Hostaria Castello — Restaurant in Venice

If you are seeking an unforgettable dining experience amidst the enchanting city of Venice, Hostaria Castello is an absolute gem that should not be missed. Nestled within the historic district of Castello, this restaurant seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, taking guests on a delectable culinary journey through the flavors of Italy.

From the moment our party stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the attentive staff who exuded genuine hospitality.

For appetizers, we had the creamed calamari with pine nuts as well as the spinach and ricotta ravioli. The dishes offered delightful combinations of textures and flavors that set the bar high for the rest of the meal.

Moving on to the main course, I opted for the potato gnocchi whereas my sister and my mom had the scallop tagliatelle and roasted pork, respectively. The dishes were really tasty but the serving sizes were rather small to be honest.

There was a heatwave during that day so we all opted to cool down with aperol spritz. It definitely helped cool our body temperatures down.

For dessert, we opted for the creamy tiramisu, meringue with berries, and the chocolate souffle. I was a good way to finish the meal.

Overall, the dishes were amazing and the service was outstanding. We would have appreciated it more if the servings were generous but we noted that the food places in Venice tend to offer smaller servings by default. The prices were on the higher side too but I feel that this is more of a Venice thing being on the overpriced side rather than the restaurant itself.

Would still come back though provided we have enough money to dine...

We found this place on Michelin Guide and then looked through the menu online and noticed some really interesting dishes that caught our eye. Service was incredibly attentive. We never once had to pour our own glass and each time I got up, my napkin was folded. We came to Venice, during the off season, so there weren’t many people in the restaurant and I do enjoy a full bustling restaurant. However, considering the food quality service quality, this was no deterrent for us this time. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the food speaks for itself! I apologize for uploading partial photos of my meal, but I didn’t think to photograph them until I was halfway through each dish because they were just that good 😂. We started with the Caprese salad served as a stuffed tomato. One of the most interesting presentations of the Caprese say we’ve ever had. Then we continued with. The Gnocchi Cacio E Pepe with squid in black ink sauce, absolutely astounding! We got the Tagliatelle with Scallops in a pesto pistachio sauce - wow! And then we finished with Cappucino di patate cuttlefish- so unique 👌🏻. And landed with the Tuna steak. I’m writing this review a couple days later and I think we’re still full for this meal 😂

We did not do dessert but this meal was one for the memory books! I could not recommend this place more highly definitely give it a try. We also highly recommend a reservation, I’m sure this place is booked solid during the...

A sophisticated yet demurred restaurant

Off the path away from Piazza San Marco, take a walk over to Hostaria Castello. This gem has few tables, which adds to the intimate, dim feel as you enter (opened only from the interior, nice little touch!).

Visually impressive and a well-stocked bar, first impressions camr with heightened expectations. Unsurprisingly they delivered. Our service was of haute quality; a warm reception, wonderful serving recommendations, and attentive detailing.

We started with sautéed squid with fennel cream, flavored with bourbon vanilla and toasted almonds (as amazing as it sounds) and the beef carpaccio, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and parmesan reggiano chips. Each appetizer whetting the appetite. We moved to the mains, which included Risotto with tomatoes, burrata and raw prawns and the homemade tagliatelle with scallops, pistachio pesto and tomatoes. Distinctive dishes, artfully constructed, and well presented and plenty of Pinot Nero. Kudos to our service who made the experience all the better. Not to outdo themselves- another thrill was the dolci soft chocolate pie, resting wonderfully in a passion fruit sauce. Sweet, gooey, rich chocolate complemented by the tart, savory passion fruit, only heightened our overall dining expectations. An excellent way to top off our service.

Reservations are recommended given the less-than-dozen tables. We will be back as Hostaria is...