Best Luxury Dining Elite Restaurants in Venice
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Felix Trattoria
Handmade pasta crafted in a visible, temperature-controlled laboratorio.
Notable Picks
8.8
Evan Funke’s pasta temple centers a glass-walled laboratorio, turning out regional Italian shapes with taut textures and deep sauces. Reservations are coveted; couples come for handmade pastas, an Italian-leaning wine list, and low-lit buzz.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e Pepe, Pappardelle Ragù, Sfincione
What Makes it Special: Handmade pasta crafted in a visible, temperature-controlled laboratorio.
#2
Barrique
8.6
Chef Antonio Murè’s townhouse restaurant leans romantic, with Northern-leaning pastas, tableside warmth, and a serious cellar. It’s a quieter, candlelit setting tailored to conversation and lingering courses.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tagliolini al Tartufo, Red Beet Tagliolini with Quail Ragù, Tiramisù
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven pastas in a charming 1900s house with intimate rooms.
#3
Ōwa
8.4
A sleek Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar where nigiri, crudo, and signature maki meet serious drinks. The room skews polished and intimate—ideal for a more elevated sushi night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tokusen Sushi Omakase (7-piece), Chu-Toro Crudo, Ōwa Spicy Hotate Roll
What Makes it Special: Refined nigiri and sashimi program paired to a craft cocktail bar.
8.4
Almond-wood grilled steaks anchor this moody Rose Avenue steakhouse (est. 2019) with a lively bar and polished, neighborhood feel. Couples come for expertly cooked ribeyes, strong sides, and a patio that works for low-lit dates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bone-In Ribeye, New York Strip, Grilled Artichoke
What Makes it Special: Almond-wood grilling and a deep steak program in a stylish room.
8.1
Chef Sydney Hunter III (Petit Trois, L'Orangerie) brings dry-aged prime cuts and French-trained technique to this intimate Venice newcomer. The 12oz prime rib cap 'Venice Steak' and Comté scalloped potatoes draw neighborhood regulars and celebration seekers to the wood-paneled dining room and heated garden patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime Rib Cap 'Venice Steak', Scalloped Potatoes with Comté, Hamachi Crudo
What Makes it Special: James Beard-nominated chef executing dry-aged prime beef in a Venice Beach fine dining setting