Where to Eat Frittelle in Venice During Carnival

A guide to historic pastry shops, neighborhoods, and traditions worth tasting

Venice Carnival 2026

Venice Carnival is one of those moments when the city shifts its rhythm.

Masks once again fill the calli and campi, movements slow down, and the atmosphere becomes more theatrical. Alongside official events and performances, however, a more everyday and authentic side of Carnival endures—one made of simple habits shared by locals and visitors alike.

One of these is stopping, at least once a day, to eat a frittella.

The Venetian frittella: a ritual that repeats itself

The frittella is the symbolic dessert of the Venetian Carnival.

Originally a popular treat sold on the streets by fritoleri, it is still closely tied to the idea of an open-air celebration, informal and communal.

Soft, fragrant fried dough—traditionally with raisins and pine nuts, or in richer variations—the frittella is eaten standing up, with your hands, perhaps between one walk and the next.

And searching for it is very much part of the Carnival experience.

This guide does not aim to establish rankings or declare winners, but rather to highlight a selection of reliable addresses where frittelle are prepared with care and consistency, helping visitors find their way through the city.

Where to stop: pastry shops and bakeries to know

Pasticceria Rizzardini
A solid reference point for those looking for the Venetian frittella in its most essential form. Balanced dough, clean frying, and great respect for tradition.

Pasticceria Rosa Salva
A historic name in the city, ideal for an elegant pause in the heart of Venice. Their frittelle maintain a recognizable and restrained style.

Pasticceria Tonolo
Highly appreciated for richer versions, such as those filled with custard. A perfect stop in a lively, authentic part of the city.

Pasticceria Bonifacio
An excellent choice for tasting variations like zabaglione, always within the boundaries of Venetian tradition.

Panificio Pasticceria Majer
More delicate offerings, such as ricotta-filled frittelle. Interesting for those who enjoy exploring less predictable interpretations.

Pasticceria Targa
An address worth noting for its consistent quality and careful selection of ingredients.

Where to find them, district by district

San Marco – Rosa Salva
San Polo / Santa Croce – Rizzardini, Targa
Dorsoduro – Tonolo
Cannaregio – Bonifacio
Giudecca – Majer

The advice is simple: try more than one, perhaps changing districts, and let Carnival itself guide you.

A curiosity: the Frittella Contest 2026

Alongside the official Carnival events, there is also a more spontaneous and participatory dimension that directly involves residents and enthusiasts.

This year once again sees the return of the contest dedicated to the Venetian frittella, promoted by the Andrea Barbarigo Professional Institute, in collaboration with the Association of Local Shopkeepers, the Municipality of Venice, and Ca’ Foscari University.

The format promoted by the blog Veneziani a Tavola is simple and distinctly Venetian: reporting, telling stories, and sharing where the most interesting frittelle in the city can be found, giving visibility to pastry shops and bakeries that keep this tradition alive. Not a formal competition, but a collective mapping of taste, built through the firsthand experiences of those who live Venice every day.

Adding to its recognizability is the presence, as ambassador, of MENAROSTO, also known as Sir Oliver Skardy—historic voice of Venetian reggae with Pitura Freska and a figure deeply connected to the city’s popular identity.

As Fabio Busetto, the contest’s creator, explains, the value of this initiative lies not in proclaiming an absolute “best,” but in telling the story of a community, highlighting a widespread quality, and suggesting delicious itineraries through neighborhoods, workshops, and local habits. A contemporary—and very Venetian—way of experiencing Carnival through social media as well.