Cicchetti, in Venice, are small, flavourful bites enjoyed standing at the counter of a bacaro.
This is the heart of everyday lagoon life — quick food, loud conversations, and a glass of wine (ombra) shared with friends.
If you’re looking for authentic cicchetti in Venice, these are the bites locals actually eat — not the tourist versions.
⭐ Classic Cicchetti You’ll Find in Real Bacari
🍞 Crostini (Small Venetian Toasts)
The iconic foundation of cicchetti in Venice — simple bread topped with local flavours. Some of these are:
- Crostino with Baccalà Mantecato – creamy whipped cod
- Crostino with Sarde in Saor – the saor topping served as a bite
- Crostino with Lardo – delicate cured lard melting on warm toast
- Crostino with Mazzancolle in Saor – prawns in sweet-and-sour onions
- Crostino with Salame Piccante – rich, salty, perfect with wine
- Crostino with Sardoni alla Greca – sardines marinated with vinegar, garlic, parsley
- Crostino with Folpetti in Umido – tiny octopuses stewed in tomato & herbs
🐙 Seafood Cicchetti (From the Counter of Old Bacari)
Folpetti – tiny boiled octopuses seasoned warm
Canocie Bollite – boiled mantis shrimp served with oil & lemon
Capesante Gratinate – baked scallops with golden breadcrumbs
Crostino di Mare Misto – mixed seafood bite (varies by season)
🥚 Old-School Cicchetti (Traditional Venetian Bar Food)
Bites that defined the bacaro culture of the past.
Mezzo Uovo con Acciuga – half an egg topped with salted anchovy
La Bicicletta – pickled onion + anchovy + onion on a toothpick
Trippe alla Veneziana (small portion) – stewed tripe once common in taverns
Carciofini Sottolio – tiny artichokes preserved in oil
Musetto Caldo con Senape – warm pork snout inside a soft bun, with mustard
Seppie Fritte – tiny fried baby squid
Seppioline Grigliate – small grilled squid
Sarde Fritte – fresh sardines lightly floured and fried until crisp, a simple but classic cicchetto in Venice
🧀 Simple Everyday Cicchetti
Panino con Sopressa – rustic Veneto cold cut
Panino con Mortadella – a local classic
Tramezzini Veneziani – ultra-soft triangular sandwiches made in dozens of different flavours, from tuna & egg to ham & mushrooms to crab spreads and seasonal fillings
🚫 What NOT to Order in Venice (Avoid the Tourist Versions)
Not all cicchetti in Venice are authentic.
Around the most crowded tourist areas, you’ll sometimes find fake Venetian cicchetti — oversized, expensive, and made with ingredients that locals would never use.
To enjoy real Venetian food culture, here’s what to avoid:
❌ Giant crostini stacked with sauces
Real cicchetti are small, simple, never overloaded.
❌ Neon-orange “fake” Spritz with artificial mixes
The traditional Venetian Spritz is made with Select, not sugary syrups.
❌ Seafood that looks too glossy or too perfect
Fresh lagoon seafood is simple, seasonal, and rarely decorated.
❌ Tourist bar menus with dozens of photos outside
Authentic bacari rarely use photo menus — they show the food directly on the counter.
These tips help visitors recognize the difference between authentic Venetian culture and the mass-produced tourist version.
Back to the 🍽️ Traditional Venetian Food Guide: What to Eat in Venice (Local Insights)
More Venetian Food Guides:
- Traditional Dishes → /⭐ Traditional Venetian Dishes – The Real Food of Venice
- Seafood & Lagoon Specialties → 🦐 Venetian Seafood & Lagoon Specialties
- Venetian Drinks → 🍹 Venetian Drinks & Lagoon Drinking Culture
- Desserts & Sweets → 🧁 Venetian Desserts & Lagoon Sweets
What cicchetti are → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicchetti