This hotel restaurant is well worth staying over on Giudecca for, even if you’re not spending the night, a faux rustic Venetian canteen where you can sample cicchetti, and a glass of local wine in the company of welcoming and incredibly helpful, English-speaking staff led by the indomitable Giuseppe Russo. Combine that with the views across the canal and this is a pricey but pleasurable experience, especially for those new to Venice. Menus change regularly, but seafood, unsurprisingly, dominates. If available, order the crab and squid ink risotto, mixed fried fish, roasted mackerel or just a simple pasta with prawns, but don’t be afraid to create a meal from several cicchetti—these also change regularly, but the baccala (cod) mousse is a taste sensation.