How did two pasta dishes cost us over €200, you might ask? They not only include the service but snuck in a cover charge of €20 per person. The worst of all is that the risotto was just okay and my lobster tagliatelle was possibly the most mediocre pasta I have ever had. You have to be really careful in Venice. read more

Ai Barbacani - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Also feel like this was such a let down. We went for NYE and on top of the 40% markup on prices we paid a cover charge and the food really didn't impress. The lobster pasta was too fishy and the steak not prime. We had pre-booked our table and i expected higher prices than normal but multiple tables came, sat down, and left before ordering no doubt due to the egregious advantage they took of the holiday to price gouge. The pesto pasta was pretty good and the wine excellent (but we ordered a very expensive bottle so thank goodness it was!) Wouldn't recommend falling for the one beautiful table you see on instagram. You won't get that, and you'll be disappointed. read more

Wonderful food and great service. The scampi was 5 large shrimp grilled to perfection. The carpaccio was delicious. read more

Ai Barbacani - Carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Did the canal dinner reservation and Anh made the experience amazing! She was very friendly and funny. Offered to take pictures of us from different angles that turned out great! Good recommendations for food and wine. The experience was a little pricey but Anh made sure that we got the most out of it! Thank you Anh for making this experience unforgettable! read more

I dined here with my hubby to celebrate our anniversary. We came from Hawaii and I found out about Ai Barbacani on Instagram. Yes - book the private table on the canal! It is truly magical and a one-of-a-kind experience! I booked it more than a month in advance. They ask you to pay the $200 upfront to reserve the table. $40 of that goes to the cover fee - so you end up paying the difference if you spend more than $160 on food and drinks. I ended up paying an additional 9 euro. What we ate: - The seafood starter with clams, mussels etc was delicious - lobster pasta. They were generous with the lobster. I just wish there was more sauce - spinach ravioli - loved it - The steak with sauce - this was delicious - Dessert - 1/2 liter of their house white wine Service The service was great. Staff was very friendly and the food came out timely. If you can't reserve the canal table the inside of the restaurant is cozy. But the table on the canal is truly spectacular. We saw gondolas and boats cruise by. People walked by and took pictures of us bc they were amazed at the unique table and dining opportunity. It really was romantic. The table is outdoors but there is a heater over you. Our server was kind enough to take photos for us so we could remember our dreamy lunch. You are limited to 90 minutes to eat on the canal table. It was perfect for us. Tip - look at the menu online and plan your meal ahead of time so you can truly enjoy your 90 minutes. If we ever make it back to Venice we will definitely be back. This was my best dining experience in our whole 8 day Italy vacation. Mahalo and a hui hou! read more

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The waiter served us stale cold bread and the pasta was a bit undone in our honest opinion. Overall, not bad but expected better. Great ambiance though. read more

Ai Barbacani - Stale bread - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Famous restaurant in TikTok that offers a romantic canal-side table view. I was nervous this restaurant would be too gimmicky and overrated, but to my pleasant surprise, the food quality was excellent and the table set-up was as beautiful as the videos showed! Only thing I would complain about is it requires a 120 Euro (non-refundable) deposit. It counts towards your meal, so if you don't eat up to that amount, you lose it! This price also doesn't include a 10 Euro service charge per person. I've read that they aren't flexible on this booking, so only choose it if you're certain you can make your dinner reservation! Staff was kind and dinner was well-serviced. But it was obvious our waiter was new and didn't know how to filet our fish. This part was a little disappointing since the seafood dishes are pricier and we lost a lot of meat in the process :( We loved every dish we ordered, and leaned more heavily on their seafood options for this meal! read more

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The view from the table and the food served were equally amazing. Such a unique and fun experience to do while in Venice. The staff were very nice. We can't wait to return to visit Venice and this lovely restaurant. read more

Ai Barbacani - Dinner, View from Table - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

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To put it briefly, it's advisable to make a reservation for the special table near the water if you plan to dine here. Otherwise, I recommend to skip this place and instead, grab a slice of pizza from a cheap pizza joint and enjoy the beautiful view of Venice from a nearby bridge. For details, my partner and I had a disappointing experience here and felt it was a tourist trap. We came for a romantic night out based on our tour guide's recommendation and the excellent reviews online. However, we were disappointed with the service, atmosphere, and food. The waitress who seated us was unfriendly upon our entry. There was no music, making for an awkward silence. We chose the house wine, which cost double the price we were told to expect from our tour guide who had suggested herself a restaurant is a scam if housewine costs more than 3 euros. Our food was a major letdown. My vegetarian dish was oily and flavorless, and my partner's risotto was undercooked. We left hungry, nauseous, and dissatisfied despite being in a beautiful city. We eventually found solace in a budget pizza place and salvaged our night. I advise anyone thinking of dining here to be cautious, even if your tour guide recommends it. read more

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super hospitable! had loads of complimentary items that were super delish. beautiful restaurant.

After seeing this place all over TikTok I guess I expected a little more. I paid a $100 deposit and planned our whole day around this reservation so we could sit at the famed table. I hoped the hostess (or someone) would take pictures of us since that's what I read in all other reviews and we only had 1.5 hours to eat and drink. When we asked, she said she was too busy. This is the best photo we could get from stranger across the table without asking them to exit the restaurant while they were eating The food was decent, probably could get the same thing at any other restaurant at half the price. The tiramisu was good. It was an okay experience, just not as special as I was hoping. read more

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Terrible service and mediocre food. Tourist trap. The one table on the canal did not look like it made up for it.

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at this charming small restaurant nestled in the heart of Venice, Italy, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm Italian hospitality that set the tone for the evening. We started with a glass of their house Prosecco, which was crisp and refreshing, the perfect way to begin our meal. For our main courses, we indulged in the salmon ravioli and risotto dishes, and they were nothing short of amazing. The salmon ravioli was a delicate blend of flavors, with perfectly cooked pasta enveloping the rich salmon filling, all bathed in a creamy sauce that left us craving more. The risotto was a revelation, creamy and al dente, with a medley of fresh ingredients that burst with flavor in every bite. The ambiance, the attentive service, and the exceptional food all combined to make this dining experience in Venice truly five-star worthy. I can't recommend this restaurant enough to anyone visiting this enchanting city. We visited this restaurant without reading any reviews or knowing there was a TikTok worthy dining experience with a table overlooking the canal. Although we were seated inside, we found the restaurant's ambiance very romantic. read more

Booked table by the canal. Passerby spit their gum at me from the bridge above the table and it landed in my food. Do not recommend the canal table. Stay inside. Food was okay. read more

Pleasant atmosphere, good service. Food is OK but it definitely doesn't justify the high prices this place charges.

Great ambiance with the music and lit candle. Small rustic, homey place. You are greeted with a glass of champagne when you are first seated. I had the clam spaghetti which I was a little disappointed with, it was not as good as the place from a previous night but it was still ok. My husband had the fish soup which was amazing, Salmon which was good, and then tiramisu was great also. Finished off with a cappuccino, they gave me little biscotti-like cookies to go with, then gave us limoncello shots at the end of the meal! Highly recommend for a romantic dinner - and their fish soup! read more

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Greedy & ruined my honeymoon. My husband and I were not able to make it to our reservation on our honeymoon due to conflict. I reached out to cancel. They refuse to give back my $100 deposit for the canal table. If you read other reviews you'll see other awful reviews as of recent about their food, service and how it is overpriced. Worst business experience I encountered on my 1 week trip. Ruined part of my honeymoon out of greed. read more

This one popped up on Yelp and it was perfect! The location is beside a small bridge over a small canal, a fairly small place but one of our best experiences in Venice! We were fortunate that they could seat us as it was just two of us, we saw many people get turned away. Would recommend reservations. The staff was friendly and welcoming, the restaurant owner herself explained the daily specials. Drinks and bread were first, followed by a shared prawn and asparagus risotto. Some more drinks were followed with the ravioli with spinach and ricotta, and a tradition Venetian dish of grilled whole seabass. Both were excellent!! Sorry no photos of the food as we were to impressed to wait to eat! Highly recommend this restaurant when in Venice! read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. It's my husband's first visit to Venice and i wanted grab dinner somewhere special. I looked at a lot of places, but settled on this incredible place. It was close to our hotel, and the food looked great, the ambiance was charming, rustic and homey. And it TASTED AMAZING!!! A simple dish, but the flavor was out of this world! Easily the best I have ever had. Prices are super reasonable. And there are some sweet little extras. The wait staff was so friendly and welcoming. They had no idea i work in the travel industry, they were just genuinely wonderful. Do yourself a favor and visit Ai Barbacani! read more

This place is truly a hidden gem in the city of Venice. I have no idea how this place was nearly empty when we went for lunch. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, the wait staff is friendly and greeted us with complimentary glasses of prossecco. The food was delightful. I am a chef by profession and I must say the gnocchi here was absolutely perfect. Wonderful little pillows of flavor, perfectly cooked so to not be mushy but still soft enough to offer no resistance when biting down. The beef blognese tagliatelle was also fantastic. Prices are very reasonable and the portions are hearty. Eat here. You won't regret it. read more

What an amazing little restaurant! The location is ideal-- at the intersection of two bridges, perfect for people watching as they throw away precious Euros gliding along the canals in a gondola. I'd do it if I could afford it, but I was hoarding my money to englut myself on carbs here. We began with a carafe of the house white wine and a seafood sampler. I wasn't too big of a fan of the baby octopus, but everything else was good. The cold-smoked salmon was great, as was the other smoked fish that came with peppercorns and caramelized onions, which tasted exactly like adobo. We got the fish soup and the Barbacani-style pasta. The fish soup is quite small, but is packed with seafood, not just fish. For my San Franciscans, it's the same thing as ciopinno; be still, my heart! I would have gladly gotten three of these. The pasta was also amazing: tagliolini covered with a tomato cream sauce and a mix of seafood (sans shells). For dessert we moved to the one and only table outside, right on the water. We got the tiramisu, a lemon tart-esque dessert, and another carafe of white wine. To top it all off, someone came in and started playing some quiet jazz for background music. The location, food, and atmosphere are unbeatable and worth every penny! read more

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One of the best meals I've had in Venice! Located off the main streets, it is quiet and enjoyable. One of the few places to get away from crowds, yet only about a five minute walk from San Marco. The catch of the day was especially good, as well as the calamari. Impeccable service. Try to get the table for two on the canal balcony - it overlooks two bridges. read more

Ai Barbacani - Capresse Salad - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

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A cute and cozy restaurant! Perfect for the family or a romantic dinner. The food was sooo good! The minestrone soup was delicious. It brought back memories of my childhood eating fresh soup everyday. I used Mapquest to get there, it was a little tricky but we found it! It was worth it! We were a party of 6 and we all enjoyed every dish. They speak English. read more

Ai Barbacani - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Any restaurant that welcomes you with a glass of champaigne when you are seated deserves a five star. The music was just the right volume to give your dining experience the relaxing romantic ambiance. I ordered from the fixed menu; The fish soup, the salmon and the tiramisu for 22 euros. My husband ordered the rack of lamb. Both meats were cooked to perfection. The bread they provide was perfect for dipping in a plate of olive oil and pepper. The vino de casa is high quality and went very well with our meal. There's a single table outlooking the canal we would like to try next time we are in venice :) Reservations are needed if you do not come early. read more

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Had the branzini while my sister had the seafood risotto. Both were delicious and staff was very friendly and accommodating. read more

Ai Barbacani - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

We happened to stumble upon this restaurant our first night in Venice. It was warm, and had a lot of old world character. The restaurant was lined with old beams and decorative knick-knacks lined the walls. An elderly man sat us, and had a lemoncello with us at the end of our meal. Speaking of meal, it was delightful. I had a plate of seasonal veggies and tiramisu. I am so glad we found this gem, off the beaten path. read more

Ai Barbacani - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Best table I have ever sat at in my life. This is a small restaurant in the heart of Venice, away from the madding crowds but still close enough to incorporate if you only have a day or two in Venice. I wouldn't have found this place on my own. I have to admit that an Italian made reservations for me and a friend who were on the island for work type reasons that I won't go into. We were a little on the early side for lunch so the restaurant had not started to fill up yet. It is quaint and only has a handful of tables really. The hostess gave us a choice of an inside one or the one small table they have that sits in a widow sill that over looks the canal. Being a lovely day, we choose that one. What a trip. Gondolas pass under the bridges which are really just a stones throw from the table. Riders in the gondolas all have there cameras ready to record their experiences. They were all surprised seeing two women eating on this window sill! I think I was photographed more in one day by strangers than I ever have been. It was very enjoyable. The food is very good here too. I don't consider, Venice being a choice city for food. Only because tourist towns usually aren't. Ai Barbicani's food was very good. Best that I have had not he island. When in Italy on a coast, I eat seafood obviously. I ordered the sea bass and it was wonderful. My friend had the sea bass as well. Not wanting to give up our special little table we also stayed for tiramisu and cafe. I totally recommend this restaurant for anyone visiting Venice. When I return, I will be back here as well. read more

Ai Barbacani - Small window table overlooking a canal where gondolas pass through. - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Stopping in this gem of a restaurant with my parents. Absolutely loved it. The restaurant is nice and cozy, the staff are so friendly and the food is above amazing!! Such a great ambiance! Thank you Ai Barbacani! read more

I spent about twenty minutes searching for this restaurant and was about to give up when i finally saw the sign. The owners were so welcoming and quickly made recommendations since i have a shellfish allergy. Anyway started with the savory sardines in onions and was pleased with the taste. Just ask them to not put whole peppercorns in. I then had the gnocchi and the panna cotta dessert. All were good with great service. read more

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We loved this little out of the way restaurant (if there is such a thing) in Venice. It was very close to our hotel but hidden away on one of the quieter streets. The restaurant was cozy and the wait staff was friendly and attentive. My wife was able to pick from various gluten free options, and we both thoroughly enjoyed all our courses. read more

Ai Barbacani - The world's smallest patio on the canal - 1 table, 2 chairs. - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Lovely atmosphere, started the meal with a free glass of fizz. A very seafood heavy menu with a lovely spaghetti vongole. Reasonably priced and very attentive staff! Would recommend. read more

Good pizza, lasagna, and spritz. Good location for dining outside. Server speak English. read more

Ai Barbacani - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

Had a lovely family meal in what is a family orientated italian restaurant in a lovely quiet location in Venice. I had a steak, strange choice in Venice i know, but it was beautifully cooked if a little lacking in seasoning. The rest of the group had some lovely looking gnocchi, beef carpaccio, far from basic spaghetti pomodoro alongside some excellent fresh spring vegetables. it's a little pricey I think, maybe as it's located further towards the tourist areas, but the service is excellent and it has a lovely atmosphere. read more

A lovely small cozy restaurant. All the food carefully prepared and a family welcoming atmosphere. Not touristy but tourist friendly. read more

Ai Barbacani - Charming, thoughtful, delicious, unpretentious. - Italian Near Me - Venezia, VE

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An absolutely delightful restaurant in the heart of Venice. Here you can taste a big variety of delicious meals, whilst being cuddled by the jazz music in the background and while being promptly served by the extremely friendly owner and his staff. With its warmth and romantic atmosphere, it would be a real pity to miss out on it. read more

Food: ok, nice Tiramisu, but pasta was weak, lamb was weak, steak was good. Service: ok. Cocnlusion: overpriced. There was an odd smell in some parts. Also there is a terrace seat, but you need to reserve that. We were inside. read more

Found this so called "little gem" on yelp where one reviewer said it is the only place the staff was "friendly to tourists." NEVER have I've been steered so wrong. Unfortunately I can't give less than 1 star for their attitude. Went there around 8 PM on a Tuesday night and the waitress was extremely rude with an attitude. We were trying to clarify why we can't wait for a table. She said no space. Asked if we can wait and she said "If you want wait 3 hours." I then asked if a table leaves, if we can sit, to which she responded yes she'll call us in if a table leaves. Saw a table leave after waiting outside for 30 mins, but she didn't call us in. So we asked her again, which she said (very rudely) "I already told you we have no table for you." When we asked about the table that left, she said it is reserved. Basically she could've saved all of us time if she just explained that she has no space because it's all reserved. Instead she misdirects us and is unable to clarify. Worst attitude of a waitress I've come across traveling ever. read more

Best meal we had in Venice and the only place we felt like the staff didn't hate us for being tourists. Great little table in the corner overlooking the canal, service was fantastic and it was quiet. read more

Environment is really good! And not crowded! Good taste！sea food soup is fantastic! We are a group of 6. Service is really good and even they give me the wrong plate, they change it at the first time! read more

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We were looking for a restaurant away from the tourist-y area when we happened upon this delightful ristorante. The staff was extremely friendly and welcomed us with a glass of Prosecco. Our primo of spaghetti alla vongole and trofie with pesto were so delicious. There must have been 50 clams in that spaghetti dish. We ordered the fish platter for our secondo. The monkfish was tasty and the shrimp and salmon were pretty good. It just lacked a the yummmmmm factor that we had with the primo. The wine options are affordable and tasty, as well. Highly recommend if you're looking for a non-touristy option in Venice. As an aside, we arrived around 7:35 on a Wednesday and were seated immediately. Things got busy around 8:15. Also, if you come during the summer, their air conditioning isn't great, so be prepared to be warm. read more