What’s the vibe?
Vero sits in Ca’ di Dio, a swanky five-star hotel on the Riva degli Schiavoni – so the feel is less buzzy, more quiet luxe. Spanish starchitect Patricia Urquiola designed the restaurant as well as the hotel, so here she’s jazzed up a smallish waterfront room with lagoon-green walls, banquettes and chairs, and a ceiling that appears frescoed – very Venice, only it’s fish and vegetables taking centre stage, rather than the usual chubby angels.
What are the prices like?
This is one for a special occasion. Lionetti is all about tasting menus – Vero offers three menus, from a four-course, lagoon veg-based one (€120) through a five-course, seafood-heavy affair (€150) to the seven-course Incontro menu, which combines a bit of everything for €170. You can also pick and mix your own menu of two or three courses from €90.
What should I order?
In a city of seafood restaurants, what stands out at Vero is the use of vegetables and herbs grown in the lagoon. The four-course menu (also called Vero) is vegan, but don’t let that put you off if you’re a meat-eater – dishes like risotto and retellings of Sant’Erasmo’s famous artichokes can convert even the most ardent carnivore. Alternatively, if you see the cappelletti of red-cow parmesan on the menu, grab it – the oozy, cheesy dumplings (like big tortellini) are served swimming in lobster consommé with lobster chunks on top.
What’s worth visiting nearby?
Plum on the Riva degli Schiavoni, this is right in the middle of the Venice – the one from the postcards – yet its location, by the Arsenale, mean’s it’s just far enough up the waterfront to avoid the crowds. You’re in a prime position to visit the Biennale, which is held between the Arsenale and the Giardini, a little further along the waterfront. And if the views out the window of San Giorgio Maggiore appeal, take a vaporetto from nearby San Zaccaria to the island with its Palladio-built church, and catch the lift up to the top of the belltower for jaw-dropper views of the lagoon.
📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Venice