Gluten Free Venice: A Complete Guide (for Foodies)

Our Favorite Gluten Free Restaurants in Venice

Matt, the resident Celiac in this corner of the internet, was diagnosed 15+ years ago, and he has learned over that time that mixed kitchens that handle a lot of flour (like pizza and pasta places) are a tough place to make a gluten free meal free from cross-contact. 

Source: Our kitchen is coated in a (not-so) thin coating of gluten free flour everytime Matt makes his homemade pizza. 

However, Italy is a slightly different story in some cases because they have an active Celiac Association – the AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia) – which helps set restaurants up for success.

Does that mean that they always follow those protocols? No – they’re still run by humans. 

However, I do believe that the processes they put into place (for example, serving gluten free food on a different colored plate) make them a significantly safer option. 

If you’re a Celiac, I personally believe that you should focus on places that are either dedicated gluten free (no gluten in the kitchen) or accredited by the AIC where risk of cross-contact is relatively low due to training and processes. 

Which is why all of the places mentioned in this guide belong to one (or both) of those categories. 

Is that a perfect way to do things? Not necessarily. I’m sure there are a couple of other places in Venice that can make a safe gluten free meal. However, I do think it’s a good shortcut. 

Frary’s (AIC-Accredited)

This was, by far, the best meal I had in Venice. Though it was also the least Venetian, so if you want to try local delicacies like sarde in saor or seppie al nero, this is not the right place for that (we’ll get to those in a second). 

But if you’re looking for a break from pizza and pasta and want a warm, inviting atmosphere and excellent food inspired by the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, Frary’s is a great option.

It’s right across from Campo dei Frari and the brick church of the same name in the heart of San Polo in Central Venice. 

It’s a small space, so I’d make reservations in advance if you can (either by stopping by earlier in the day, or by calling ahead). 

If you made me rank the three best things I ate in Venice, the three things I had here would be number one, two, and three. 

First was the antipasto misto, which is a little (or big) plate they make for you that combines a bunch of their starters (dolmas, hummus, roasted chicken, and feta were the highlights for me). 

Second was a recommendation from my server – the kofta – which are beef meatballs in a slightly spicy tomato sauce served over rice. Excellent. 

Last was the cake of the day which, in this case, was chocolate. It was light, airy, and a perfect cap to my favorite meal in Venice. 

Make sure to tell them you are Celiac when you sit down, and they will walk you through the options and bring you a couple of rice cakes (instead of pita bread) for dips. 

They also have a selection of Greek and Lebanese wines (among other origins), which is kind of fun and different. 

La Vecia Cavana (AIC-Accredited)

The first of two AIC-accredited places to get authentic Venetian food on this list, Vecia Cavana is my top pick of the two because of the fact that everything that goes into their fryer is made with rice flour and is thus gluten free.

Which means more choices for you! Although I’d always double check that this is still true. 

This place (and the next place) feels very old school, with white tablecloths and waiters in black pants, white shirts, and aprons.

The majority of people eating here were both speaking Italian and also over the age of 50 (maybe 60?), but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat here. 

There were three Venetian specialties that I was on the hunt for, and I was able to find two of them here – the sarde in saor, fried sardines in a sour sauce with onions, and pasta alla busara, which is a slightly (heavy on the slightly) spicy tomato sauce with pasta and scampi. 

The sarde were worth trying, but I probably wouldn’t order them again (at least partially because I’m always confused about how to eat them and at what size it’s no longer appropriate to eat the bones). 

The pasta was pretty good, but was missing the spice that the description (and my previous research) had promised. 

I declined dessert, but they did have a gluten free tiramisu and a cheesecake. 

Make sure to tell them that you are Celiac (or gluten free) immediately when you sit down and they will remove the bread and bring you a side of crackers and gluten free bread (which are included in the €5 cover charge that they charge per person).

I will say that, despite doing my best to speak Italian (which was rusty as it was my first day in Italy), I was unable to blend in and was definitely pegged as an American and treated as such (an incessant reminder that tip isn’t included in the bill from the start of the meal to the end). 

They also made some completely unnecessary comments about my decision not to drink alcohol which didn’t really bother me, but rather baffled me because I didn’t understand the point (has shaming someone into ordering wine ever worked, I wonder?). 

Anyway, service aside, I thought the food was pretty good and the ability to order anything fried is a major plus. 

Al Giardinetto da Severino (AIC-Accredited)

Let my mistakes at Al Giardinetto da Severino be a lesson to you – I was jetlagged, tired, and completely unprepared when I sat down and the waiter immediately asked me what I wanted, and I completely forgot to tell him that I was a Celiac AND ordered something that contained gluten (even though the menu is clearly marked). 

Luckily, I almost immediately realized my mistake and caught him, apologized, and explained my predicament before the food got made, but still.

Embarrassing and a poor start to the interaction. 

What I should have done was say that I needed a moment and gathered my thoughts before telling him I was Celiac, but it just goes to show you that even the most seasoned travelers sometimes run into challenges. 

Anyway, this restaurant is similar in both vibe and offering to the previous place (old school feel, white table cloths, mostly Italian being spoken, seafood focus), with the notable exception that you cannot have any of their fried food (the sarde in saor is what I had tried to order, but they are fried and thus not gluten free here). 

They do have gluten free pasta, and will bring you a pre-packaged (and wrapped) serving of Schar rolls in place of the bread basket on the table once you tell them you are a Celiac. 

They have the third thing I was looking for, seppie al nero (cuttlefish in a black ink sauce), which is the main dish that I ordered.

It was really interesting, and the sauce in particular did not taste the way it looks (it was almost sweet, which makes sense because the base is garlic, onion, and tomato). 

It’s served on a bed of polenta, which is historically the grain of choice in the lagoon (though pasta is plenty prevalent nowadays), and the interior of the restaurant features hanging copper pots, the traditional way to prepare polenta. 

They also have a range of baked fish dishes and pasta dishes to choose from that can be made gluten free. 

The highlight is the outdoor terrace, which is in the garden of the former 15th Century Palazzo.

It was, however, closed when I was there in the early spring, so I ate in the wood-adorned interior (where they have the copper pots used to cook polenta hanging from the ceiling). 

Grom (Dedicated Gluten Free)

Look, Grom is a staple on any Italian gluten free city guide, and I’m consistently impressed with the quality of their gelato.

Yes, they’re a chain with locations across Italy (even spanning to Paris and beyond), but the thing is that they actually make really good gelato. 

I’ve talked to several Italian food writers or experts, and the first thing most of them say about identifying high quality gelato is to look for gelato that is covered in stainless steel containers (rather than overflowing out of the container in huge colorful piles). 

The second thing they usually say is to look at the color of the pistachio flavor, which should not be fluorescent green, but should be a slightly green-ish brown, which is the color of real pistachios. 

Grom absolutely checks both of these boxes, with the added benefit that everything – including the cones – is gluten free, which means you don’t have to worry about cross-contact and asking for a scoop from a fresh container.

However, it is worth noting that the last time I checked, they use gluten free wheat starch in their cones (which is safe for Celiacs, but not for people with a wheat allergy).

I really like their pistachio and their gianduia e cioccolato (hazelnut chocolate), and it was a daily stop for me while I was in Venice. 

Mea Libera Tutti (Dedicated Gluten Free)

Mea Libera Tutti is not a restaurant or bakery, but is essentially a fully gluten free grocery store. Which isn’t super useful for visitors with a short visit (especially if you don’t have a kitchen), but it is worth noting that they have a nice selection of snacks (not to mention things that you can bring home with you to share with friends and family who are also gluten free). 

I stopped by here and got a little selection of things to enjoy during my trip, including a couple of brioches and a frozen lasagna (to be completely honest, they weren’t very good and I should have stuck with my main squeeze in Europe, Schar, which is almost always pretty good). 

However, another reason to stop here is the incredibly friendly owner, Erico, who started this business more than a decade ago because his son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and he wanted to give other Celiacs options. 

He’s a wealth of knowledge about the gluten free scene in Venice, and was happy to share his recommendations as I was checking out and asking about specific restaurants I was interested in. 

I wouldn’t just stop by and ask him questions, though – make sure to pick up a few snacks and treats to support his business (I’m sure it’s tough to operate in central Venice these days). 

Where to Find Gluten Free Groceries in Venice

If, like me, you are staying for a bit longer than the average tourist, have access to a kitchen, and are looking for places to find gluten free groceries to cook a few meals for yourself while you’re in Venice, here’s my take. 

First of all, for the absolute best selection and friendliest service, stop by the aforementioned Mea Libera Tutti, which has the best selection of gluten free pastas, breads, treats, frozen meals, etc etc. 

Other than that, there are basically three main grocery chains throughout Venice – Despar, Coop, Conad – all of which have multiple locations around the city that vary fairly widely in size and gluten free selection. 

As a former food industry marketer, I LOVE going into grocery stores (bonus if they have a good gluten free selection) and just poking around. Which sometimes drives Alysha nuts, but she’s usually a good sport. 

After visiting what feels like at least half of the locations of the chains listed above, I have some thoughts.

The Despar location near San Marco (here it is on Google Maps) had the best selection of pasta, pesto, sauces, meats, etc etc of any of the locations I went to. 

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