Insider Tips for Venice in Fall 2023

With many of us headed to Venice soon—staying at a range of hotels from the iconic Cipriani, a Belmond Hotel to smaller gems like Violino d’Oro—we asked two insiders for their list of what to see and where to eat this fall.  Sebastiano Scomparin, head concierge at the Cipriani, tells us the exhibitions to see this fall and a few great places to eat, including the most “sparkly and cool” terrace restaurant of the moment; jewelry designer Antonia Miletto, a friend of Melissa Biggs Bradley, shares shops that offer “new ideas with passion and professionalism” and cultural highlights.Contact Indagare or your trip designer to start planning your trip to Venice. Our team can help match you to the accommodations, reservation and activities that are right for you.

Recommendations from Cipriani's Sebastiano Scomparin

Restaurants

“This is one of the historic restaurants of Venice, well known and frequented by Venetians. It is a high quality trattoria with the classics of traditional cuisine, of course a lot of pasta, fish but also good meat. My kids love it too.”

Osteria da Carla “This small and historic trattoria changed management in 2016. It's a family-run restaurant with a refined ambience, led by a mother and son, and it offers cuisine with local products revisited in a modern key. It's a romantic and quiet place.”

Cip's Club “Our Cip's Club is one of the most sparkling and cool terraces of the moment.”

Venice M'Art “Part of the Venice Venice Hotel, Venice M'Art is for guests who wish to eat overlooking the grand canal with good food in a lively atmosphere.”

Shops

“Ma Và is a mall shop in the heart of Venice a few steps from the Fenice Theater. It sells women's clothing created by two local designer sisters, and each piece is unique and handmade.”

nanà “Cristina Nogara is the owner of this particular boutique that mixes sartorial research and unique pieces. At the center, he puts the selection of materials, from bags made in Veneto to Indian clothes. I recently discovered that our trendiest guests are regulars of this boutique.”

Linea d'Acqua “It is an art boutique where collectors of antique books will find unique pieces but also contemporary paintings. What makes the place special is the passion of the owner Luca Zenitlini (Venetian) for the whole world of typography and publishing.”

Exhibitions

“This the first major exhibition of photographic masterpieces from the Condé Nast archives.”

"Fabrice Hyber: La Foresta Invisible" at Espace Louis Vuitton Venice “Inside the Espace Louis Vuitton Venezia, Hyber bring’s the forest of Venice back to life: the trunks of trees planted in the silt several centuries ago to stabilise the islands made it possible to build the city.”

For Children

“I definitely recommend a walk in the Guggenheim area—in addition to the museum there is the ice cream shop Da Nico (the most famous in Venice) and Cantina Già Schiavi (oldest place for cicchetti, the venetian snacks). Nearby there is also Squero San Trovaso, it is an antique gondola maker.

You may also consider visiting the Natural History Museum of Venice and fabric factory, Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua. Two other places far from the tourist areas and a little unknown that can be very nice for a child are: Atelier Scatola Magica a Venezia which is more for girls and L'Isola di Pinocchio.”

Recommendations from Jewelry Designer Antonia Miletto

“Surely the exhibition ‘Oltre la materia’ dedicated to Laura de Santillana's glass work at the Gallerie dell’Accademia, and a must for me is the Biennale Musica, this year focused on digital sounds.

Shop: “In Campo Sant’Angelo, there’s a small store Maneki Neko. They have any kind of shirt, both for women and men—silk, cotton, linen—and everything is locally made. I have probably ten of them. An amazing new bookstore, Hallelujah, just opened near Campo San Polo, Feltrinelli. They have English books about Venice and its history etc, very sophisticated, a gem.”