Venissa

Far away from the tourist hordes, Venissa is situated in a small walled vineyard dating back to the Middle Ages – complete with 14C belltower – on the small island of Mazzorbo, a magical setting which is perfect for a short stroll before settling down to eat. In addition to the Dorona di Venezia vineyard, the restaurant also has a kitchen garden which provides most of its vegetables, including unusual varieties such as “castraure”, a type of local artichoke. Once out of the garden, you come to a small wooden bridge which links Mazzorbo to neighbouring Burano, where you can complete your visit to the lagoon by exploring the lacemakers’ shops and admiring the colourful local houses. The main focus here, however, is the cuisine – and excellent cuisine it is too! Chefs Chiara Pavan and Francesco Brutto describe their dishes as “ambientale” (environmental) because of the close connection between the lagoon and the Upper Adriatic: the menu features plenty of fish and vegetables and almost no meat. Guests choose their number of courses and the dishes come as a surprise, accompanied by organic wine pairings. At the Osteria Contemporanea next door the dishes are simpler but still full of flavour.

1. Unique Terroir: Venissa's white wine boasts aromas of sandbank honey, maritime mugwort, and white peach due to its unique terroir. 2. Dorona Grape Revival: The restaurant has revived the legendary golden grape of the Venetian doges, Dorona, which was thought to be lost for centuries. 3. Innovative Cuisine: The Michelin-starred restaurant offers avant-garde haute cuisine with 90% of raw materials coming from the Venetian lagoon, especially from Sant’Erasmo island and the on-site vegetable garden.

Tasting Menus

• 7 Course Menu: €180
• 10 Course Menu: €250

Signature Dishes

• Yellow tomatoes, aubergines, onions and castraure artichokes are grown using traditional methods in vegetable gardens tended by the island’s local inhabitants who supply this restaurant. In addition, depending on the location and level of salt in the soil, various herbs and flowers typical of the lagoon are also used to add flavour to Chiara and Francesco’s dishes.

Wine Pairings

• Organic wine pairings available