Osteria Ai Pugni takes its names from the adjacent bridge—pugni means fists in Italian, and the bridge was a site of frequent street brawls during the Renaissance. The vibe is much more copasetic nowadays, with groups of friends gathering at this cozy, rustic-chic wine bar for ombra and cicchetti, just the ombra, or full meals from a short menu. Cicchetti featuring cured meats and aged cheeses are particularly featured here. Unlike many Venetian wine bars where you have to eat and drink standing up, there are plenty of chairs and tables in an uncluttered atmosphere.
Time Out tip: Look for the four footprints at the top of the bridge—these represented the four corners where rival combatants had to stand before fights officially started.
Nearby:
Floating market: For one of Venice’s few remaining produce markets on boats
Campo Santa Margherita: For barhopping in Venice’s university quarter
Peggy Guggenheim Collection: For a stellar modern art museum and a canalside setting