Even on a tight schedule, Cicchetti & Bacaro Crawl earns the hours.
Allow 1.5–3 hr.
Venice's true food culture isn't sit-down dinners — it's drifting between bacari for cicchetti (crostini, fried morsels, baccala mantecato) and a small glass of wine, standing at the bar or on the canal edge with locals after work. It's the best-value, most authentic way to eat in an expensive city. The catch: the best bacari are in Cannaregio/Rialto not San Marco, the touristy ones overcharge for sad toppings, and a guided crawl helps you skip the duds.
Price
~€1.5–4 per cicchetto, ~€1–4 per ombra; guided tour ~€60–90