3-Hour Small-Group Tasting

Eat Like a Local: Venice 3-Hour Small-Group Food Tasting Tour

★ 4.8 4,240 reviews

3 hours, free cancellation.

from $101 per person

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Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: Campo San Giacomo di Rialto
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Included in the fare
Run by: Savor Italy Tours

Overview

This three-hour walk with Savor Italy Tours starts at the fountain by the Chiesa San Giacomo di Rialto and works its way through the Rialto market, San Polo, Santa Croce and Cannaregio before finishing near the Rialto Bridge. Along the way the group makes 7 to 8 stops at bars and restaurants that locals actually use, with 15 tastings in total and a sit-down lunch or dinner at a well-known local restaurant as the anchor of the route. Cicchetti, food and wine are all covered by the tour price, and the operator promises you will leave full, since you can ask the guide for more food if you are still hungry.

A local guide tells the stories and legends behind each dish, and reviewers consistently say the guides are knowledgeable and good company. Several travellers described the stops as places frequented by locals rather than tourists. The tour suits people who want to combine eating and drinking with a walk through several neighbourhoods, and it works well early in a stay, since one reviewer regretted not taking it sooner so they could return to the places they visited.

A gondolier passing a hotel doorway on a small canal near the Rialto

Groups are capped at 15 people, though the listing notes that on some high-demand dates the group may exceed that number, with extra food or wine provided to compensate. The tour runs in rain or shine and is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, with a moderate level of physical fitness recommended.

Where this tour sits among 8 tours in Cicchetti And Bacaro Walks listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Sit-Down Dinner Included$59
2-Hour Cicchetti, 10 Tastings$65
10 Tastings, 30-Minute Gondola$99
2.5-Hour Food and Spritz Walk$100
3-Hour Small-Group Tasting (this tour)$101
Bacaro Walk, 3 Hours 30 Minutes$104.92
10 Tastings, 6 Wines$107.94
2-Hour Bacaro Walk$108.34

What's Included

Included

15 tastings with a nice sit-down dinner or lunch at a famous local restaurant
7 to 8 stops of bars and famous locally frequented restaurants
Expert Local Guide that will tell you stories and legends on each dish
Plenty of food : Tour guarantees you to be full as you can always ask the guide for more food
Small group for intimate experience
Cicchetti, food and wine is included in the price

Not Included

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Any foods and drinks not included in the tour

Itinerary

Meet at Campo San GiacomoMeet your guide by the fountain next to the steps of the Chiesa San Giacomo di Rialto. The guide holds a sign reading "Food Tours", and the church is a short walk from the Rialto Bridge on the San Polo side.
Mercati di RialtoThe tour begins at the Rialto markets with a 30-minute visit.
San Polo stopsThe walk continues through San Polo with two stops of 15 and 20 minutes.
Santa Croce stopsTwo stops of 20 minutes each in Santa Croce.
San Polo meal stopA longer 45-minute stop back in San Polo. The listing does not specify which stop carries the sit-down meal.
Cannaregio stopsThe route finishes in Cannaregio with stops of 20 and 25 minutes.
End at Ponte di RialtoThe tour ends near the Rialto Bridge. The order of stops may change depending on what is fresh at the market.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this tour.

Come hungry. The listing guarantees you will be full by the end, and one reviewer advised pacing yourself because there is a lot of great food. If you eat everything and are still hungry, tell the guide towards the end and more food will be provided.
Dietary needs in advance. Dietary restrictions such as no fish, no meat or gluten-free must be reported at least 24 hours before departure. One reviewer said the tour catered to food preferences and allergies, so options exist if you arrange them in time.
Walking pace. The tour covers several neighbourhoods on foot over three hours, and the listing recommends a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
Weather. The tour runs rain or shine. If you do not hear from the operator, the tour is operating as normal and nothing is cancelled.
Children. Children under 3 go free provided they sit on laps and do not have their own food. If an infant shares food from a parent's plate, the listing asks you to buy a child ticket, since the tour promises everyone a full meal.
Getting there. The listing advises using Google Maps to find the meeting spot, since the booking app may use a different map service with different coordinates. One reviewer recommended learning the public water bus system and your stops before setting out, as it makes getting around easy.

Common issues. The group cap of 15 can be exceeded on high-demand dates, when the tour may run larger and in two languages, though extra food or wine is provided and you can leave by the end of the second stop for a full refund if the format does not suit you. On Venetian and Italian national holidays the tour runs in English only, and non-English groups with fewer than 5 people may be merged with an English group or offered a private tour at a surcharge. Gratuities are not included, and a full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

The price covers 15 tastings across 7 to 8 stops, including cicchetti, food and wine, plus a sit-down lunch or dinner at a famous local restaurant. A local guide and a small-group experience are also included. Gratuities are not included.

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

No hotel pickup or drop-off is included. The tour meets by the fountain at Campo San Giacomo di Rialto, next to the steps of the church, where the guide holds a sign reading "Food Tours", and it ends near the Rialto Bridge.

Can I Join If I Have Dietary Restrictions?

Yes, but you must tell the operator at least 24 hours before departure for restrictions such as no fish, no meat or gluten-free. Without advance notice the restaurants cannot accommodate you as well. One reviewer confirmed the tour made accommodations for allergies and preferences.

Is The Tour Suitable For Children And Wheelchair Users?

The tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps. Children under 3 are free unless they eat the tour food, in which case a child ticket applies. For wheelchair users, the operator suggests a ferry pass to cross canals instead of using bridges.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time, with cut-offs based on local Venice time. Changes and cancellations inside that window are not refunded or accepted. If the tour is cancelled for poor weather or because the minimum number of travellers is not met, you get a different date, a different experience or a full refund.

How Big Are The Groups?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travellers. On some exceptionally busy dates the operator may exceed this number, providing extra food or wine and possibly running the tour bilingually. In that case you can leave by the end of the second stop for a full refund if you tell the guide before leaving.