Locanda Cipriani

There would be no Venice if not for the island of Torcello. In the 5th century, long before Venice became a powerful empire, Torcello was settled by Romans who were fleeing a barbarian invasion. Today, the island has less than 20 permanent residents, but in 1935, the owner of Harry’s Bar took over a tavern on the island. He transformed it into Locanda Cipriani, a place everybody from Ernest Hemingway to Princess Diana has visited. You’ll get to eat the freshest fish and cold plates of vitello tonnato in a lush garden where there are plenty of vines and a covered pergola. During the winter there’s a warm dining room with a fireplace, but know that Locanda Cipriani is usually closed from mid-January until mid-February.