Salizada San Antonin 3499, 30122 Venezia (Castello), Italia +39.041.5220861

AboutUs

From the passion for hospitality gained working in the best European hotels, Gianfranco Gasparini took over the Hostaria from Franz in 1984. After almost 30 years at the Giardini della Biennale, the Gasparini family moved the restaurant to the Arsenale area, closer to the heart of the city but remaining out of the tourist flow in a secluded but easily accessible corner. Over the years, the Hostaria da Franz has become one of the most popular places in the city, a corner of rare charm reported by the most renowned national and international food guides, loved and frequented by many celebrities visiting the lagoon city.
Maurizio Gasparini, inherited from his father the passion for the tradition and history of this magnificent city and its islands, today, after several years spent in the best hotels in London joined the Staff his son Gianluca, a young professional Sommelier who among the few tables (only 32 seats) entertains and involves lovers of good food and good drinking.

TheReviews

TheNew York Times

In Castello, the Hostaria da Franz a family-run trattoria, takes pride in its unusual variations on traditional Venetian fare. Especially good are the antipasti, which include capesante, shrimp with capers, and moscardini with balsamic vinegar.

LeFigaro

L’un des meilleurs restaurants de poissons de Venise, l’une des meilleures caves de vins italiens et l’une des plus belles clientèles d’habitués. Rien de plus à ajouter pour cette osteria respectant rigoureusement la tradition culinaire vénitienne. Coup de cœur : les spaghettis aux crevettes et les exquises anguilles grillées.
Rêver de visiter la Sérénissime sans ses 25 millions de touristes annuels, c’est un peu comme l’imaginer sans sa lagune. Pourtant, la belle recèle tant de secrets d’initiés… à découvrir le temps d’un week-end à contre-courant.

Seafood business

Anthony Fletcher

The high-end Hostaria da Franz, not far from the famous St. Mark’s Square, has become a Venetian institution. Its establishment reflects the city’s history of travel and international relations; it was opened by Franz Habeler, a young Austro-Hungarian army soldier who came to Venice more than 200 years ago, and for the past three decades has been run by the Gasparini family. Celebrating Venetian cuisine remains the core of the operation.

“Our menu always consists of local recipes,” says Maurizio Gasparini, owner. “I visit the fish market every day. When my father took over the restaurant 30 years ago, he was the chef, and he still supervises the purchases from the fishmongers.” The Rialto market overflows with catches of the day, from tiny snails called bovoleti to turbot.

The restaurant caters to international visitors as much as locals. “It’s true, and we try to decide on a menu that can satisfy all,” he says. “It’s not always easy to find tastes that suit all the people.” But Gasparini believes that by staying true to their Venetian roots and offering guests a truly exceptional experience, diners will welcome the chance to perhaps try something a little different.

“We are used to having famous actors and politicians dine with us, so we are used to paying attention to customers. Tradition is very important, but to be successful, you also need to know how to treat customers,” he says.

The restaurant does not advertise its menu online, as it changes on a regular basis, depending on what is available at the market. On a typical day, the menu might contain six to eight appetizers, five to six entrées and a choice of pasta dish.

“For starters at the moment, I might recommend the ‘sarde in soar’ – an old Jewish recipe of deep-fried sardines placed in a marinade of vinegar, onions and raisins,” says Gasparini. “This takes four to five days before to serve. This is a very special plate, as it’s part of our cultural history.” Another famous appetizer would be baccala, dried and salted cod that in Venice is prepared with milk. A popular snack is the small local octopus, prepared in a wine soup.

Then there is the pasta course. “A typical Venetian plate would be ‘bigoli in salsa,’ consisting of anchovies, onions, olive oil. We also have casarecci — homemade pasta flavored with orange peel and served with sea scallops.”

The entrées always feature all four cooking styles. “This is a fish restaurant,” says Gasparini. “So we have grilled, salted, fried and oven-baked. Our grilled dish at the moment is saltwater eel, while we also offer sea bream and thyme fried in tempura. Rombo (turbot) is breaded with bacon lard and cooked in the oven, while we also have a sea bass, marinated in orange and lemon juice and served in olive oil.”

TheIndependent

Chris Patten

It’s off the beaten track, where the Venetians live. The restaurant is in Castello, with washing hanging everywhere! The food and service is impeccable. Had a really long Sunday lunch.

Elmundo

De muy buen nivel: pescados del Adriático verdaderos, risotto de ostras, gnocchi con espinacas y gambas y magníficos vinos de Friuli-Venezia-Giulia como el blanco de uva ribolla gialla, una rareza autóctona.

Zagat

Hostaria da Franz takes its name from Franz Habeler, a young Austro-Hungarian army soldier who adoptedVeniceas his home and turned what was once a rope shop into his business, serving fish and wine he bought from local farmers and fishermen. Today, Hostaria da Franz has become one of the most famous seafood restaurants in Venice, signaled by the best gastronomical guides, where chef Gianfranco and his son Maurizio prepare delicious freed seafood delicacies.

MichelinGuide

Nel sestiere di Castello, fuori delle rotte turistiche, un ristorante classico di atmosfera rustica, gestione familiare, con specialità di mare. L’Hostaria Da Franz propone un’ottima cucina tradizionale veneziana. Da provare assolutamente magari la sera. Maurizio, “Franz” per tutti, propone le freschezze della Laguna nella più rigorosa tradizione veneziana abbinando alternative di ricercata creatività. Da provare l’anguilla alla griglia.

Essen& Trinken

Das Hostaria da Franz ist ein bescheiden erscheinendes Lokal mit gutem Essen. Das Lokal wurde in Venedig und der ganzen Welt bekannt. Als eines der besten Restaurants für Meeresfrüchte ist es in zahlreichen Speiseführen und gastronomischen Fachzeitschriften aufgeführt. Seine warmen und eleganten Räumlichkeiten bieten Platz für bis zu 40 Gäste.

Eatingand Cooking

This restaurant serves possibly the best sea food in town.

TheFoodMaven

For good seafood, he says to try Hostaria da Franz, which serves a great baby octopus prepared in balsamic vinegar.

Fodor'sTravel Guide

ne of Venice ‘s best restaurants, Hosteria da Franz.This was a highlight meal, starting with the wine, a dry Prosecco (a traditional Venetian sparkling wine) and a large bottle of water followed by a very traditional dish, sardines soar, which is essentially pickled sardines served with sauteed onions. It tastes much better than it sounds. DW had a mixed carpaccio plate of sea bass, tuna, and swordfish. Then we each had pastas made fresh in-house – spaghetti Busara, with local shrimp caught that morning for DW; and pappardelle with scallops for me. We had coffee and shared an amazing panna cotta for dessert, and left with smiles on our faces.

Flyertalk

Best Place to Eat in Rome and Venice

Hostaria da Franz – this one is totally off the beaten path- but worth the trip- on a very “real” area of Venice where actual Venetians actually live…. Have a great time!

Yeremenko& partners

Hostaria Da Franz – элегантный ресторан с романтической атмосферой, рыбная венецианская кухня Режим работы: закрыт во вторник, весь январь.

Mangiaree bere

Esistono poi dei posti un po’ defilati come la zona di Castello, dove però potete trovare Franz, un ristorante eccellente, specializzato in pesce e primizie.

ABC

La Osteria da Franz, donde están a punto de tener un buen restaurante, por el momento utilizan un buen producto en platos simples donde lo cuidan con un servicio que si te descuidas te tima.