Venice is an easy place to be gluten free, as Italy in general is surprisingly a very coeliac friendly country. Having lived near Venice for 10 months when I was an ERASMUS student, I decided it was about time I wrote a gluten free Venice guide for coeliac visitors!
I lived in beautiful Padua, which is a short train ride away, so it was easy to hop across to Venice for a day of exploring and gluten free ice cream eating. We often headed over to Venice for day trips and I have been back to explore a couple of times since my Italy days.
Of course, since I last visited a whole host of new coeliac friendly gluten free eateries have opened, so I have recently updated it for 2022.
In this guide I have included my old favourites, plus fully gluten free locations and restaurants that have been accredited by the Italian coeliac society (the AIC). I have also included some others that I have seen recommended by other coeliacs.
If you are gluten and dairy free, my friend Gluten Free Alice recently published a dairy and gluten free guide to Venice. Dairy free is more challenging than gluten free in Italy, so her tips will be a good starting point if you have this extra dietary requirement.
Gluten Free Venice
Coeliac Italian Phrasebook
A few handy Italian phrases to get you started. English is quite widely spoken in Venice, but at least you can communicate some key basic phrases if you are in a total jam.
Sono celiaca = I am coeliac (female) [pronounced “sono cheh-lee-ac-a“]
Sono celiaco = I am coeliac (man)
Senza glutine = gluten free [pronounced “sen-zah glue-tin-eh”]
You can also print off a full Italian language coeliac travel card if you want. This explains coeliac requirements in more detail and is good to have as a back up.
Accomodation
Hotel Al Piave
This hotel is the only one in Venice to be accredited by the AIC, in case you are looking for an extra safe place to stay. Upon request they can prepare a special gluten free breakfast for you during your stay. They can also cater for lactose intolerant coeliac guests.
Hotel Luna Baglioni
This fancy 5 star hotel states that it is very welcoming towards coeliac guests, providing a gluten free breakfast option, as well as other gluten free meals upon request. Plus, the views from their roof terrace look INCREDIBLE.
Hotel dell’Opera
This highly-rated hotel confirms on its website that they can happily accommodation coeliac guests and offer a gluten free breakfast.
Hotel Palazzo Vitturi
Another well-rated hotel with a gluten free breakfast offering. On their website they state they can offer a range of Schar goods to coeliac guests, simply mention when you are booking that you need gluten free.
100% Gluten Free Locations in Venice
To get you started on your gluten free Venice feasting, why not check out these two fully gluten free options:
Grom
I am a bit obsessed with gelateria Grom. This fully gluten free ice cream shop makes some of the most delicious gelato ice cream around and they have wonderful chocolate-dipped gluten free waffles cones. They also sell various gluten free goodies that you can take home as souvenirs – their pistachio biscuits are divine. You can find four Groms in Venice and all are AIC accredited.
Mea Libera Tutti Sas
A fully gluten free shop owned by a coeliac. They have a huge array of gluten free products and the owners are also very friendly and nice.
AIC Accredited Eateries in Venice
As I mentioned above, the AIC is the Italian coeliac society. The AIC set very high requirements for restaurant accreditation, hence you can rest assured that these locations will take great care to prevent any cross contamination when preparing gluten free dishes. Here are their gluten free Venice accredited restaurants and other eateries:
Gelateria Nico
This gelateria is centrally located and able to cater for coeliacs. Let them know when you order that you are coeliac and they will scoop your ice cream from a safe tub at the back of the store rather than using the main cabinet. They also have some tables to sit at if you would prefer to have an ice cream sundae and a seat on the waterfront.
Vecia Cavana
This restaurant receives rave reviews from coeliacs for their gluten free pasta and other safe dishes. They have a dedicated gluten free menu and will bring you gluten free bread and crackers once you request it. Staff are knowledgeable and the gluten free menu is extensive.
Oke Zattere
This AIC accredited pizzeria is clearly serious about catering for coeliacs and they mention this on their website. They offer gluten free pizza, pasta, sides, salads, bread, cakes and drinks. Note a lot of reviews say the gluten free pizza (although safe) isn’t great in terms of food quality, however Oke Zattere gets rave reviews for other dishes such as gluten free lasagne.
Frary’s
A Mediterranean restaurant branching out from more than just Italian food (rare for Italy). Sort of Greek meets Italian food. The menu is 70% gluten free and staff can talk you through the best options. Let them know when you are coeliac when you order, of course.
Al Giardinetto ” da Severino “
This restaurant has a beeeeautiful outdoor terrace and I would recommend booking in advance. The restaurant is AIC accredited and wonderful for coeliacs. There is a dedicated gluten free menu with a lot of choice and gluten free bread is provided. Choices include gluten free pasta and various fish and meat dishes. A nice change from pizza!
McDonalds
If you get fed up of pizza or Italian food (surely impossible??) and fancy a quick gluten free burger, McDonalds in Italy offers gluten free buns. It is accredited by the AIC and the buns are safe for coeliacs.
Other Gluten Free Venice Restaurants
Italy generally is VERY coeliac friendly. There is widespread understanding of cross contamination risks and the majority of restaurants will have gluten free pasta or gluten free alternatives available. Even non-AIC accredited restaurants can be coeliac friendly – just make sure you ask questions and let them know you are coeliac when dining at these restaurants.
Here I have listed a few gluten free Venice restaurants that I have seen very highly reviewed specifically by coeliacs, but there will no doubt be many other coeliac friendly restaurants that I haven’t listed.
Oh and note that if you are self-catering, all the supermarkets sell gluten free products and items are generally easy to find.
Ristobar San Polo
Coeliac friendly gluten free pizza available. They have a large gluten free menu with lots of choices, including gluten free lasagne, profiteroles and tiramisu.
Multiple reviews mention this restaurant as being coeliac friendly with plenty of gluten free options. Staff are cited as helpful and there is a good selection of dishes and even desserts.
Modern Venetian food with gluten free options.
Pizzeria Ae Oche Santa Lucia
Gluten free pizza and pasta, which can be coeliac friendly at this Italian chain restaurant. Plus they have a huge range of topping choices and also have gluten free beer available. American sports bar format…not exactly a romantic setting but good if you have noisy kids!
Trattoria Al Gazzettino
Coeliac friendly with plenty of gluten free choices (including gluten free gnocchi) and helpful, knowledgeable staff.
Tintoretto
A nice little place for coeliacs as they offer gluten free pizza and other dishes, prepared safely. Not as pricey as some of the other more touristy restaurants. They have a dedicated gluten free menu and staff are very helpful at explaining processes.
Italian and Mediterranean menu with gluten free options.
Osteria Al Pozzo Roverso
A coeliac friendly restaurant with staff who are very knowledgeable about their gluten free options (even their website mentions gluten free). The offering here includes homemade gluten free gnocchi. Also gluten free bread and pizza is available and they have gluten free tiramisu for dessert.
Trattoria Alla Ferrata
Gluten free pizza that is coeliac safe (and cooked in a separate oven). Gluten free bases do incur an extra EUR4 charge though (pretty standard in Venice when it comes to gluten free bases).
Osteria al Duomo
Homemade gluten free pizza, which they will take extra care with if you let them know you are coeliac. They have a nice terrace area.
Ostaria Antico Dolo
With a dedicated gluten free menu this restaurant is also coeliac friendly. They offer gluten free bread. Note a few reviews say this place is quite expensive, due to its central location.
Osteria Calle 21
Able to cater for coeliacs and with various gluten free dishes on their menu, including pasta. They also have gluten free bread.
Osteria All’Ombra
Coeliac friendly with a gluten free menu and nice carby choices such as pizza and pasta.
That’s all for now on gluten free Venice. For more general tips about traveling in Italy as a coeliac, be sure to have a read of my gluten free Italy guide.
If you enjoyed this gluten free Venice travel guide then you might like my other gluten free Italy guides:
- Rome Gluten Free Guide
- Florence Gluten Free Guide
- Tuscany Gluten Free Guide
- Turin Gluten Free Guide
- Lucca Gluten Free Guide
Safe travels! x
*This article contains some affiliate links, meaning no additional cost to you but enabling me to keep running www.mygfguide.com as a free website that is open to all :).
