Taste typical Venetian and Italian dishes at Ristorante Principessa. Located in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon, the restaurant boasts an enchanting terrace ideal for dining outdoors and for those who want to enjoy the stunning atmosphere of the city and the unique view over San Giorgio Island and the church of Santa Maria della Salute. At Ristorante Principessa, guests can savor the traditional dish "Bragosso della Principessa," a Venetian spaghetti with mussels, clams and shellfish. This delicacy is served with a gold fork, an homage to the 11th-century Byzantine princess Maria Argyra who first introduced the utensil to the Venetians in 1004 A.D. when she married Giovanni Orseolo, son of the Doge of Venice Pietro II° Orseolo .

Savor the famous Venetian pork braciola served at Vini da Arturo. Tucked away on the quieter side of San Marco, Vini da Arturo serves classic Italian food in an authentic setting. Although there’s no seafood, the menu boasts unbelievably tender steaks, fresh salads, and incredible pasta dishes—plus a great selection of wines available by the glass. Vini da Arturo is a favorite with Hollywood celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, and Tom Cruise.

Indulge in some classic gelato at the Boutique del Gelato. No trip to Venice is ever complete without sampling this fine Italian dessert. It is said that Marco Polo introduced a recipe resembling sorbet to Venice following his travels in China, where iced puddings had been a culinary staple since 3000 B.C. The secret, the Chinese worked out, was adding rock salt to the ice to lower the freezing point. In the following centuries, the Italians started adding dairy to the flavored ice, creating what became known as gelato. Today, the Boutique del Gelato is heralded by both visitors and native Venetians as the best place to try authentic gelato.