ai Sportivi, Venice

We ate in ai Spertivi restaurant on both days of our visit to Venice. Venicec an be expensive for eating out as most restaurants are aimed at tourists and it is difficult to find where the locals eat. Ai Spertivi had good pizzas, wine and a nice atmosphere so it suited us fine.

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After the big European VT Meeting near Verona, I headed to Venice with fellow VT'ers jessica-b & HORSCHECK.

Upon arrival, we walked Jessica to her hotel, which was located in one of my favourite places in Venice, Campo Santa Margherita. Here was the home to the restaurant that all the guide books claim has the "best pizza in Venice", and I had always been keen to eat here, but hadn't made it on previous trips.

Finally I got my chance - we all had lunch at Pizzeria Ai Sportivi.

We only just made it though - we just managed to order our food before the end of lunch.....but I'm so glad we made it in time....we did get a little lost on the way there....but what do you expect in Venice!?

Favorite Dish: The pizza's were fabulous - and huge! We enjoyed a great lunch sitting in the piazza - it doesn't get much better than pizza and vino, with friends - in Italy!

*** Last visit was Sep 2007 - had another tasty lunch, this time with my parents. The pizzas were even bigger than I remembered!! ***

Very disappointed by this place - having read rave reviews of it on several sites, we went there in October 2007 and had a bad experience. There were plenty of tables outside, but we were ushered inside and then made to wait at the bar for a table. While we were standing there, we saw pizzas being brought to a table next to us, and they looked dry and unappetising. One of the orders was wrong, and it was returned, but the poor lass who returned it was forced to wait and watch her friends eating theirs for a very long time. Eventually a table became free, but the party which had come in behind us by several minutes got it ahead of us. The waiters' clothing was grubby and they did not seem, from our pretty good view at the bar, to have a grip on things. After a very long wait - no offer of a drink while we were waiting - we decided discretion was the better part of valour and left. We had a great meal at another restaurant on the Campo.

It was a nice and cosy little place and full of Italian families or groups of friends. We were told it was in not a very touristy area so the prices were a bit cheaper than you would find in the main areas...

We first came here to meet our friends Sandy(smith) & Dave, it was their recommendation. It's a very pleasant little bar/pizzeria and a good place to while away some time. Later we came back on our own, and after a few beers we fancied a 'snack'. We though 'if we get ONE pizza, we can sneakily share it'. When they brought it though, it was already cut in 1/2 and was on two plates. I think the guys here might be psychic or something! Be careful about what you're thinking, OK :-)

Favorite Dish: Pizza & Beer!

Friendly, timely service. Great atmosphere.

Favorite Dish: Lots of kinds of pizzas. We all ordered different types and sampled each others'.

Small restaurant in a small Campo. Simple and inexpensive.

Favorite Dish: You must try the pumpkin, rosemary pizza. The single best pizza I have had in my life.

My guide book reckoned this was "easily the best pizza in Venice", and who am I to argue??!

Favorite Dish: Pizza.....obviously...!