Restaurant
Glam Enrico Bartolini
Two-Michelin-star restaurant in Palazzo Venart on the Grand Canal, where chef Donato Ascani cooks lagoon produce and grilled dishes for Enrico Bartolini's group.
Osteria La Zucca
A small Santa Croce osteria with a menu that changes daily, mixing Venetian tradition and fusion ideas, and known for vegetable dishes such as its pumpkin flan.
At a glance
- Type
- Seasonal Venetian and vegetable-led cooking
- Area
- Santa Croce, Venice, Italy
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- lazucca.it
Good to know
- Daily changing menu
- Vegetarian-friendly
Why we recommend it
Osteria La Zucca is a small, friendly restaurant in Santa Croce that has built a loyal following among both Venetians and visitors for its vegetable-led cooking. The name means pumpkin, and it is one of the best places in central Venice for anyone who wants a break from fish or is travelling with vegetarians, though meat and fish dishes also appear on the menu.
The menu changes every day and is built around seasonal vegetables, with dishes that sit, in the restaurant's own words, halfway between Venetian tradition and fusion cooking. The signature is the flan di zucca, a pumpkin flan served with aged ricotta and butter, which has been on the menu for years. Expect vegetable starters, pasta and a handful of mains, with ideas from beyond Italy appearing alongside local ingredients.
The dining room is small and informal, so tables fill quickly. La Zucca is open Monday to Saturday, 12:30 to 14:30 and 19:00 to 22:30, and it is closed on Sundays. Booking is strongly advised. Tables for one or two people can only be booked by telephone, and the phone is answered Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 19:30; larger groups can use the form on the website.
La Zucca suits couples, solo travellers, vegetarians and anyone who wants a relaxed, good-value meal in a neighbourhood setting. Prices are moderate for Venice, which makes it a useful address in a city where eating well can be expensive. Families are welcome, though space is tight for pushchairs. Allow around ninety minutes. As the menu changes daily, it is worth asking the staff for their recommendations, and leaving room for dessert. Arriving at the start of a service also gives you the best choice before popular dishes run out.
The osteria is in a quiet part of Santa Croce near the San Giacomo dall'Orio area, about ten minutes' walk from the San Stae vaporetto stop on Line 1 and fifteen from Piazzale Roma and the railway station. Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio, one of the most pleasant residential squares in the city, is close by, and the Fondaco dei Turchi natural history museum is a short walk away.
Osteria La Zucca FAQs
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday, 12:30 to 14:30 and 19:00 to 22:30. It is closed on Sundays.
How do I book a table for two?
Tables for one or two can only be booked by phone, answered Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 19:30.
Is it good for vegetarians?
Yes. The menu is built around seasonal vegetables, with meat and fish dishes as well.
What is the signature dish?
The flan di zucca, a pumpkin flan with aged ricotta and butter.
Does the menu change?
Yes, it changes daily with the season.
Is it good value?
Yes. Prices are moderate by Venetian standards.
How do I get there?
It is about ten minutes' walk from the San Stae vaporetto stop on Line 1.