Breakfast in Venice: A guide to waking up happy in the lagoon city

close up of hand holding cappuccino

I love breakfast in Venice. My favorite time to leave the house is at sunrise and go to one of the many cafes that make Venice so unique. Breakfast in Venice is special for many reasons:

  • Tradition: Venice has a long history and a rich culinary tradition, which is also reflected in its breakfast cuisine. The city is known for its pastries, including cornetti, brioche and lots of sweet stuff, but also for savoury dishes like frittata and panini. Many Venetians still enjoy a traditional breakfast at a local café or bakery.
  • Quality ingredients: Venice is surrounded by fertile land and seas that provide an abundance of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Many of Venice’s breakfast dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients, such as eggs from nearby farms, freshly caught seafood and locally sourced cheeses and meats.
  • Coffee culture: Italians are known for their coffee culture, and Venice is no exception. The city has a long tradition of coffee roasting and brewing, and many Venetians start their day with a strong espresso or cappuccino.
  • Setting: Breakfast in Venice is often taken in charming cafés or bakeries that offer beautiful views of the city’s canals, bridges and historic buildings. This creates a unique and memorable experience for visitors and locals alike.

All in all, breakfast in Venice is special because it combines tradition, quality ingredients, coffee culture and a beautiful landscape to create a truly unique culinary experience.

Where to have breakfast in Venice: the best cafès and pasticcerie

Venice has many great places for breakfast, from traditional cafes to modern bakeries. Here are some options for you to consider:

  1. Torrefazione Cannareggio: Located in the Cannaregio neighborhood, this traditional coffee roaster and café offers high-quality coffee and a delicious breakfast menu. There’s a great selection of freshly baked pastries and savory dishes, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a great place to start the day.
  2. Pasticceria Tonolo: This bakery in the Dorsoduro district is known for its delicious pastries and cakes, including the famous Venetian sweet bread, Focaccia Veneziana. Coffee and tea are also available, making it an ideal place for breakfast or a mid-morning snack.
  3. Rosa Salva: This historic café in the San Marco district has been serving coffee and pastries since 1879. It offers a wide selection of sweets, including traditional Venetian pastries and modern creations, as well as coffee and tea.
  4. Caffè Florian: Located in the famous St. Mark’s Square, this is one of the oldest coffee houses in the world, dating back to 1720. It serves a variety of breakfasts, including croissants, cakes and coffee, and the elegant atmosphere and beautiful views make it a unique and memorable experience.
  5. Pasticceria Dal Mas: This bakery in the Santa Croce district is known for its traditional Venetian pastries, including baicoli (long, thin cookies), bussolai (buttery, ring-shaped cookies) and zaletti (polenta-based cookies). Coffee and tea are also available, making it an ideal place for breakfast or a mid-morning snack.

These are just a few options, but there are many other great places to have breakfast in Venice. Whether you’re looking for traditional or modern cuisine, a cosy café or a historic setting, there’s something for everyone.

Torrefazione Cannareggio

Coffee and donuts, typical Venetian specialities for a delicious breakfast in Venice
A delicious Italian breakfast at the Torrefazione Cannareggio

Breakfast at Torrefazione Cannareggio in Venice is a good idea for several reasons:

  • First, Torrefazione Cannareggio is a traditional coffee roaster and café that offers high-quality coffee and a delicious breakfast menu. The café is located in the historic Cannaregio district, known for its picturesque canals and charming streets, making it a nice place to start your day.
  • Second, the café offers a welcoming and cozy atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. You can sit inside and admire the old coffee roaster or enjoy your breakfast outside overlooking the hustle and bustle of Venice and the canals.
  • Third, Torrefazione Cannareggio is a great place to try some of the traditional Venetian breakfast dishes. They serve a variety of freshly baked pastries such as cornetti, ciambelle and cakes made with local ingredients.
  • Plus, the café is off the beaten track so you can enjoy an authentic Venetian experience. You can start your day like a local, sipping coffee and enjoying delicious food while watching Venetians go about their daily lives.

In conclusion, breakfast at Torrefazione Cannareggio in Venice, Italy is a great idea because of the quality coffee and food, the cozy atmosphere, the traditional Venetian dishes, and the authentic local experience.

A cappuccino is part of the traditional Italian breakfast in Venice and in Italy in general.

You don’t know where to stay in Venice?

Staying in a Venice hotel is the perfect way to enjoy all that the lagoon city has to offer. Then you can explore late at night and early in the morning when most of the tourists have left!

I now prefer to use Booking.com to find the right accommodation for my travels. The reviews of other travelers help me find the hotel that suits me best.

Hotel Rialto* is my first choice when I need a hotel in Venice: it is located in the center of Venice, right next to the Rialto Bridge, and from there you can easily reach every corner of the city.

Pasticceria Tonolo

Pasticceria Tonolo offers many delicious drinks for a relaxed breakfast in Venice.

Pasticceria Tonolo is a popular bakery located in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, Italy. It has been serving delicious pastries and baked goods to locals and visitors for over 50 years and is considered by many to be one of the best bakeries in the city.

The bakery is best known for its traditional Venetian sweets, including the famous Venetian sweet bread, Focaccia Veneziana. This sweet bread is a soft, fluffy and buttery cake, often filled with pastry cream or jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Pasticceria Tonolo’s version is particularly delicious and a must for anyone having breakfast in Venice.

In addition to Focaccia Veneziana, Pasticceria Tonolo offers a wide selection of other sweet treats such as pastries, cakes, biscuits and more. There are also savory items such as sandwiches and panini, as well as coffee and tea to go with your meal.

The bakery has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with a small seating area inside and outside. Pasticceria Tonolo is very popular with locals and tourists and can get quite busy at peak times, so it’s best to arrive early to avoid the crowds.

All in all, Pasticceria Tonolo is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth visiting Venice. The delicious traditional Venetian desserts, cozy atmosphere and friendly service make Pasticceria Tonolo a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Pasticceria Rosa Salva

In the Pasticceria Rosa Salva you can have a delicious breakfast in Venice.

Pasticceria Rosa Salva is a historic café located in the heart of Venice, Italy. Founded in 1879 by the Salva family, it has been serving coffee and pastries to locals and visitors for over 140 years.

The café is located in the San Marco district of Venice, just steps away from the famous St. Mark’s Square. It has an elegant and refined atmosphere with high ceilings, chandeliers and marble floors. The walls are decorated with antique mirrors, paintings and photographs, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere in which to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea during your breakfast in Venice.

One of the highlights of Café Rosa Salva is the selection of traditional Venetian pastries, including baicoli (long, thin cookies), bussolai (buttery, ring-shaped cookies), and zaletti (polenta-based cookies).

In addition to traditional Venetian treats, Café Rosa Salva also offers a selection of modern pastries and cakes, including gluten-free and vegan options. There is also a small but fine menu of panini, salads, and other light dishes.

Overall, Café Rosa Salva is a must for anyone who appreciates history, culture and good food. The beautiful setting, traditional Venetian sweets, and friendly service make it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Caffè Florian

In winter in Venice, hot chocolate is often a tasty treat, even for breakfast in Venice.
Although having breakfast in Venice at Caffè Florian is one of the most expensive cafes in Venice, it is also one of the most beautiful and famous.

Caffè Florian is a historic coffee house located in the famous St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. It is one of the oldest and most famous coffee houses in the world, dating back to 1720. Over the centuries, it has hosted artists, writers, and intellectuals, becoming a cultural and social center of the city.

The café’s elegant and opulent interior is decorated with Murano glass chandeliers, antique mirrors and paintings. The outdoor area offers stunning views of St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica and is the perfect place to relax and people watch.

Caffè Florian in Venice is known for its excellent coffee, served in traditional silver cups, and its wide selection of pastries, cakes and other sweet treats. The menu includes traditional Venetian desserts such as bussolai and baicoli, as well as modern creations. The café also serves light meals such as salads and sandwiches, as well as a selection of cocktails and other drinks.

In addition to food and drinks, Caffè Florian is also known for its cultural events, such as art exhibitions, concerts and literary readings. Caffè Florian also offers a wide range of souvenirs, including the characteristic coffee and tea blends and porcelain cups.

In short, Caffè Florian is a must for anyone who wants to experience the history, culture and elegance of Venice. The stunning location, the delicious food and drinks, and the rich cultural heritage make Caffè Florian one of the most famous and popular places in the city.

Ordering coffee in Italy

Believe it or not, there is an extensive protocol for ordering coffee in Italy. The many rules of conduct are actually very folkloristic and are part of everyday social behaviour in Italy.

In fact, a completely different code prevails within one’s own four walls, not least because coffee is usually prepared in a coffee pot (in Italian: bialetti, caffettiera or moka). Their options are limited and so they usually serve either moka coffee straight or with milk, regardless of the time of day.

In this article you will find my observations, which can also serve as a flexible guide to ordering coffee in Italy like an Italian.

Pasticceria Dal Mas

The Dal Mas pastry shop offers everything you need for a fantastic breakfast in Venice

Pasticceria Dal Mas in Venice is a charming bakery located in the Cannaregio district of Venice, Italy. It has been providing locals and visitors with delicious pastries, cakes and other sweet treats since 1980.

The bakery is best known for its traditional Venetian pastries, such as baicoli and zaletti, made with high-quality ingredients and traditional methods. The zaletti in particular are a must, as they are made with corn flour, sultanas and pine nuts and have a delicious, unique taste and texture.

In addition to the traditional Venetian pastries, Pasticceria Dal Mas also offers a wide range of other sweet delicacies such as cakes, biscuits and chocolates. There is also a small but fine savory menu with panini, quiches and other light dishes.

The bakery has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with a small indoor and outdoor seating area. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to make recommendations and answer questions about their products. I am sure you will enjoy your breakfast in Venice there.

All in all, Pasticceria Dal Mas is a must for anyone who loves sweet treats and wants to experience the traditional flavors of Venice. The high quality ingredients, traditional recipes and friendly service make Pasticceria Dal Mas a favorite with locals and visitors alike.

A book tip for gourmets!

Venice On A Plate: But What A Plate!

Enrica Rocca’s book explores the culinary traditions of Venice, Italy, and features a collection of recipes inspired by the city’s unique cuisine.

The book is divided into sections that focus on different aspects of Venetian food culture, including fish and seafood, vegetables, meat, pasta, and desserts. Each section includes a range of recipes, as well as information on the history and cultural significance of the dishes.

Do you want to discover Venice on your own?

Discovering Venice on your own can be an exciting and rewarding experience. A travel book will be a valuable resource where to look up historical and cultural information, as well as practical information and language tips.

Here you can find my personal recommendations on the best Venice travel guides:

Do you want to learn Italian while enjoying a coffee in Venice?

The most successful language learners get into the habit of studying on a regular basis. 50 Italian Coffee Breaks makes it easy to master a simple routine for improving your Italian by effortlessly integrating it into your soothing daily ritual – from a 5-minute espresso to a 15-minute latte.

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