When in Treviso do as locals do: a quick food and restaurant guide to eat, and shop at local markets
If you travel to Treviso, a pictoresque town 40 km north of Venice, you can't miss eating like the locals do. Treviso is an excellent place to be for eating, and shopping at local markets. On top of its wonderful scenery, walks and sights, you can enjoy Treviso food scene which is exciting and varied. There are both luxury restaurants, and quick bite bars to suit all tastes and price ranges.
Traditional dishes are reinterpreted with innovative ideas to fit the new international trends. Local produce are in the spotlight, so you will have plenty of chances to taste Treviso culinary specialties. Local markets are also a good place to buy the local vegetable and fruit produce and have a feel of the huge variety of foods used in traditional dishes: from seafood to liver, from the local "casatella"
cheese to the famous local chicory called "radicchio di Treviso".
The charm of Treviso lies in that it is a little gem town, with amazing culture and art spots, but also in the fact that it can boast a tempting local cuisine and colourful local markets to splash out on. However, it is at Christmas that the local twinkling markets are towering with delicacies and stalls full of traditional cakes and turrons. Stop here if you want to gain an insight into what Treviso locals shop to prepare eat.
If you come to Northern Italy, you can't really miss a visit to Treviso: even Forbes indulged on the town charm in one of its articles in 2017!
Traditional dishes are reinterpreted with innovative ideas to fit the new international trends. Local produce are in the spotlight, so you will have plenty of chances to taste Treviso culinary specialties. Local markets are also a good place to buy the local vegetable and fruit produce and have a feel of the huge variety of foods used in traditional dishes: from seafood to liver, from the local "casatella"
cheese to the famous local chicory called "radicchio di Treviso".
The charm of Treviso lies in that it is a little gem town, with amazing culture and art spots, but also in the fact that it can boast a tempting local cuisine and colourful local markets to splash out on. However, it is at Christmas that the local twinkling markets are towering with delicacies and stalls full of traditional cakes and turrons. Stop here if you want to gain an insight into what Treviso locals shop to prepare eat.
If you come to Northern Italy, you can't really miss a visit to Treviso: even Forbes indulged on the town charm in one of its articles in 2017!
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| In Treviso you can find both luxury reataurants and quick bite bars to suit all tastes |
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| Treviso is a little gem town close to Venice where you can enjoy both amazing sights and local food |
Food
- Eat the famous "Tiramisù" at the Restaurant "Le Beccherie" where it was created
Osteria "Le Beccherie" where Tiramisù is said to have been invented first
The Italian Tiramisu has a long a titilating story to tell
Savour a spicy story by eating the creamy
"Tiramisu" (literally the name of the cake means “pick me up” in
Italian), the typical cake from Veneto (though the nearby Friuli Venezia Giulia
region claims the origin of the recipe!).
Head to the "Le Beccherie" restaurant where "Tiramisù" is said to have been invented. However, the titilating gossip goes that at the time of the Venetian Republic the soft cream in the cake made from mascarpone cheese, eggs and coffee was used to give energy and strength to the brothel-goers in Venice and Treviso. "Tiramisù" has a long story to tell!
- Enjoy a delicious pizza cooked in a the typical wood-oven at Pino's on the buzzing main square, Piazza dei Signori
Enjoy the buzzing atmosphere, pizza or spritz in Treviso main square, Piazza dei Signori
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Sit and eat a tasty pizza cooked in the traditional wood oven on Treviso buzzing main square, Piazza dei Signori, at Pino's.
Alternatively chill out over a spritz, the trendy aperitif that has become a
must-drink in Italy and all over the world.
On the square, all the locals stop, enjoy a chat and catch up with friends. As you watch passers-by and the local buzz, feel the vibrant atmosphere all around, especially during Christmas, when you are surrounded by the stalls laden with all sorts of goods on offer.
On the square, all the locals stop, enjoy a chat and catch up with friends. As you watch passers-by and the local buzz, feel the vibrant atmosphere all around, especially during Christmas, when you are surrounded by the stalls laden with all sorts of goods on offer.
- Taste the crunchiness of
Treviso "red gold", the Radicchio chicory, at the winter
exhibition called "Mostra del Radicchio IGP"
The "Radicchio" chicory is the red gold of Treviso which you can taste in winter
Before Christmas
you can enjoy free tastings of the Treviso "red gold" , as I call it.
The red gold is my nickname for the crunchy "Radicchio di Treviso": the red
chicory which can be tried out in different preparations under the canopy in
Piazza della Borsa in Treviso.
This special production method is thought to be very old as the painter Leandro da Bassano
painted two baskets of radicchio bunches in one of his famous painting, the Wedding at Cana,at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. Have a look at the bottom left corner of the painting!
Its method of production is quite special and takes a long time: first, the radicchio bunches are placed in cement tanks with spring water constantly flowing at 11 degrees. After 25 days in the tanks, the radicchio must be moved at a temperature of 22 degrees, and placed in sand. Following that, after 4 days they take the typical shape for which radicchio is well-known all over the world.
During the yearly exhibition called "Mostra del Radicchio IGP", Treviso celebrates one of the best winter vegetables from its
land. The red chicory is cultivated in many Veneto areas as it needs lots of water,
and both Treviso and the Veneto region are rich in water.
Under the huge canopy, there are stalls showcasing the several varieties of
radicchio, where you can buy the chicory to take home. Tastings of various radicchio preparations are generally
free. When the radicchio exhibition is over in Treviso, after
Christmas it goes on in many other towns of the Veneto region as a part of the festival "winter flowers".
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- Get a taste of the regional cuisine at the traditional "Hostaria due Torri"
If you want to have a traditional meal in a cosy place, head to "Hostaria Due Torri". It is a Michelin-recommended restaurant, so eating here does not come cheap. However, the restaurant is located in a fantastic place, just facing the Fishmarket, not far from "Casa dei Carraresi" and the comfortable rooms are overlooking the canal.
The thing that I liked most is the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that you don't have to wait long to be served, staff is friendly and tables are well- spaced. The menu offers a choice including fish, soups and of course, the typical Venetian "polenta", that is slowly boiled cornmeal.
The place was once known as "Due Mori" (two moors) because of the twin frescoes visible when you get in, the ancient symbol of the Venetian Republic, which extended its dominions over Treviso in 1400: the walls of this rustic house in date back to 15th century.
- Have a quick and affordable bite (here called"cicchetto")
in one of the most romantic corner
For a quick bite have a local "cicchetto" at "Osteria Acquasalsa"
On the outside, the restaurant is set in a romantic corner of the canal area; actually, the building used to be an old Medieval house. On the inside, it exudes character in its amazing rustic modern interior mix. Sit outside under the porch if the weather allows to do so.
Savour the typical “cicchetti” of Venetian origin: small titbits and snacks such as eggs with pickles, fried sardins, anchovies and butter, and many others that you can match with a long wine list of more than 50 different wines on offer.
It is the paradise of “cicchetti”! A traditional cuisine with a modern flare that you will not forget. At the end you can try a local "grappa", the strong grape-based liquor.
- If walls could talk at
"Osteria alla Colonna"...
"Osteria alla Colonna" was the meeting place for Treviso artists
There is a place
in Treviso, before you reach the "Buranelli" area, called
"Osteria alla Colonna" in Piazza Rinaldi. The place owes its name to
the bulky column which is still holding the roof of the venue. Outside a lovely
arcaded loggia dating 15th century. If its walls could talk they would tell us
many interesting stories about this restaurant!
In the past it was one of the most popular taverns in town, and a meeting place for artists from Treviso such as the sculptor Arturo Marini or the painter Gino Rossi, amongst many others. The place was well-known because, no matter whether it had been outlawed in 1931, the owner of the place used to serve a local legendary red wine called Clinton.
Today the place is a pricey restaurant, but I like to mention it because next door a local Count used to live in a stunning palace. The man's name was Count Tita Rinaldi. He was an iconic pleasure-seeker and well-known merrymaker in town: he spent his whole life and his fortunes organising tricks, jokes and fun games played against his fellow friends or citizens.
He died at 97, and for sure he lived so long because he celebrated life to the full: things in life can't be so tragic that cannot have a good laugh. A philosophy to be embraced.
In the past it was one of the most popular taverns in town, and a meeting place for artists from Treviso such as the sculptor Arturo Marini or the painter Gino Rossi, amongst many others. The place was well-known because, no matter whether it had been outlawed in 1931, the owner of the place used to serve a local legendary red wine called Clinton.
Today the place is a pricey restaurant, but I like to mention it because next door a local Count used to live in a stunning palace. The man's name was Count Tita Rinaldi. He was an iconic pleasure-seeker and well-known merrymaker in town: he spent his whole life and his fortunes organising tricks, jokes and fun games played against his fellow friends or citizens.
He died at 97, and for sure he lived so long because he celebrated life to the full: things in life can't be so tragic that cannot have a good laugh. A philosophy to be embraced.
- Shop at the local food markets. And at Christmas...treat yourself to gifts!
Christmas markets in Treviso offer a fine selection of gifts for any price range and taste
If you come to Treviso outside the Christmas period, you can see the locals shopping for the best vegetable and fruit on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in the town fruit and vegetables marketplace. Alternatively there is a market almost every day in town.
If you visit Treviso during Christmas, you can't help going to the Christmas markets in the town centre or in Borgo Mazzini. It's an explosion of colours and gifts for any price range and for all tastes.
You can treat yourself or friends to delicious local specialties, hot drinks such as the "vin brulè", the local mulled wine, cakes, fashion shoes, old books and Christmas decorations, embroideries and hand-made crafts of all sorts.
If you visit Treviso during Christmas, you can't help going to the Christmas markets in the town centre or in Borgo Mazzini. It's an explosion of colours and gifts for any price range and for all tastes.
You can treat yourself or friends to delicious local specialties, hot drinks such as the "vin brulè", the local mulled wine, cakes, fashion shoes, old books and Christmas decorations, embroideries and hand-made crafts of all sorts.
- Pay a visit to the Fishmarket in the
morning if you are a seafood fan
The Fishmarket where in the morning you buy fresh fish or just stroll around amongst the stalls
Every morning at
the local Fishmarket (next to Casa dei Carraresi) in the Buranelli area, you can shop for local fish,
or just wander through the shining displays and arrays of fresh fish: from seafood to
eels, to turbots, brims and basses, and many other more.
Buy your lunch here if you are a seafood fan and match it with a glass of local Prosecco wine. There is a Venetian proverb which goes: fish has to swim three times, first in water, then in oil and, finally, in wine!
Would you like to learn more about Treviso and surroundings? Please visit Treviso tourist office website by clicking here.
"Ripley's Game" by Liliana Cavani.
Buy your lunch here if you are a seafood fan and match it with a glass of local Prosecco wine. There is a Venetian proverb which goes: fish has to swim three times, first in water, then in oil and, finally, in wine!
In brief
- Getting there
Treviso can be easily reached via its airport called "Antonio Canova", 5 km out of town. Major airlines fly into Treviso airport which covers both domestic and international routes.
From here you can take buses to Treviso town centre, or Mestre railway station, from where you can reach Venice. You can hire a car at Treviso or Venice airport car rent.
For further information, please visit Treviso airport website. If you wish to visit Venice and reach it by train from Treviso train station, please go to Trenitalia website for an updated timetable.
- More information
Would you like to learn more about Treviso and surroundings? Please visit Treviso tourist office website by clicking here.
- Just for fun
Books set in Treviso
"The Broker" by John Grisham.Films set in or around Treviso
"The Consequences of Love" by Paolo Sorrentino"Ripley's Game" by Liliana Cavani.