![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_241998910-3c4f.jpg\")
\n\t\tVenice is a stunner, but overtourism and overpriced restaurants are ruining this magnificent city (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tVenice is a stunner, but overtourism and overpriced restaurants are ruining this magnificent city (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
In the fourth installment of Metro Travel<\/a> Hot Takes, Patrycja Zaras argues that the Polish<\/a> city of her birth puts Venice<\/a>\u2019s food scene to shame.<\/p>\n Is anything more universally beloved than Italian cuisine? It\u2019s like a hug from a long-distance friend: familiar, comforting, and made with love.<\/p>\n I was disappointed, then, to find nothing of the sort in Venice, Italy<\/a>\u2019s floating city and one of its most popular holiday destinations.<\/p>\n At least not for the average Joe. I\u2019m sure the Angelina Jolies<\/a> and George Clooneys<\/a> of the world would beg to differ when they roll into town for the annual Film Festival<\/a> \u2014 Venice boasts 62 Michelin-starred restaurants.<\/p>\n But for a budget traveller like me, who\u2019s been to the City of Masks many times, its food has never left a positive impression.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve travelled to Italy<\/a> many times in recent years, and I\u2019ve come to expect the kind of meals that remind you, no matter how many times you try to recreate them at home, they\u2019ll never taste the same.<\/p>\n But from pasta to tiramisu, and the greatest of all Italian delicacies, arancini, Venice keeps letting me down.<\/p>\n On more than one occasion, I\u2019ve been served pizza so thin, bland and flavourless, I\u2019ll admit it: I reached for the salt.<\/p>\n In Venice, waiters have served me food that has all the joy of a wet napkin, miserable fare that I\u2019ll gladly accept from 24-hour kebab joints. But from mid-range restaurants with sky-high prices? Per favore, Venezia.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s without complaining about coperto, the infamous cover charge that could see \u20ac20 or more added to your bill just for the privilege of sitting in places like St Mark\u2019s Square.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure hidden gems exist \u2013 this is Italy, after all \u2013 but they sure do a good job of hiding.<\/p>\n \t\t This isn\u2019t to say that you shouldn\u2019t visit Venice \u2013 it\u2019s a magnificent city and a true architectural masterpiece. <\/p>\n On TikTok, dozens of videos are devoted to helping visitors avoid tourist traps. There are tips for under-the-radar gelato shops, and hole-in-the-wall cannoli spots that won\u2019t require you to remortgage your flat.<\/p>\n But even still, the pickings are slim. Just don\u2019t expect mind-blowing food if you\u2019re travelling on a budget.<\/p>\n If that\u2019s what you\u2019re after, a recommendation that might surprise you is Warsaw<\/a>, the place where I was born.<\/p>\n As shy and unassuming as big cities get, Poland\u2019s capital has been quietly climbing the culinary rankings over the past decade. <\/p>\n Just a few years ago, the idea of a food trip to Poland would be met with raised eyebrows. Now, it\u2019s being called one of Eastern Europe\u2019s most exciting food scenes by esteemed voices at The FT<\/a>, Forbes<\/a>, and The Guardian<\/a>.<\/p>\n Having lived there for 19 years, I can confirm that Warsaw\u2019s culinary scene is full of surprises, with everything from Japanese to Middle Eastern and creative vegan kitchens.<\/p>\n Not big on meat? The city regularly appears in global rankings of vegan-friendly cities. My personal favourite for a budget-friendly green feast is Peaches, a trendy spot with <\/p>\n Their menu changes constantly, but one thing that\u2019s here to stay is the grilled oyster mushrooms glazed in muscovado. Rich, smoky, and just the right kind of sticky, it\u2019s easily the best vegan dish I\u2019ve ever eaten, and I\u2019ve had my fair share over the years.<\/p>\n Another unmissable joint is Joel. Every dish, from cloud-like hummus to roasted cauliflower, slow-cooked lamb to silky labneh, is cooked and presented to perfection. <\/p>\n And it\u2019s all served in a candle-lit, vibey space that sets the tone for a memorable meal. Check out some more \u2018locals only\u2019 tips below: <\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhere to eat in Warsaw\t\t\t<\/p>\n Joel Sharing Concept<\/strong> \u2013 the one I always come back to. Joel offers a modern twist on Middle Eastern cuisine, presented in a trendy sharing-plates concept. It\u2019s the owners\u2019 passion project, and you can taste the love in every dish. Whether you go veggie or meaty, you\u2019ll be thinking about it for days.<\/p>\n Peaches<\/strong> \u2013 they call themselves \u2018the best vegan food in Warsaw\u2019 for a reason. One visit and you\u2019ll forget everything you thought you knew about vegan cooking. Even the staunchest sceptic will be swayed. What they do with fruit and veg is simply magical.<\/p>\n Vegan Ramen Shop <\/strong>\u2013 a legend on Warsaw\u2019s food map. Ask anyone under 30 in Poland where to eat in the capital, and this is likely the first place they\u2019ll mention. It\u2019s earned near-mythical status for a reason.<\/p>\n Eden Bistro<\/strong> \u2013 ever wanted to dine in an enchanted garden? This is your chance. Tucked away in the posh Saska K\u0119pa district, Eden is part garden, part 1928 modernist villa. Once an artists\u2019 residence, now a place for slow lunches and long dinners. Ask for a table in the greenhouse and thank me later.<\/p>\n Happa to mame<\/strong> \u2013 a Japanese caf\u00e9 that invites you to slow down. It\u2019s the kind of space that wraps around you with its dark interior, low tables, a quiet calm that feels like a perfect escape from the city\u2019s chaos. Their matcha is among the best you\u2019ll find in Warsaw.<\/p>\n Not sold on Poland? Try these Italian alternatives instead<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like Kerri Kenney-Silver\u2019s character in The Four Seasons<\/a> and just don\u2019t fancy a trip to Poland, there\u2019s another option: Puglia<\/a>.<\/p>\n This lesser-visited Italian region offers far better food for far less money. <\/p>\n Its biggest city, Bari, is both charming and full of fantastic restaurants \u2013 and flights from the UK start from just \u00a348 return.<\/p>\n Another option just an hour from Venice is Bassano del Grappa<\/a>, which has all the same charm without the crowds and price gouging.<\/p>\n Clarissa Cappelletti, international country manager at\u00a0WeRoad<\/a>, says it\u2019s an excellent choice for travellers looking for something beyond Italy\u2019s mainstream tourist hubs.<\/p>\n \u2018Bassano del Grappa is a charming and underrated destination,\u2019 she tells\u00a0Metro<\/strong>. \u2018It\u2019s particularly appealing for those on a road trip, as it sits conveniently between major cities like Venice and Padua while offering a quieter, more authentic experience.\u2019<\/p>\n So how about we give Venice a break and let it breathe a bit? Even its mayor is asking us to. <\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"UNESCO](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1587857459.jpg\")
\n\t\tGondolas edge under the Bridge of Sighs in crowded water (Picture: Stefano Mazzola\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"UNESCO](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-1587864268.jpg\")
\n\t\tTourists crowd the Ponte della Paglia near St. Mark\u2019s Square (Picture: Stefano Mazzola\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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