The 7 Best Vegan Restaurants In Venice

Venice is one of the world’s most renowned foodie destinations. For a city with such deep-rooted culinary traditions, it’s surprisingly vegan-friendly. Italian cities aren’t exactly famed for their plant-based dishes, but the quality of Venice’s vegan options proves this is quite a misleading stereotype!

Before I started my Venice food tours, I probably would have told you that being vegan in Venice would be rather tricky. Things have certainly changed in the Floating City, with veganism on the rise and animal-free versions of classic dishes appearing on menus in almost every neighborhood.

If you’re going vegan in Venice, these are the spots that you can’t miss.

La Tecia Vegana

Photo credit: La Tecia Vegana

La Tecia Vegana in Dorsoduro is hugely popular amongst vegans in Venice, as it gives you the experience of typical Italian restaurants but with an entirely plant-based menu.

Not only is it one of the best vegan ristorantes in the city, but it also has the characteristic decor to back it up. On the surface, you’d never know it wasn’t a typical local eatery, as it boasts rustic wooden tables, dim lighting, and a terrific wine list.

My friend recommended I try the ravioli here, which made my decision-making process substantially easier. The pasta was fresh, homemade, and doughy, with savory seitan and woodsy porcini mushroom filling. I loved the addition of cashew nuts, adding a subtle, buttery crunch.

If you need a break from ice cream and fancy something other than vegan gelato for dessert, the tiramisu will surely do the trick. Everything from the soft, sweet ladyfingers to the rich almond cream was made without dairy, but in all honesty, I’d never have guessed.

La Tecia Vegana (€€) – Calle dei Secchi, 2104, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy – Closed every Monday and Sunday, open Tuesday to Friday from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, and every Saturday from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

La Zucca

Photo credit: La Zucca

In the Santa Croce area, La Zucca is the go-to vegetarian restaurant. While it’s not fully animal-free, there are some incredible vegan dishes and gluten-free options on the menu.

I’ve been dying to come back to this place since I first visited. This is primarily due to the food, but I also loved their cozy, wooden dining area, dark green features, and canal-side setting.

The menu changes frequently and sometimes daily, depending on the available ingredients and season. During my visit, they were out of their legendary lasagna, so I ordered the faux lamb ragu instead. I may be speaking too soon, but it’ll take a lot for the lasagna to top this dish!

It consisted of homemade silky tagliatelle and a herbaceous ragu that managed to capture the robust and grassy nature of lamb meat. The hint of spicy basil and bittersweet tarragon added a little complexity to the vibrant tomato ragu.

La Zucca (€€) – Sestiere Santa Croce 1762, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm, closed every Sunday.

VgOloso

Photo credit: VgOloso

Mestre is a wildly underrated gastronomic destination, and it’s where I came across VgOloso, a superb spot for vegan fare in Venice.

VgOloso strikes a balance between industrial and earthy in its design. I loved how the steel-gray walls and sleek black finishes warmed up the minimalist wooden furniture and bold red staircase.

Polpette, a dish made up of juicy Italian meatballs, caught my eye right away, but I decided to start with some focaccia. In addition to being completely vegan, focaccia is among the best foods in Italy, making it a must-try for plant-based diners.

The waiter arrived with the focaccia first, and the inclusion of slightly tart spinach and acidic tomatoes made the springy, olive oil-infused dough even tastier. 

They were the perfect appetizer for the polpette, which used a mix of nutty red rice, creamy chickpeas, and musty hazelnuts to create a beefy texture. Between the decadent tomato sauce and the meatball mixture, this was the best take on a traditional Italian recipe I’d tried in some time.

VgOloso (€€) – Via Giovanni Pascoli, 11/c, 30171 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm, closed every Sunday.

Frary’s 

Photo credit: Frary’s 

For the most delectable blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food in Venice, you need to check out Frary’s in San Polo.

Frary’s has become such a hotspot for vegan travelers that many people are surprised to learn that the menu isn’t entirely free of animal products. However, this makes a great spot for anyone visiting the city with non-vegan travel buddies.

I loved how quirky and colorful everything was, from the wallpaper down to the plates. The staff here also deserve a shout-out, as I noticed them running through the menu with every customer. In my case, though, I already had a pretty good idea about what I was ordering.

For a few days, I had a hankering for some falafel and hummus, and I knew I’d find the best stuff here. Within minutes, I’d finished almost the entire serving of smooth, zingy hummus and made my way through every last bite of the crispy, garlicky falafels.

Frary’s (€€) – Fondamenta Frari, 2558, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy – Fondamenta Frari, 2558, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Ital India

Photo credit: Ital India

If you’re ever struggling to find a vegan restaurant, it’s always worth looking out for somewhere serving Indian food. My Indian eatery of choice in Venice is Ital India, a vegan and veggie favorite in Cannaregio.

Inside, I noticed lots of nods to Indian decor styles, with lively traditional music in the background to complement the creative artwork and bright upholstery. 

After visiting with a friend of mine who’s vegan, I learned that the chefs here are happy to make animal-free versions of numerous dishes. This means you may have even more choice than you might have thought! I decided to try a naturally vegan option and ordered the aloo chaat.

This dish had a phenomenal mix of flavors and textures, including spicy fried potato cubes and fiery but fruity chutney topped with clean cilantro and sour pomegranate seeds. It’s best to come hungry, as the portion was so big I actually had to ask for a takeaway box.

Ital India (€€) – Fondamenta de le Capuzine, 3102, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every day from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Buddha Soul Restò

Photo credit: Buddha Soul Restò

Should you be looking for a more oriental experience for your next meal, I suggest adding Buddha Soul Restò in Lido to your list.

I came here for brunch on my last visit to the island and was instantly fascinated by how this vintage-style restaurant had such a diverse Asian menu. In short, it’s the kind of place where I felt like I could enjoy international offerings without sacrificing the Italian ambiance!

Their menu features mostly Indian and Thai recipes but with a handful of other Asian influences. Their vegan pad Thai was one of the best sellers here, and I couldn’t wait to try it out.

It had much the same ingredients as a meat-filled version but included tofu instead. The combination of flavors was sublime, and the spongy tofu and mild rice noodles soaked up the sweet-and-sour tamarind, salty soy sauce, crisp carrots, and meaty onions.

Buddha Soul Restò (€€) – Via Gran Viale, 28, B, 30126 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:15 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday from 12:00 pm to 2:15 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, closed every Sunday.

Antico Forno

Photo credit: Antico Forno

Antico Forno in San Polo is a can’t-miss pizzeria for any vegan in Venice. There’s always a queue at this old-school takeout spot, but you’ll be rewarded with mouthwatering vegan pizza that you can enjoy while overlooking the nearby Rialto Bridge.

The last time I was here, I decided to switch things up from my usual order of two margherita slices and opted for the marinara instead. For those of you who aren’t too fond of vegan cheese, this cheese-free pizza is a fantastic plant-based option.

More than anything, I loved the base, as it was thin but firm enough to avoid becoming soggy from the toppings. These consisted of zesty crushed tomatoes, warm garlic, and peppery oregano with a drizzle of herby olive oil.

Antico Forno (€) – Rugheta del Ravano, 973, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy – Open every Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm and every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Conclusion

With their mix of subtle spins on local favorites and modern dishes from across the globe, the vegan-friendly restaurants in Venice are sure to impress plant-based travelers. If you’re visiting Venice as a vegan, rest assured you’ll likely have far more options than you anticipated!