Last Updated on October 20, 2019 by Laura Teso
Among my followers, there are more and more vegetarians. And some vegans, too. From time to time someone asks me where to find good vegetarian restaurants in Venice. Therefore I decided to ask around to local experts in order to write this post. Let’s start then!
Vegetarian restaurants in Venice
No one suggested the first place on the list, but I included it because it is probably the best known vegetarian restaurant in Venice.
La Zucca – Sestiere Santa Croce
La Zucca, meaning The Pumpkin, was founded in 1980. It is not exclusively vegetarian by the way. Yet its menu includes several veggies based choices. Their highlight? The savory pumpkin flan. And also the decor matches perfectly: orange and green decor and pumpkin-themed artworks displayed here and there. Since the place is very famous… and tiny, it is best to book way in advance.
La Zucca
Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday
lunch: from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm
dinner: from 7.00 pm to 10.30pm
Closed on Sundays
Address: S. Croce, 1762, 30135 Venezia VE
Vegetarian restaurants in Venice – Suggestions by Chandra
Chandra is a member of the Marega family. They are artisans who create Venice masks and also rent Carnival costumes. In their shop, located a few steps away from the Frari Basilica, you can find a huge variety of beautiful handmade masks. Chandra named two restaurants: Frary’s and Orient Experience. To follow their Instagram account: Atelier Marega
Frary’s – Sestiere San Polo
Frary’s is a small restaurant located across from the Frari Basilica, hence its name. Here you won’t find Venetian cuisine, so it’s a good find if you’re in the mood for something different. Frary’s specializes in fact in Greek and Middle Eastern dishes. They’re not only exclusively vegetarian, but there are several good choices, some of them also suitable for vegans. Some examples: tajine with vegetables, dolmades, i.e. vine leaves rolls stuffed with rice, falafel with hummus, couscous, baklava. They also serve gluten-free dishes.
Photo @Frarys Venice 
Photo @Frarys Venice
Frary’s
Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday
lunch: from 11.30 pm to 3.00 pm
dinner: from 6.00 pm to 11.00pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Address: Fondamenta Frari, 2559, 30125 Venezia VE
Orient Experience – Cannaregio and Dorsoduro
This is a very special place. You have to know that both the cook and the owner are refugees. They fled from Afghanistan during the war. The staff is basically made of immigrants in need of help. They first opened this restaurant in the Cannaregio sestiere and then another 2 in the Dorsoduro district. What you can find here is a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine: salads, couscous, bulgur, rice, hummus, falafels, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
Orient Experience – Cannaregio
Opening Hours: Every day from 11 am to 11.30 am
Address: Rio Terà Farsetti, 1847b
Orient Experience – Dorsoduro/Accademia
Campo Santa Margherita, 2920
Africa Experience – Dorsoduro
Calle Lunga San Barnaba, 2722
Vegetarian restaurants in Venice – Suggestions by Rominvenice
Romena Brugnerotto is a tour leader in Venice for English, Spanish, and Italian speaking tourists. She’s also a certified sommelier, so she can also organize Food and Wine tours. You can follow her on Instagram ar rominvenice. And I trust very much her advice on this specific topic. She gave me two names: La Tecia Vegana and Fiumefreddo Bio.
La Tecia Vegana – Sestiere Dorsoduro
La Tecia Vegana, meaning the Vegan pan, is a 100% vegan restaurant. From starter to dessert, you won’t find anything with animal derivatives. The owners are both vegans. They’re a couple who moved here from the Brianza area to fulfill their dream of living in Venice. The dishes, all made of organic ingredients, are a combination of revisited local specialties and ethnic cuisine. Some of the courses listed on the menu: pumpkin and radicchio risotto, ravioli with seitan and porcini mushrooms, fake fish, lentils burger, tiramisu, vegan and also raw sachertorte. The location is far from the madding crowd.
Also, my friend Andrea tried it and liked it, especially the lasagna and the tiramisù. He has an Instagram account mostly about his city, Verona. You can follow him at @andrenvoyage. He took some photo during his lunch. The tiramisù looks inviting indeed:
La Tecia Vegana, photo by andrenvoyage 
La Tecia Vegana, photo by andrenvoyage 
La Tecia Vegana, photo by andrenvoyage
La Tecia Vegana
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm and 7:00 pm – 10:15 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Closed Sunday evening and all day Monday
Address: Calle dei Sechi, Dorsoduro, 2104, 30123 Venezia VE
Fiumefreddo Bio – Sestiere Cannaregio
Fiumefreddo bio is located at a stone’s throw from Strada Nova in the Cannaregio sestiere, but in a less crowded position. The place is owned and managed in full by a couple, Sarina and Claudio. Their dishes are mainly vegetarian but you can also find some vegan options. And everything is organic. Examples? Vegan burgers, quinoa “meat”balls, grain pasta, eggplant, and tofu parmigiana.
Photo @Fiumefreddo Bio Venice 
Photo @Fiumefreddo Bio Venice
Fiumefreddo Bio
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 12 pm – 9 pm
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Address: Campo drio la Chiesa, 30121 Venezia VE
My suggestion – not a restaurant though
La Cocaeta creperie – Sestiere Cannaregio
Last but not least, I have to include also La Cocaeta. It is not a restaurant. It’s a tiny place with only 2 stools and an outside bench. The owner is an old friend of mine, Giulio. I also dedicated an article to its creperie before: Follow the link to Cocaeta Venice. The dough that he uses to prepare the crepes is vegan. I actually have no idea what the ingredients are, he is very jealous of his invention.
The possibilities of filling are basically endless, sweet and savory. You can choose whatever you like from a list of ingredients and many of them are suitable for a vegetarian or vegan feeding regime. So, if you’re not looking for a place where to sit for at least an hour, but you just want to grab a bite while visiting this quiet side of the Cannaregio sestiere, I suggest you come here. But, please, always check the opening hours on Giulio’s Facebook page.
Photo @Cocaeta Venice 
Photo @Cocaeta Venice
Cocaeta
549, Fondamenta S. Giobbe, 30121 Venezia VE
Giulio’s suggestion
And it was precisely Giulio who gave me the last suggestion, Ghimel Garden.
Ghimel Garden – Sestiere Cannaregio
Ghimel Garden is a Jewish restaurant located in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo in the Cannaregio sestiere. They serve some options for vegans and vegetarians. Every Sunday there’s a special appointment: the Sunday Brunch for €25 per person, serving Venetian, Jewish and Middle Eastern specialties, both savory and sweet. A big plus is their beautiful garden where you get to sit.
Ghimel Garden
Every day 9.30 am – 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm – 10 pm
Campo del Ghetto Nuovo, 2873/c, 30121 Venezia VE
Well, I hope that my vegetarian and vegan followers can be satisfied with these options. Let me know if you want to add other good and tested vegetarian restaurants in Venice!
