Rio Novo

Savor authentic Venetian seafood and pizza at this charming canal-side spot. Enjoy a 4.6-star dining experience with exquisite dishes and impeccable service. Reserve your table!

Seafood · Italian$$4.6(5,264)Venice

Casual venue featuring seafood, pasta & pizzas, plus terrace dining with canal views.

About Rio Novo

Nestled along a picturesque Venetian canal, this restaurant offers a delightful dining experience for those seeking fresh, authentic flavors. With an impressive 4.6/5 rating from over 5,000 diners, it's clear this establishment excels. Patrons rave about the exquisite seafood, with particular praise for the shrimp spaghetti and branzino, alongside a "must-try" tiramisu described as light and satisfying. The atmosphere is enhanced by its canal-side seating, providing a truly romantic setting. Impeccable service is a consistent highlight, with staff noted for their attentiveness, even accommodating requests to move diners closer to the water. The $$ price range makes it an accessible yet special option for enjoying Venetian cuisine.

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Restaurant Analysis

Restaurant Characteristics

Formula-Based Analysis

This restaurant has been analyzed using our formula-based system to help you understand its key features and match it with your dining preferences.

💰Price Range
Moderate
🕐Meal Time
dinner
👥Group Size
Groups Welcome
🎭Atmosphere
Outdoor
🍽️Dining Style
Flexible
Features & Amenities
Outdoor Seating
Cocktails
Beer
Wine
+4 more

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Why Travelers Love Rio Novo

Sourced from recent guest feedback and verified reviews.

4.6 / 5.0(5,264 reviews)

Visiting Venice for the first time and saw this place because we wanted to have fresh seafood by the canal— dream accomplished! HIGHLY recommend the shrimp spaghetti and branzino. And the tiramisu is a MUST, so light, fluffy, and satisfying. service was impeccable, even going so far as to move us to a table closer to the water!! Free limoncello for digestion at the end sealed the deal. we will definitely be back our next trip :) Not sure if Venice isn’t known for pasta dishes or what, but I had gnocchi with meat sauce and my husband had the Lasagne. Both had the same sauce, and it reminded me of Chef Boyardee sauce. Would rate 0 stars if I could. Not good at all. So disappointing while in Italy for vacation. Totally wasted a meal! And I’m really not hard to please, I swear. Edit, they did give us our entire meal for no charge, we felt bad, because the cheese plate was nice and the wine was good. Service was also good but with much insistence to pay they still refused to take any money . I’m guessing they saw my review that I left as I sat at the table I came here after reading google reviews. Ordered what everyone did- spaghetti in squid 🦑 ink sauce, grilled fish with salad and wine. Like everywhere else water comes in bottle €4. Wine 🍷 is €5. I’m surprised the 12% service charge was added already to my bill. I ate at the restaurant next to it and other fancy restaurants in Italy and there’s no service charge even for my big group. The mains are €3-5 cheaper just steps away. The food and service was good but the mandatory service charge left me with a bad taste. ( while we tip a lot more than that in Canada and USA, the practice is not common in Europe).

Find the Restaurant

Where to Find Them

Fondamenta, Calle de Ca' Bernardo, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Open Now
Monday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Recent Reviews

Nitin D.

November 2, 2025

Visiting Venice for the first time and saw this place because we wanted to have fresh seafood by the canal— dream accomplished! HIGHLY recommend the shrimp spaghetti and branzino. And the tiramisu is a MUST, so light, fluffy, and satisfying. service was impeccable, even going so far as to move us to a table closer to the water!! Free limoncello for digestion at the end sealed the deal. we will definitely be back our next trip :)

Erin M.

September 25, 2025

Not sure if Venice isn’t known for pasta dishes or what, but I had gnocchi with meat sauce and my husband had the Lasagne. Both had the same sauce, and it reminded me of Chef Boyardee sauce. Would rate 0 stars if I could. Not good at all. So disappointing while in Italy for vacation. Totally wasted a meal! And I’m really not hard to please, I swear. Edit, they did give us our entire meal for no charge, we felt bad, because the cheese plate was nice and the wine was good. Service was also good but with much insistence to pay they still refused to take any money . I’m guessing they saw my review that I left as I sat at the table

Emanuel L.

September 9, 2025

I came here after reading google reviews. Ordered what everyone did- spaghetti in squid 🦑 ink sauce, grilled fish with salad and wine. Like everywhere else water comes in bottle €4. Wine 🍷 is €5. I’m surprised the 12% service charge was added already to my bill. I ate at the restaurant next to it and other fancy restaurants in Italy and there’s no service charge even for my big group. The mains are €3-5 cheaper just steps away. The food and service was good but the mandatory service charge left me with a bad taste. ( while we tip a lot more than that in Canada and USA, the practice is not common in Europe).

Stephanie H.

October 10, 2025

Best food experience overall in Italy! 👌🏻 From the moment we walked in, the food and the entire service were top notch! Big thanks to our server Max for turning this dinner into a highlight of our trip to Italy! 🇮🇹 couldn’t recommend this place enough! Stay far away from the tourist traps in the center of Venice and come here!!!

Gurv

June 26, 2025

The food was decent. Not bad, but nothing blew me away either. The service was really great, and the view is fantastic. A bunch of online lists will tell you to hit this spot for a good patio, but there are actually a ton of restaurants in Venice with similar views and patios. Food is defo better at some of them.

What to Expect

Features and amenities that make Rio Novo special

Outdoor Seating

Cocktails

Beer

Wine

Coffee

Family Friendly

Groups Welcome

Reservations

Practical Information

Everything you need to know before you visit

Payment Options

Credit Cards
Debit Cards
NFC/Contactless

Accessibility

Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
Wheelchair Accessible Seating

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