
Osteria Al Squero
A cozy, canalside Osteria famous for authentic, affordable Venetian cicchetti and an unparalleled view of a gondola workshop.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Osteria Al Squero

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A cozy, canalside Osteria famous for authentic, affordable Venetian cicchetti and an unparalleled view of a gondola workshop.
"Savor incredible small bites and perfectly poured drinks while watching gondolas being crafted!"
Arrive Early for Seating
Secure a spot inside or along the canal by arriving early; best before noon to avoid crowds.
Watch Out for Seagulls
Be mindful of opportunistic seagulls if dining outdoors; they are known to snatch food.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Venetian, Tapas Bar
Price
$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Cicchetti Experience
Savor traditional Venetian small plates, akin to tapas, at affordable prices in a lively, cozy atmosphere.

Gondola Workshop Views
Dine canalside while watching skilled artisans craft and repair gondolas, a unique Venetian spectacle.

Refreshing Aperol Spritz
Enjoy perfectly mixed Aperol Spritzes and other wines, a delightful accompaniment to your cicchetti.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Arrive Early for Seating
Secure a spot inside or along the canal by arriving early; best before noon to avoid crowds.
Watch Out for Seagulls
Be mindful of opportunistic seagulls if dining outdoors; they are known to snatch food.
Embrace Takeout Option
If seating is limited, order cicchetti as takeout and enjoy them nearby, perhaps in a park.
Tips
from all over the internet
Arrive Early for Seating
Secure a spot inside or along the canal by arriving early; best before noon to avoid crowds.
Watch Out for Seagulls
Be mindful of opportunistic seagulls if dining outdoors; they are known to snatch food.
Embrace Takeout Option
If seating is limited, order cicchetti as takeout and enjoy them nearby, perhaps in a park.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Osteria Al Squero is highly praised for its authentic Venetian cicchetti and affordable prices, making it a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. Diners rave about the delicious small bites, excellent wine selection, and the unique ambiance of dining canalside opposite a gondola workshop. While seating can be limited and seagulls are a playful nuisance outdoors, the overall experience is consistently described as a must-try for an authentic taste of Venice.
"Al Squero is our go-to for experiencing one of Venice’s most beloved traditions—cicchetti! This cozy, bustling spot is a hidden gem where locals, students, and workers gather for incredible small bites and perfectly poured drinks. Arrive early to snag a seat inside and be ready when the trays of fresh cicchetti emerge—you won’t want to miss out! With affordable prices, delicious snacks, and refreshing Aperol spritzes, it’s the perfect stop for a pre-dinner bite. And the best part? You can savor your food while watching skilled artisans craft gondolas right before your eyes—a true Venetian experience like no other!"
Braulio A.
"What a nice little gem! The service was really quick considering the number of customers. We ordered 9 chichettis,and we were very happy with all of them! Tasty, vegetarian options, good portion size per chichetti. It’s a bit out of them center, but people know about this place, it was full when we went there, but since you can eat outside and order as takeout, it’s not really an issue."
SB
"Here has a great buzz going on. Opposite the gondola repair shop there is something to watch while you enjoy an excellent food experience. The aparol spritz is also a perfect mix.
Be careful of the seagulls as they have learnt how good the food is also and will steal it straight off you plate if given the opportunity"
cando2008au Compton
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Cicchetti are traditional Venetian small snacks, similar to Spanish tapas, usually served on small slices of bread with various toppings.
It's best to visit before noon to avoid long queues and secure a seat, especially if you want to sit inside.
Yes, you can sit outside along the canal, but be aware of seagulls who might try to steal your food.
The Aperol Spritz is highly recommended, along with a selection of regional wines.
Cicchetti are small bites, perfect for a light lunch, snack, or aperitivo before dinner.
The osteria is located directly opposite the Squero di San Trovaso, an active gondola workshop, offering a unique view.
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This sweet and discreet peach-colored bacari (wine bar) is an ideal low-key day drinking spot, overlooking the city’s oldest gondola workshop. Set on a canal in the quiet, Dorsoduro district, it is a tiny, standing-room only space with wine glasses dangling over a wood bar stocked with cicchetti. Devoted neighborhood regulars, local university students, and laid-back visitors crowd this place in the early afternoon.
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This charming wine bar gives a glimpse into an atypical drinking view in Venice. Situated on a sizeable interior canal, Osteria Al Squero is directly opposite a wonderful old gondola boatyard where the signature crafts are built, maintained and fixed. Here, you can enjoy a spritz on the narrow streets while gazing over at the yard and the expert craftsmen.
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This compact bar is across a canal from one of Venice's few remaining squeri, or gondola workshops. You can stand outside, and cradle a glass of good wine while observing craftsmen at work in the open-to-view boatyard. The other reason the place is worth visiting is because they take their wine and cichetti seriously.
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Je mangerais bien ça ce soir, plutôt que des haricots verts en boîte �� Vous pouvez distinguer mes deux cocktails vénitiens favoris, le Bellini à droite, à base de prosecco et jus de pêche blanche, et le Spritz à gauche, au Campari cette fois, histoire de changer de la traditionnelle combo Prosecco / Apérol ��Belle soirée à vous ��#aperitivo #osteria #cicchetti #apetizer #apero #aperotime #apéro #tapas #Dorsoduro #italyvacations #thebestdestinations #italianholiday #framesofitaly #postcardfromitaly #iamatraveler #cityonwater #veneziagram #venicelife #lefooding @lefooding #italianfood @italianfood #cucinareperverapassione #cucinaitaliana
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The cichetti routine at bars in Venice offers the surest way to eat like a local, and the closest thing to street food if you consider how locals eat cicchetti mostly outside whatever bar they’re getting them from. Venetians take a few of these light bites – which can be either crostini-like pieces of bread topped with something, or small plates that exist on their own – while they’re enjoying an ombra, i.e. a spritz or a glass of wine. This could be in the mid-to late-morning to tide you over until lunch, or in the afternoon, or as an aperitivo before dinner.
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No 24 hours in Venice should be allowed to go by without sampling cicchetti, small snacks that are best described as the city’s answer to Spanish tapas. Cicchetti are local finger foods that include crostini (small bruschetta/toasted open-faced sandwiches), panini (small sandwiches on crusty rolls), tramezzini (triangular white bread half-sandwiches), and polpette (fried balls of meat, tuna, cheese, or potatoes). These beloved local appetizers are topped with a tempting variety of seafood, cured meats, eggs, cheeses, and vegetables.
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Al Squero is the only Osteria in Venice before the Ancient Squero of San Trovaso. This is the best place to enjoy the construction or restoration of original Venetian gondolas while having a break from all the walking. It is a cozy and comfortable place to enjoy a glass of Italian wine and taste some delicious “Cicchetti.” The selection of wines comes from small regional wine firms of Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto regions, so I guarantee you will enjoy and taste everything Venice and the Regions around it have to offer.
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A ‘ squero’ is a gondola workshop, and this traditional osteria is located just across a canal from the one at Saint Trovaso. The unexpectedly quiet atmosphere at Osteria Al Squero is one of its biggest pluses, as is the rich selection of inexpensive crostini that go for only €1.50 each. Local Annamaria recommends the ones with sarde in saor (sardines cooked with onions and raisin); salmon, pink pepper and lemon; tuna and olive oil; and the one with bacon and mushrooms sauce.
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As far as people-watching goes while downing a glass of wine, it would be hard to beat the view from the Squero di San Trovaso, the oldest gondola repair station in Venice. There are only a few seats in this charming osteria, but the best spot is right outside on the fondamenta, where you can enjoy plump, seafood-centric cicchetti with traditional toppings like sarde in saor (sardines marinated with caremelized onion and raisins) or smoked salmon and pink peppercorns.
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The Osteria al Squero is another place I love to go back to, every time I have the chance. Just so you know, an osteria is a traditional restaurant or bar where locals eat Venetian dishes, cicchetti accompanied by the ‘ombra de vin’ (glass of wine) or a glass of Spritz. This specific osteria is located just in front of a squero which is a gondolas boatyard, where gondolas and other small lagoon boats undergo maintenance.
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Al Squero’s singular location in Cannaregio, across from the Squero of San Trovaso, makes it a worthy stop for the view alone. With a glass of wine or Venetian spritz, guests can observe the construction and restoration of the city’s iconic black gondolas in the historic boatyard across the canal. A short but select list of wines draws from smaller outfits in Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto.
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No matter what time of day or night you decide to stop at this little bacaro, it is always packed with tourists and Venetians alike. That’s because the cicchetti and spritz are excellent, but, above all, because you can take your plate and glasses outside and enjoy your aperitif with a view of the canal and the gondola shipyard on the other side. Particularly nice during the summer.
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Nestled in the Dorsoduro neighborhood, Osteria Al Squero is a charming cicchetteria renowned for its picturesque location and delicious offerings. Enjoy your cicchetti while seated on the canal’s edge, providing a stunning view of a nearby gondola repair yard. Indulge in delights like anchovies with caramelized onions, octopus salad, or luscious crostini topped with creamy spreads.
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A short walk from Accademia, this Osteria with fantastic views of the oldest gondola boatyards also specialises in serving ‘cicchetti’ for as little as €1.5 euros plus you can enjoy Aperol Spritz here for as little as €2.50. Recommend their delicious crostinis with topping like pesto and mozzarella or try their fritti, an eggplant based fried dumpling.
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Al Squero owes its name to its location in front of Squero di San Trovaso, one of Venice's traditional gondola boatyards. It is a traditional bacaro — the term Venetians use for bars — offering a vast selection of cicchetti (small bites) and other snacks. As for drinks, you can order wine, beer, or cocktails like the typical Venetian Spritz.
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Though it’s not the ideal place to visit for a full course, it is one of the most visited Venice restaurants. It’s an affordable, cozy eatery that servers Venetian chichetti, the Italian place for small servings of aracini and crostini, which are typically accompanied by an afternoon beverage. A visit here won’t make your money drown either.
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In the heart of Venice, between Rialto and Piazza San Marco, this quaint little local restaurant honors the tradition of cooking fish from the lagoon. Try the grilled lagoon fish for 2 which contains a variety of local lagoon fish and crustaceans. The cod puree at Osteria Alle Testiere is one of the best you will find anywhere.
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While this is definitely not the best place for a full meal, it is my absolute favorite place in Venice. Osteria Al Squero is a cozy, adorable spot serving up classic Venetian cichetti, aka small plates like crostini and arancini, which usually accompany a late afternoon drink. A stop here won’t hurt your wallet either.
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From the Ponte dell’Academia it’s a short walk to the Osteria Al Squero for an aperitivo, with views of one of the only remaining gondola makers across the canal. After that, it’s probably time to head back to the station, so you can walk through the narrow streets of the Dorsoduro district back to the train station.
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This next ciccheti bar is very close to Schiavi and is a must-visit!. If you like Aperol Spritz, go and treat yourself to a large glass here, served with a giant green olive all for an amazing price of €2.50. Generous glasses of prosecco are similarly priced, and the food here is a winner priced at €1.40 a piece.
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Osteria Al Squero is a delightful wine bar in Venice, known for its delicious cicchetti. It’s situated opposite the last gondola boatyard, adding to its unique charm. The bar offers a cozy and convivial environment, with efficient service of snacks and wine by the glass or bottle at very affordable prices.
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San Polocharacterized by its Rialto market noisy and colourful, is the ideal place to enjoy fresh fish and seafood. In the alleys narrow streets, we recommend sampling Venetian specialities in one of the restaurants lining the small canals, such as Osteria alle Testiere, renowned for its refined dishes.
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Grab a glass of Aperol Spritz and relax in a bar with a good view like the one at Osteria Al Squero, or enjoy a "to go" directly on Venice's many canals. Or hang with the locals at Osteria al Timon (Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2754, 30121 Venezia), a bit off the typical tourist route through the old town.
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Nestled near the historic Squero di San Trovaso, Osteria al Squero is a quintessential Venetian bacaro that offers an authentic taste of the city’s nightlife. This cosy establishment is famed for its delightful selection of wines, Cicchetti, and small plates that showcase Venetian culinary traditions.
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Perhaps the most beguiling view in Venice is from this enticing osteria, right opposite the Squero di San Trovaso. Sip coffee or wine and nibble cicchetti while observing the activity at the medieval gondola boatyard and workshop, on the other side of the Rio di San Trovaso (drinks…
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A favourite meeting and viewing point for visitors to Venice, because opposite is the last Squero, the classic gondola wharf. Over a glass of wine you can watch the gondoliers mending their gondolas across the canal. Dorsoduro, 943, 30123 Venice Google Map
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Adjacent to the Squero di San Trovaso, Osteria Al Squero is a quintessential part of Venice's nightlife, offering a superb selection of wines and cicchetti. Enjoy the view of traditional gondola workshops as evening falls while savoring the local flavors.
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Osteria Al Squero might just be the top spot in the Dorsoduro area to sample a cicchetto or two. I’ve never walked by this bacaro without noticing at least a dozen people outside, which was more than enough to convince me to sample some of their fare.
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Osteria al Squero: is immersed in a suggestive context, it faces the ancient squero, the area where all the gondolas are handmade by expert artisans. This bar hides in an alley parallel to Zattere where you can admire the fascinating Grand Canal.
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Osteria Al Squero is a traditional cicchetteria opposite a still-functioning gondola repair yard. Order a selection of cicchetti and a glass of wine or a spritz, then perch yourself on the wall outside to watch these experts at work.
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This Osteria is the perfect place to pick up some local Cicchetti* and a spritz. One of my preferred experiences!. :) Even though there were some tourists in the mix, Osteria al Squero definitely felt like a locals spot.
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Osteria al Squero was opened with love by a man born and raised in Venice. He wants only to provide a good gathering spot where you can sit, enjoy a chat, a glass of wine and a little special cicchetti.
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A few doors along is Osteria al Squero, which is a super characteristic bacaro overlooking the oldest gondola yard (Squero di San Trovaso) in the city. At both spots you can eat outside by the canal.
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Al Timon, Fondamenta Dei Ormesini, 2754, Cannaregio 30121 Venice Italy Cicchetti and bigger dishes Web: https://www.altimon.it/ Photos and reviews on TripAdvisor / Al Timon
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A beautiful canal-side view and generous, inexpensive pours of the Spritz Veneziano (Aperol Spritz) will have you eating cicchetti for hours.
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#63 Crostini at Osteria al Squero: Small restaurant directly on Squero di San Trovaso. Superb selection of crostini for just €1.50 each.
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OSTERIA AL SQUERO | Not only a good place to eat some cicchetti, but also a nice place to have some Aperol Spritz, or wine.
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