"If you only have time for one dinner in Venice, make a reservation for Al Covo. With a bunch of paintings by local artists on the walls and heavy silverware and hand-blown Murano glasses on the table, the atmosphere really hits a sweet spot between fine dining and a relaxed family restaurant. Look for soft-shell crabs and artichoke hearts in early winter, tiny lagoon snails during the summer, and a wine list that highlights natural and biodynamic bottles from small Italian producers. If you really can’t decide what to get, just order the €98, seven-course tasting menu that gives you whatever is freshest. No meal here is complete without a slice of chocolate cake with fudge icing, studded with salted pistachios." - Gillian McGuire