Il Grifone — Local services in Venice

This is undisputably the best place to go for leather goods in Venice. While you can find questionable manufactured leather goods shops all over Venice, particularly as you get closer to San Marco, you'd be missing out if you didn't come here instead (Venice isn't that big so just take a little walk). This place is both a storefront and workshop where the master leathermaker and his son do their work and create artisan leather goods at really reasonable prices. To be honest, the quality of both the materials and the craftsmanship alone would set this shop apart from any others in Venice but what will make you fall in love with the work and the place is how genuine, kind, and patient the owner and his son are. I was looking to get some leather goods for myself and as gifts and they both were so helpful every moment of it (and I spent a good hour or two in the tiny shop with them). I found a belt I liked and that fit right but I prefer stitching on my belts, so they grabbed the belt, dismantled it, walked a few feet into their workshop and stitched it on the spot for me - free of charge. My wife was curious about whether a strap could be added to a briefcase for her brother and they seemed to be happy to modify the bag so it was just right and she was happy. The odd thing is, I genuinely don't believe we we're getting special treatment here for some reason, I think the owners are skilled, proud of their work, and generous to everyone who walks in the doors. Lastly, the thing that really topped it off for me was when my wife asked the maestro if he could make a leather work apron for my brother (who actually uses one for work). And he so kindly agreed to make a special piece like that for us - I should just clarify, they don't sell leather aprons. With really reasonable prices for the quality of the leather, quality of craftsmanship, and quality of people, I sincerely do not know why you'd go anywhere else in Venice for...

You can easily buy a belt or a bag or a laptop sleeve on amazon. Or in a store close to your home. Or even in one of the many stores in Venice. What you cannot buy, and what makes this store so unbelievably special, is that you can buy these things there, in a shop with a flimsy double door, which opens to a world of smells and things to see. Il Grifone is a wonderland. In Covid-times, you need to lift your mask and take a deep breath to experience this smell. Then an elderly gentleman emerges from the back, smiling, sporting a worn leather apron, and you realise that everything in this room has been handmade by this man. Add the wonderful craftsmanship and the truly moderate prizes, and you might just come to understand that this is one of the very few shops in the world, where you get something truly unique: A handmade item, created with love and knowledge by a master of his craft. Screw a 5000 Euro Hermés bag. Everyone can get those. You come to Venice and visit Il Grifone, because this is the only place where you can experience this. And if you ask really nice, maybe the master shows you his shop, where your item...

I always visit this shop when I'm in Venice to get my genuine Italian leather bags and accessories. The old artisan, Nic, who makes and works here, is a lovely gentleman who looks after his customers with love. The care and attention to detail are shown through his craft, and I believe I've never had better soft leather bags than the ones I've bought from here. And the colours! I bought my purple-crazy husband a side bag, and he says it's his best bag ever!

I'm not sure about their online shop. I'm not sure if it's still functioning as my money was returned for an item I'd purchased online. That was confusing.

Don't visit Venice without visiting here. The closest vaporetto stop is San Toma, with an 8 minute walk to find it. Each piece is beautiful, though I how they sort their...