each table sits alongside a flower-filled railing and is decorated with cute checkered upholstery.

Although the risotto came highly recommended, I just had to try their homemade pasta. After deciding to stick with something seafood-based, I went for the spaghetti with cuttlefish ink.

This dish had an assortment of mild flavors. While the ink had a faintly salty taste, it was made a little more intense by the chunks of chewy and sweet cuttlefish mixed with the silky spaghetti.

Trattoria Dona Onesta (€€) – Sestiere Dorsoduro, 3922, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

Dal Moro’s

Photo credit: Dal Moro’s

Dal Moro’s lies on a quiet street in the Castello district, veering off from the nearby Campo Santa Maria Formosa. This is one of many branches of this ever-popular restaurant. It started in Venice but has now expanded into the international market.

These guys are known for serving the finest fresh pasta, so I was stoked to secure a table in this striking eatery, which is a modern take on a typical Italian restaurant. The entire restaurant was filled with vibrant greenery and golden lighting, unlike anywhere else I’d eaten in the city.

Considering it’s believed to have some of the best pasta in Venice, I shouldn’t have been surprised to see so many pasta dishes on the menu! I was initially torn between the cacio e pepe and the pesto options, but my mind was made up as soon as I saw the cheese wheel carbonara.

After a theatrical presentation, my carbonara was plated up straight from the cheese wheel. Not only was the spaghetti perfectly cooked, but the overall flavors were extraordinary. A generous helping of rich egg yolk and sharp pecorino brought out the savory notes of the fatty guanciale.

Dal Moro’s (€) – Rugagiuffa, 4864, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm, closed every Sunday.

Trattoria Alla Fontana

I’d love to say that I happened upon Trattoria Alla Fontana in Cannaregio by chance, but TripAdvisor led me here. If you’re hoping to get away from the often hectic gondola-filled corners of the city, this is the place to come.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky enough to find a table outside along the canal, but my disappointment was short-lived when I saw how charming the interior was. The low ceilings, rustic furnishings, and simple tiling made it feel so nostalgic and timeless.

As tempting as the cuttlefish with polenta and ravioli were, I kept going back to the seafood pasta. Composed of al dente tagliatelle and a host of oceanic offerings like succulent prawns, buttery mussels, and briny clams, this dish ticked all the boxes for a balanced seafood dish.

After the pasta’s salty flavors, I had a longing for something sweet, and the tiramisu was an easy choice. This sizable serving was comforting and creamy, with the bitter, moist coffee-imbued ladyfingers contrasting with the light, sugary mascarpone.

Trattoria Alla Fontana (€€) – Fondamenta Cannaregio, 1102, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 11:30 am to 11:45 pm.

La Piazza

Photo credit: La Piazza

Nestled between St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, San Marco’s La Piazza needs no introduction. It’s where I’ve sampled some of the best pasta in Venice, but it’s far from a hidden gem, so it gets pretty busy!

There’s a bunch of tables outside and a split-level dining area indoors. Though I usually prefer to sit outside when I’m in Venice, I was quite happy to dine inside here, as the decor was a lovely mix of sophisticated and contemporary features.

I often stick to regional dishes in places like this, but the American in me couldn’t look past the lasagna. As it turns out, it happens to be their most popular menu item.

When done right, as it most definitely was here, there’s nothing better than a hearty lasagna. In between each layer of velvety pasta was a combination of juicy ground beef and zesty tomato sauce, topped off with rich béchamel sauce.

La Piazza (€€) – S. Marco, 615, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 11:00 am to 12:00 am.

Osteria Leone Alato

Photo credit: Osteria Leone Alato

Osteria Leone Alato is among my favorite haunts for pasta in Santa Croce, and I’m already planning my next visit when I’m back in Venice.

The atmosphere here is fantastic, and arched brick walls and subdued lighting made it feel as if I was miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Venetian streets.

It’s a true haven for pasta connoisseurs, as they have an extensive selection of pasta-based dishes. It took me close to 15 minutes to finally make a decision, but I settled on the crab gnocchi.

I’d never tried crab gnocchi until I came here, but the taste of the pillowy dough with the tender, delicate crab meat made me realize I’d been missing out. I especially loved the subtle hints of fruity olive oil and nutty crème fraîche.

Osteria Leone Alato (€€) – Fondamenta dei Tolentini, 187, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Impronta

Photo credit: Impronta

Impronta is a quirky spot tucked down a narrow street where Dorsoduro meets San Polo.

It’s not your run-of-the-mill ristorante, as this stylish eatery focuses on creative takes on traditional Italian and Venetian dishes. The plush mauve seating, gray-toned walls, and murals give it a vibe that’s somewhere between a boujee brunch spot and an elegant bistro.

As the chef here is all about quality ingredients and seasonal produce, the menu changes frequently. When I was here, I was fortunate enough to find spaghetti with ricotta and beef tartare available.

While it was certainly a peculiar blend of flavors, it was terrific. Each piece of beefy but tangy tartare and milky ricotta clung to the tender pieces of spaghetti. I loved how the gentle taste of the pasta mellowed the acidity of the tartare and the ricotta’s underlying sweetness.

Impronta (€€) – Sestiere Dorsoduro, 3815, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am, closed every Sunday.

Conclusion

Numerous restaurants claim to serve the best pasta in Venice, but these are the spots that I think stand head and shoulders above the rest. Of course, that’s not to say that I haven’t tucked into countless other delightful pasta dishes, yet these continue to be my go-to recommendations.