Venissa

Situated on the island of Mazzorbo, Venissa is one of the most distinctive food and wine destinations in the Venetian lagoon. The estate is built around an ancient walled vineyard, where Dorona, Venice’s only native grape, has been revived after centuries of near-extinction.

The Michelin-starred restaurant is the heart of the project. Chefs Chiara Pavan and Francesco Brutto define their approach as “environmental” cuisine: a kitchen in close dialogue with the lagoon and the northern Adriatic, built around vegetables, fish, and no meat. Around 90% of the ingredients come from the lagoon itself, including the estate’s own garden.

For a more relaxed experience, the Osteria Contemporanea offers the same ethos in a more informal setting, under the portico looking out onto the vineyard. The menu features creative cicchetti, seasonal pasta and rice dishes, and fish and seafood from the garden, paired with a wine list that favours independent and unconventional producers.