Sweet Venice coffee and dessert tasting tour
Italians love their coffee but there are certain rules one must follow if you’re going to do Italian café culture the right way. This tour will make you a bonafide caffè expert, but more than that, it will also introduce you to the traditional pasticcerie of Venice. You’ll learn the history of local sweet treats as you wander through the most local neighbourhoods in town!
You’ll meet your local guide at the steps of the Santa Lucia train station (the only train station in Venice) and then begin your adventure exploring the Cannaregio neighbourhood.
The first stop on our Venice food tour will be in the heart of the ancient Jewish Ghetto, a neighbourhood that is 500 years old and remains an important piece of the Venetian community. It’s here that we’ll taste our first sweet sample as you try a traditional Kosher pastry.
After that, it’s coffee time! And what better way to enjoy a coffee in Venice than in an historical torrefazione? We’ll stop at a family-owned business that imports coffee beans from around the world and roasts them directly in their shop. You’ll get to enjoy the aroma while sipping a good cup of caffè — but most importantly, you’ll learn how to drink it like a local! Your guide will teach you the secrets to sipping coffee the proper way so that you can blend right in with the locals during the rest of your Italian holiday.
After your shot of caffeine, we’ll go for a walk through the neighbourhood of Cannaregio, passing by the main corners of this residential area. We’ll stop at a family bakery that’s famous for its torrone and other traditional desserts of Venice, all prepared using ingredients popular to this part of the world. It’s here that you’ll get a lesson on the history and background of local Venetian cuisine.
We’ll then continue our way toward the Castello neighbourhood, the largest sestiere on the island and home to the Arsenale, or Naval Dockyard, of the city. We’ll explore the narrow lanes of the area before stopping into our next pasticceria, an elegant family-run spot that’s the most beloved and famous place to get seasonal desserts during the holidays: panettone at Christmas, colomba at Easter… depending on the time of year, you’ll get a mix of different desserts to try, appropriate to the season. You’ll also have the chance here to relax your legs in the main square of the neighbourhood, overlooking the beautiful Church of San Giovanni e Paolo.
Finally, we’ll head to our almost-last stop on this Venice tour to enjoy the famous tiramisu! Learn everything about this Veneto dessert while enjoying a delicious homemade one.
From there, we’ll walk toward our ending point at the Rialto Bridge, but we’re not quite finished yet. Do you love chocolate? We do too, so we can’t miss the opportunity to visit an atelier of chocolate, where you’ll get a gourmet tasting while seeing how this tasty treat is made!
Then, it’s time to say a presto at the steps of Rialto Bridge, where your local guide will give you some tips for continuing your day in Venice, or give you directions to head back to your hotel.