The 6 Best Cafes In Venice That You Must Visit

It’s that time of the day in Venice when you need an espresso for a little lift-me-up. From charming hideaway coffee shops operating on a come-and-go system to luxurious espresso bars amongst tourist hotspots like Piazza San Marco, cafes in Venice are a unique experience.

I’ve lost count of the number of cafes in Venice I’ve visited on my past trips here, but some stand out among others. How about a latte in the gorgeous Caffè del Doge or somewhere on the map like Torrefazione Cannaregio? 

Throughout this article, I’ll show you my best coffee house picks that I discovered for preparing for my Venice food tour that will have every coffee lover foaming at the mouth for their next hit of caffeine.

Shall we begin?

Torrefazione Cannaregio

Torrefazione Cannaregio is a real haven for those obsessed with great coffee. Located in the alluring Cannaregio District, this is one of the city’s best coffee shops. It’s one of Venice’s most historic cafes that has been in operation since 1930 and still roasts its coffee by hand to this day.

I was amazed to see the elaborate coffee menu here, with beans from some of the finest producers on the planet, including Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, and many more. 

Torrefazione Cannaregio is a roastery; when I walked inside, I could see piles of bean sacks in the corner and quite a few cooling trays filled with beans waiting to be put through the next processing stage. Plus, they’ve got free wifi for all customers.

Since I had never tried Indian monsoon coffee beans before, I ordered a straight-up cup of espresso with one of them. There was a lovely mix of flavors, including mellow spices and strong, sweet bursts with some nutty undertones.

The espresso was served in a small white cup on a saucer alongside a gleaming teaspoon. A little note was stuck to the side explaining what bean was used to make it and a descriptive breakdown of the flavors, which was a nice touch.

Torrefazione Cannaregio (€) – Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2804, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy – Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, Saturday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Sunday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Caffè del Doge

Caffè del Doge is one of the best cafes in Venice. The famous brand has two fantastic locations in the city; it doesn’t matter which one you visit, though, because you’re always guaranteed mouthwatering cappuccinos, a cozy ambiance, and attentive English-speaking staff.

I initially found Caffè del Doge when visiting the Rialto Bridge some years back; the adorable little two-seat settings and bright white parasols out front caught my eye. When I was chatting outside with a fellow American and smelt the bitter aromas steaming from their cup, I was sold.

Inside was bustling with character, between the chatter among customers, the shiny silver roasting equipment, and the dim yellow radiating from the ceiling pendants.

My cappuccino came out in a white branded Caffè del Doge cup and tasted phenomenal. The barista used Doge Nero Arabica beans from the Alta Mogiana region in Brazil, which had dark chocolaty notes that added sweetness to the mainly earthy flavor profile.

Caffè del Doge (€) – Rialto, Calle dei Cinque, 609, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy – Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, Saturday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, 7:00 am to 1:00 pm

Bottega del Caffè Dersut

One of the tastiest cups of espresso I’ve ever tried was at Bottega del Caffè Dersut, a short walk from San Polo. Fulfilling the caffeine addictions of Venetians and tourists for over 70 years, all of their beans are sourced from the famous Coffee Belt, an area spread between the Tropic of Capricorn and Cancer.

I instantly fell in love with Bottega del Caffè Dersut for its fresh blends of blue and yellow aesthetics and modern coffee bar topped with a glass storage section filled with fresh pastries and cakes.

It was hard to resist one of the flaky croissants; the rich butteriness from the golden brown dough paired superbly with the tanginess from the citrusy bean used to make my espresso. 

I was in awe of how strong the bean was here; its full body bitterness and high caffeine content were enough to keep me going for the rest of the day. The Dersut-labeled cups were cute, too; I even brought some home as a little souvenir on my last visit.

Bottega del Caffè Dersut (€€) – Campo dei Frari, 3014, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy – Monday to Friday, 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Sunday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

Majer – Santa Margherita Bakery Pastry Coffee Bar

Majer is a perfect example of an outstanding Italian coffee bar by the Rio Terà Canal. It has everything I look for when I want to sit down for a cup of coffee, including delicious pastries, exceptionally roasted beans, and a seating area out front for some people-watching.

This is one pasticceria often overlooked by a section of my coffee-loving friends because they say it’s also a pastry shop, but that’s what I love about it. I won’t complain about enjoying a macaron or a stuffed cannoli with my morning brew. Would you?

The last time I went to Majer with one of my buddies, we indulged in a caffè americano made with Burundian Bourbon coffee beans. Before being served, the barista told us that they were grown at a height between 1600 and 2300 meters in the eastern African nation.

The coffee was served in a typical Italian-styled tapered cup, with the brown crema rising to the top. I never knew Burundian coffee tasted this good, from the pleasing, intense acidity to the subtle hints of mandarin with every aftertaste.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, I recommend you order some biscotti Santucci with your coffee. These almond cookies are my go-to when I’m not watching my diet; they have a lovely nutty crunchiness and a light, sweet edge that are excellent for dipping into your cup.

Majer – Santa Margherita Bakery Pastry Coffee Bar (€) – C. Crosera, 3108, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy – Every day, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Museo Correr Cafe

If you fancy more of an elegant cup of java during your one day in Venice, Museo Correr Cafe will be suited to your liking. Set on the first floor of the Royal Palace of Venice, looking out over St. Mark’s Square, you couldn’t pick a better setting for a cup of coffee if you tried.

The interior of the Museo Correr Cafe never fails to impress me with its grandly designed walls, inviting armchair seating, and empire-like atmosphere.

I was lucky enough to enjoy a macchiatone here, and I wasn’t disappointed; that extra drop of milk brought an extra layer of creaminess to the full-body bitterness of the espresso.

My friend from the States was with me, and he’d never heard of a macchiatone. He asked what it was, and she went on to explain that it was like a macchiato, only with more milk.

Museo Correr Cafe (€€) – Museo Correr, P.za San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy – Every day, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Farini

The minimalistic interiors, delicious fruit, and extremely good coffee are three things that spring to mind when I think of Farini. Everyone knows Farani as the place that replaced the historic bakery of Carlon, but it has since turned into one of Venice’s leading cafes.

Farini has four branches in Venice, but the one I always go to is near the Rio dei S.S. Apostoli because it tends to be less busy than the others.

You can’t go wrong with a cappuccino at Farini; it’s their staple coffee. The mug sizes are huge; sometimes, I can’t even finish them, and the beans they use are so flavorful; the sweet, velvety, frothed milk pairs greatly with the dark, sour notes from the espresso.

While Farini’s coffee is certainly worth going for, they also serve huge slices of pizza, and they’re seriously good. If someone were to recommend pizza with coffee to me, I would usually laugh in their face, but somehow, Farini knows how to pull it off.

I’m a big fan of the salame piccante, especially when I’m in the market for some Venice street food; the gooey mozzarella with spicy paprika-flavored meat is a delight with a thin, crispy crust.

Farini (€) – Campiello Riccardo Selvatico, Roma de L’oca, 5659, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy – Every day, 8:30 am to 10:00 pm

Conclusion

As you can see, Venice’s coffee culture is enough to rival any of the other big Italian cities, including Rome and Naples. 

I know you’ll be fascinated by the range of cafes in Venice. It’s not every day you get to visit a city where there’s so much diversity in terms of places to grab a brew, from local roasteries to high-end espresso bars.

Discover more of the City of Bridges with Eating Europe on one of our Venice food tours. Spend a day with a local guide, sampling the tastiest Venetian foods in the most romantic place on earth.