 ‘Da
Aciugheta’ (translating into ‘tiny anchovy’ in
Italian) is a wine bar and a pizzeria and also serves Venetian cuisine.
Located in Hotel Rio in the bustling Filippo e Giacomo, this restaurant
lives up to the tag of having ‘One of the best wine bars in
Venice.’ Choicest selections of many Italian and Veneto wines
are served in style by wine expert Gianni Bonaccorsi. To keep one
occupied in between sips, Cicheti (bite-sized snacks and appetizers
such as meat-balls, small stuffed peppers and freshly baked pizzette
with anchovies) and a host of other delicacies like tiny pizzas,
stuffed red peppers and an exquisite selection of cheeses are served.
This reasonably priced restaurant has a merry atmosphere and Venetians
love to spend their evenings in the place. It is also worth noting
that several rooms in the hotel were once occupied by the famous
musical composer Antonio Vivaldi. Staying here is a pleasure as
the hotel is run by a pleasant team and one also gets a complimentary
breakfast in the restaurant.
The daily wine selection changes, but the local wines which are
found in plenty are always available not to mention some Tuscan
and Piedmontese choices which are also available. But despite all
this, it is the Cicheti that gets a mention in national and international
guides. The open air terrace further heightens the good feeling
of dining here and pizza lovers would love to taste the ones with
freshly chopped tomatoes and buffalo mozarellas and the variety
of local specialties.
The hotel can be easily reached from the Santa Lucia railway station
and also from the Piazzale Roma (bus and car terminal) by taking
the waterbus lines 1 or 51. Line 1 is slower but one can sink in
the wonderful views of the palaces overlooking the Grand Canal.
Taking Line 51 (aka the green line), one can reach the hotel in
about half and hour. From the airport one can take the shuttle boat
called ‘Alilaguna’ going to St Mark’s Square from
where one can walk to Aciugheta. A private water taxi can also be
arranged from the Airport but it is, justifiably so, considerably
more expensive.
Overall, it is to be said that Aciugheta is a not so costly a restaurant
and is one of the major attractions in Venice. |
