Best friends come in all shapes and sizes. Oftentimes, one is the yin to the other’s yang. Maybe one is short and one is tall. Maybe one is loud and one is quiet. Maybe one is funny and the other one laughs at anything. But none of these differences matter when you have a common thread. And we like to think that the best kinds of best friends are the ones that know how to eat together.

When a snarky East Coaster and an Oklahoma blonde became unlikely best friends, it was kismet that their dogs became inseparable too. Norman is a low-riding, long-bodied English cream dachshund while Penny Lane is a curly-haired, long-legged Aussiedoodle. Like their moms, they’re best buddies who love exploring Venice together.

After over a decade of combined Venice living, we’re proud to say we’ve painstakingly eaten our way through this town - which we like to think makes us experts in the field.

As a disclaimer, this is by no means a fully comprehensive list of all the wonderful places to eat in Venice. It would be impossible to include them all. The nature of the local restaurant industry means that the landscape is constantly evolving and ever-changing. There may very well be new and noteworthy restaurants not featured in this book that are open by the time you’re reading this. But this is a snapshot in time. Our love letter to Venice today (Winter 2024).

We hope watching these perfect pups indulge at our favorite spots brings you as much joy as it brings us. If this guide helps you discover your next favorite restaurant, then we’ve achieved our goal... And if you spot us there, feel free to buy us a drink!