In the heart of Venice, a refined restaurant and literary café where, since 1993, gastronomy and wine, art and culture have met, the only one in the Lagoon city to offer Renaissance recipes revisited with a contemporary twist in an environment inspired by the splendor of the Serenissima and the most authentic Venetianness.
When you arrive in Calle dei Fabbri and you see an unusual sign in leaded glass and early 20th century Art Nouveau accents, you already know you are in front of something special. If you then cross the threshold and meet its inspiring owner Sergio Fragiacomo, that “something” reveals itself to be more precious and unique than ever.
The Bistrot de Venise, between Rialto and Piazza San Marco, opened in 1993 when Sergio, a Venetian of Istrian origins, together with some friends and partners, took over the management of a former trattoria-hotel and, capitalizing on dreams and past experiences, decided to create the first bistro in Venice in the style of the French literary cafés of the early 20th century.
Food in Venice is poetry, local culture, arts and crafts that derive from customs and food traditions far away in time and space. Our mission is to preserve and enhance them.
(Sergio Fragiacomo)
A bistro intended as an open cultural place, a meeting point for various activities dedicated to the city of Venice, from figurative arts to poetry. It is precisely during one of these events, a chat with the historian of medieval gastronomy Marcello Brusegan marks the turning point of excellence of the Bistrot de Venise.
Sergio and Marcello, with the support of Michela Dal Borgo, coordinating director at the State Archives of Venice, begin a research path on the origins of Venetian cuisine and rare wines, giving life to a new concept of culinary culture that has led the Bistrot de Venise to be reported in the main international guides, first and foremost the Michelin one.
Starting from the manuscript of the Anonymous Venetian Chef of the 14th century, then extended to other famous chefs from the Renaissance to the 18th century, such as Maestro Martino, Bartolomeo Sacchi known as Platina, and Bartolomeo Scappi, the menu of the Bistrot de Venise is a gastronomic journey back in time, among the ancient scents and flavors of the Serenissima, often at risk of disappearing.
Among the signatures of executive chef Stefano Novello, who has led the brigade at Bistrot de Venise since 2021, after various international experiences including Giorgio Locatelli and Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants in London, we find Spaghettoni with Cuttlefish in “Nero”, Bisato fumegà in “Ara”, or eel cooked in charcoal oil, scented with bay leaves and Storo polenta, and the “Biancha Reale” cake, a reinterpretation of the recipe by Bartolomeo Scappi, who worked in Venice and was a papal chef in the 16th century, a ginger cheesecake with a heart of lemon cream on an almond shortbread base, raspberry soil, sorbet and rose water.
The great classics present in the most important royal banquets from the past are also unmissable, such as dishes with white truffle (the tagliolini pasta are delicious), raw fish and oysters, caviar and sturgeon.
Obviously, the wine list could not fail to be “in search of lost wines”, with a preference for winemakers who produce ancestral labels, from native and biodynamic vines of the North-East regions of the country, without forgetting the great classics of Italy. The Bistrot de Venise boasts one of the most important wine cellars in Venice, curated with passion by sommelier Nicola Funes Nova.
In 2006, Sergio planned yet another coup de théâtre for his business, completely rethinking the interior design with red damask walls, gold mirrors, and leaded glass windows that take us back to the splendor of the Serenissima in its heyday.
Today, Sergio Fragiacomo, his son Paolo, and the director and partner Giancarlo Modonese manage the restaurant that combines the soul of the fine dining restaurant with that, never lost, of a literary café, or better say a literary osteria.
Next to the restaurant, in fact, is the wine bar, a gem of retro Venetianness where, in addition to serving excellent spritz and wines by the glass during the day, free cultural events of all kinds are held weekly, from poetry to painting exhibitions, like the current one by artist Sofia Zanin, to tastings (just check the website and social media of the place to be updated on the latest events).
Here, on a shelf, you can admire the object of the Bistrot that Sergio is most fond of: the Book of Poets, made by the fine Venetian artistic bookbindery of Paolo Olbi, where poems and dedications of all the artists who have been here are collected, from Aldo Vianello to Mario Stefani.
We could tell many other “secrets” of the Bistrot de Venise. But we cannot fail to mention its “Romantic Table” with a special menu and setting for special occasions, including a floral gift and a customizable heart-shaped dessert created by pastry chef Alessia Zarù.
In addition to the Sala Vivaldi, the Sala Goldoni with a magnificent table overlooking the canal, and the more intimate Sala Casanova, also suitable for private dinners or lunches on request for up to 13 people, on the first floor there is La Residenza with 2 romantic rooms, which the famous Casanova would have liked a lot, and the Salone della Residenza, a convivial room in 18th-century Venetian style, perfect for celebrations of up to 20 people.
While, in the summer, you can book on the charming outdoor terrace lit by traditional red Murano glass lanterns.
The Bistrot de Venise is a blend of love and poetry for Venice that looks to the future but holds firm to its sixteenth-century roots, when the Serenissima triumphed in Europe as a master of the arts.
The Secret
The Bistrot is divided into two rooms, in the main one you can admire a beautiful figurehead on the walls, an exact copy of those that decorate the Teatro La Fenice that Sergio wanted for his restaurant and commissioned to the artist Guerrino Lovato who had created them for the famous theatre after it was rebuilt following the terrible fire of 1996.
Useful Info
Bistrot de Venise
Calle dei Fabbri 4685
30124 Venezia
Tel. +39 041 5236651
Starters: from 24 euro
First courses: from 26 euro
Second courses: from 28 euro
Tasting menus: from 110 euro, wine pairing 45 euro
Romantic table: 150 euro per person, with welcome drink Prosecco DOCG and welcome starter, appetizer, first course, second course, and the customizable dessert “Hearts” with passion fruit, soft red fruit insert, raspberry mirror glaze, and, of course, a red rose.
