Thanksgiving in Venice: Where to Eat, What’s Open, and Italian Alternatives to Turkey

Thanksgiving might be one of the most American holidays, but spending it in Venice transforms the tradition into something unforgettable. Instead of pine forests and autumn leaves, you get mirrored canals glowing under soft November light. Instead of crowded dining rooms, you savor warm, elegant Venetian trattorie. And instead of turkey and pumpkin pie, you discover Italy’s own seasonal comfort foods — dishes that feel just as festive, meaningful, and deeply satisfying.

Venice in late November is quiet, atmospheric, and perfect for a holiday escape. The fog rolls in, the first Christmas lights appear, St. Mark’s Square starts glowing with Murano chandeliers, and the lagoon shifts into its magical winter rhythm. Whether you want a traditional Thanksgiving-style meal, an Italian feast, or a meaningful cultural alternative, this guide explains exactly what to expect. Here’s where to eat, what’s open, what Venetians eat in late November, and how to celebrate Thanksgiving in Venice like a local.

What Venice Is Like During Thanksgiving Week

The week of Thanksgiving falls during one of Venice’s most peaceful periods. Crowds thin out dramatically after early November, temperatures cool, and fog becomes a regular (and beautiful) companion. You can expect daytime highs of 8–12°C (46–53°F), crisp evenings, and that soft lagoon light photographers dream about. Museums are open, churches are quieter, restaurants more relaxed, and the city enters one of its most intimate phases.

You’ll also see traces of the recent Feast of Madonna della Salute on November 21, one of the most emotional days in the Venetian calendar. Candle vendors, chestnut stands, and the last castradina pots in trattorie remind you that Venice celebrates November through food, memory, and slow seasonal rituals. If you want to understand how locals live this period, the long-form article Venice Like a Local offers the perfect introduction.

Are Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day?

Yes. Since Thanksgiving is not an Italian holiday, restaurants operate normally — which is great news for travelers. Most trattorie and osterie serve their standard menus, rich with autumn specialties: pumpkin risotto, Venetian fish stews, roasted meats, fresh seafood, and seasonal vegetables from the lagoon. Some hotels and international restaurants prepare special Thanksgiving menus for American guests, often featuring turkey, stuffing and pies, but with a Venetian twist.

Here’s what to expect:

• Local trattorie — open, serving their regular late-autumn menus
• Seafood restaurants — open and excellent in November, when lagoon produce is at peak flavor
• Upscale hotel restaurants — many offer Thanksgiving menus
• Bacari (wine bars) — open as usual, perfect for a Thanksgiving cicchetti crawl

The only thing you must do is reserve in advance. Venice is quiet in late November, but Thanksgiving week brings a noticeable number of American travelers looking for a special dinner.

Where to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Venice

If you’re hoping for something festive, elegant, or comfort-driven, Venice gives you several paths. Whether you want a Thanksgiving-style feast or a full immersion into Venetian culinary tradition, here are the best options.

1. Traditional Venetian Trattorie (Local Favorite)

This is the most authentic way to spend Thanksgiving in Venice. Instead of turkey, you enjoy dishes that Venetians actually eat in late November: seppie in umido (cuttlefish stew), pumpkin ravioli, polenta and game, roasted duck, or radicchio risotto. These meals warm you from the inside out and match the spirit of the season perfectly. Expect candlelight, wooden tables, slow service, and true Venetian atmosphere.

2. Restaurants Offering Thanksgiving Menus

A handful of hotel restaurants and upscale dining rooms prepare Thanksgiving-themed meals. These menus often include turkey, cranberry-inspired sauces, seasonal vegetables, and reinterpretations of American holiday dishes made with Italian ingredients. The result is Thanksgiving with Venetian elegance.

3. Seafood Restaurants

November is one of the best seafood months of the year in Venice. Shrimp, scallops, soft-shell crabs (moleche), oysters, and Adriatic fish reach peak quality. A seafood-based Thanksgiving may feel untraditional, but it’s profoundly Venetian — and many locals choose exactly this kind of meal for festive occasions.

4. Cicchetti and Wine Bars

If you prefer something relaxed, Thanksgiving cicchetti can be perfect: plates of polpette, creamy baccalà mantecato, fried zucchini, grilled scallops, schie with polenta, and autumn vegetable dishes paired with local wines. It’s social, flavorful, and a fun alternative to the classic feast.

Italian Alternatives to Turkey (And Why They Work)

Turkey is not a traditional Italian ingredient, so Venetians do not roast one in late November. Instead, they embrace dishes that reflect the season, the lagoon, and the cold weather. These are the most fitting alternatives for Thanksgiving:

Roasted Duck or Guinea Fowl

Rich, flavorful, and festive — duck and guinea fowl are the perfect Italian substitutes for turkey. Venetians roast them with herbs, citrus and white wine, often paired with polenta or roasted potatoes.

Pumpkin Risotto

Zucca marina di Chioggia, the local pumpkin, becomes velvety and sweet in risotto form. Gold-colored, warming, and deeply seasonal, it feels like the Venetian version of Thanksgiving comfort food.

Seppie in Umido

The famous Venetian cuttlefish stew, slow-cooked with tomato, wine and bay leaves, is perfect for November. Pair it with soft polenta and you have a holiday meal that Venetians adore.

Bigoli in Salsa

Thick whole-wheat pasta tossed with onions and anchovies. It’s simple, hearty and full of flavor. Locals associate it with family dinners and colder evenings.

Game Dishes

Pheasant, rabbit, and venison appear on many late-autumn menus across the Veneto. These dishes feel festive, rustic and ideal for celebratory meals — almost like an Italian Thanksgiving interpretation.

Castradina (Near November 21)

If you’re in Venice right around the Feast of Madonna della Salute, the traditional castradina appears on menus: smoked lamb stewed with Savoy cabbage. It’s hearty, symbolic and full of history — an unforgettable alternative to turkey during Thanksgiving week.

What’s Open in Venice on Thanksgiving Day?

Everything. Since Thanksgiving is not recognized in Italy, the city follows a normal schedule. You’ll find museums, shops, restaurants, coffee bars and churches operating as usual. This makes Thanksgiving one of the easiest days to explore Venice.

If you want to visit St. Mark’s Basilica without long lines, Thanksgiving week is ideal — and the best option is to secure a St. Mark’s Basilica ticket so you walk straight in and enjoy the mosaics glowing under soft November light.

Thanksgiving Weather & Atmosphere

Late November in Venice is crisp, moody and romantic. Fog in the morning, glowing canals in the afternoon, calm evenings, and the city starting to dress for winter. It’s the period when locals return to favorite bacari, children start anticipating Christmas lights, and the lagoon enters its magic phase. If you want to understand the atmosphere of Venice during this time of year, exploring with a local guide gives you an entirely different perspective. One of the best-performing and most immersive options is the Explore Venice Off the Beaten Path – Orientation Tour, perfect for discovering hidden corners, authentic food spots and the real Venice behind the scenes.

Best Thanksgiving Walks in Venice

Thanksgiving afternoon is perfect for slow walks across the quieter sestieri. Wander through Dorsoduro’s calm canals, explore Castello’s neighborhoods, stroll Zattere at sunset, or cross Rialto after the market closes. Venice in late November feels soft, reflective and intimate — the perfect atmosphere for a holiday of gratitude.

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