This restaurant and oyster bar near the Rialto market (between Bancogiro and Naranzaria) is known for its oysters and small plates. In the evenings, people come to hear jazz or singers at the piano bar. The best seats are out on the terrace facing the Grand Canal.

Tucked on a pretty square near La Fenice Opera House, this longtime classic has a clubby vibe, with traditional dining rooms and great outdoor seating during the warm summer months. Come here for Venetian specialties, including lots of great seafood dishes. Several Indagare members have raved about their dinners at this restaurant.

This restaurant, by the Hotel Cipriani on the Guidecca, has hands-down the best view of Venice. From its al fresco terrace, you see a gorgeous panorama of the city, including San Marco and its Campanile (clock tower), and it is especially magical at dusk and into night. The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and elegant, part of that is attributable to the warm and knowledgeable wait staff.

The menu is a mix of Venetian and regional specialties, all beautifully prepared and presented. A recent meal included smooth zucchini blossoms stuffed with creamy ricotta cheese, a deep-hued gazpacho served with shrimp and juicy cantaloupe, and lovely sea bass simply prepared with lemon and fennel. Everything was unfussy in preparation and deeply flavorful. Don’t miss dessert, including an unctuous tiramisu, which may sound like a pedestrian choice, but even this Italian classic is taken to new heights here. Open daily (in season).

De Pisis, the Bauer’s gourmet restaurant, has a great location on a sweeping terrace, on the Grand Canal. It’s like eating on a boat with the convenience of being attached to a great hotel. Unfortunately, recent reviews have been less-than-stellar, with one member calling the food “silly, pretentious and not good at all.”

The Giudecca branch of Harry’s Bar is only open from April through October when it’s pleasant to sit at the outdoor tables on the quay and look back at Venice. It’s less historic than the original but its charms are more obvious, as the waterfront seating and view merit a full afternoon of lingering. The emphasis may be on their sweets, dolci, but you can order a light lunch (club sandwich or carpaccio) or dinner (the house pastas and tuna, of course) as long as you are prepared for a hefty bill. Closed Tuesdays.

The next generation of Venetian dining, Lineadombra has updated the ambiance and menu but kept a reverence for the city’s main selling points—the views and the seafood. What that means is that the antiques and old-fashioned linens and crystals have been replaced by sleek, contemporary décor down to the utensils and signage but there’s still a beautiful outdoor terrace and delicious fresh fish (and prices to match the stunning locale.) Definitely try the tuna tartare. Open every day.

Venetians consider this the enemy café as Florian was the haunt of Italians in the 19th century and Quadri, on the opposite side of the square, was frequented by Austrian soldiers and many foreign artists. Of course, it’s mainly tourists who enter Piazza San Marco today, and Italians would be horrified by the cost of a cappuccino here. However, the views of the Doge’s Palace and of the basilica of San Marco are unbeatable, and the restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star. Whenever you come, don’t miss a peek at the ornate interior rooms, which have been faithfully preserved.

Raves Indagare insider Francesca Bortolotto Possati, the chic owner of the Bauer hotels: “The venerable Il Quadri restaurant was recently bought by three-Michelin-starred chef Alajmo (from the famous Calandre restaurant in Padova). It’s a hit: service, ambience and food are all excellent, as is its location, of course.”