Self-catering
When we are travelling with our kids we sometimes like to eat in if we’re renting an apartment or occasionally eat ready-to-eat foods in our hotel when we want to save a bit of money or have a quiet evening in. This is all easily done in Venice. In delis you can ask them to make up fresh Panini (with hams, prosciutto, salame, cheese), and in many places you can get take out portions of creamed salt cod (baccala mantecato), seafood salad, local dishes like “Sardines in Saor”, and sometimes lasagne etc. Some butchers have a roasting oven where you can buy freshly roasted chicken, meatloaf, potatoes etc. At the Tuesday market on Lido there is a stall serving grilled, fried and roasted foods (chicken, fish, meat, potatoes).
BAKERIES BUTCHERS & DELIS
We feel that the best way to enjoy Venice is to shop like the locals do, and this is mainly from the street markets, bakeries, butchers, and delis. In delis you order hams, salame, and cheeses in units of 100 grams (100g=un etto, 200g=due etti, 300g=tre etti etc). In bakeries you can get a large range of breads, but the most Venetian of them all is “malcotti” which is a pale, soft bread, which we think tastes like paper, but our children love! Many shops in Venice close in the afternoon after lunch and reopen in the evening.
If you are staying in a self-catered apartment and are longing for some English or American food you can head to Pastificio Giacomo Rizzo on Salizada S. Giovanni Grisostomo 5778 to get baked beans, marmite, and various other international foods. Or even better you can buy some of their authentic artisan fresh pasta or beautiful oils and sauces. They have been making pasta for over 100 years!
SUPERMARKETS
You can go to one of the various supermarkets around the city – but we warned that these are often very small and it can be difficult to get around with a pram or kids in tow. This being Venice, you can buy your groceries in some very dramatic locations – there is a supermarket in an old theatre on Strada Nuova and various boats floating on the canals selling vegetables.
12 great suggestions for self-catering with children
Go to the grilled food stall at the food market on Lido (Tuesdays) to get some grilled chicken, potatoes, calamari, meatloaf and much more.
Take out some grilled chicken and potatoes or a serving of creamed salt cod at Rosticceria Gislon.
Stroll around the farmers’ market on Lido (Fridays) and stock up on prosecco from Ca’Corner, goat & sheep cheeses from Claudio, and wonderful vegetables from Vignole island.
Buy fresh pasta (per 100g) from Pastificio Serenissima.
Pick up some deboned sardine fillets from the Rialto Fish Market or a kilo of clams “vongole” for a delicious feast.
Take home a large portion of ice cream from Gelido Lato or any other gelateria (you can order as many different flavours as you like) to enjoy on your balcony after dinner. Ask to “portare via” and they will put the ice cream in polystyrene containers to keep cool while you take it home.
Order some sushi online from Basara and have it delivered.
Choose a bottle to take home from an amazing selection of wines at Vino Vero.
What kid doesn’t like a sandwich? Get a try of “tramezzini” to take home from Bar Tiziano or Rosa Salva.
Get a take away pizza from Vecia Gina.
Take out some grilled fish, deep fried vegetables or other great bites from Paradiso Perduto.
Get a tray of delicious cakes to eat at home after dinner from a pasticeria like Bonifacio, Chiusso, Rosa Salva, or Ponte delle Paste.
