Fig Tree

"Fig Tree in Venice is great for almost any occasion. At this all-day cafe, you’ll sit in the sun, get swept up in the ocean breeze, and relax with either very special friends or complete strangers whom you hope to get a smooch from later. The expansive menu includes scallop aguachile, summer squash salads, burgers, grilled prawns, plus gelato for dessert, and a daily Happy Hour from 3-6pm. There are slushy cocktails, skin-contact wines, and plenty of draft beers (one of which is named Dog Ate My Homework blackberry ale)." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, kat hong, brett keating

"Listen, we have nothing against juxtaposing the beauty of nature (by way of basket lanterns) with a little oonts-oonts and “contemporary art.” Which is why we recommend Fig Tree in earnest to anyone looking for a premium Venice experience. This South American restaurant is literally on the Boardwalk, but somehow the tourists haven’t taken over (yet). Instead, you’ll find Venetians in silly hats—likely purchased in Tulum—drinking cocktails made with very good fruit juice. While this place is open from 8am-9pm daily, it’s best at Happy Hour when you can pick at fried mariscos and ceviche while the sun sets." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren

"While it would work for a second, third, or 300th date, Fig Tree in Venice is the ideal first date spot by the beach. For starters, it’s literally on the beach - in a secluded and breezy patio off the boardwalk. The music will inevitably make you bob your head like a chicken, and the cocktails, well, they’ll make your head bob that much more. Drinks include rare ingredients, like mole bitters and agave rum. Likewise, the Latin leaning-food is full of surprises. Grilled tiger prawns come with gremolata, and fried mariscos are accompanied by a tasty chimichurri. Stop by for a drink and a snack, and if nothing else, your date will have been introduced to a great new restaurant." - brant cox

"Here's what you won't find during your lunch break at the Venice Boardwalk: affordable parking, locals, and a wide selection of (good) food options. But then there's Fig Tree, an all-day spot with a Latin-leaning menu that offers a comfy refuge from the tourist crowds. There's also a beachfront patio where you can feel the breeze, have a cocktail, and enjoy some rockfish ceviche, making the small fortune you paid for street parking feel worthwhile. " - sylvio martins, jess basser sanders, brant cox

"The boardwalk is a tricky place if you’re hungry during lunch—or any meal for that matter—which is why Fig Tree is so important to know about. The sunny, all-day cafe is open every day (except Tuesdays) from 8am-9pm, and whether you’re alone at 10am with a laptop or on a first date that you have a good feeling about, this place gets the job done. The Latin-leaning menu is full of highlights like rockfish ceviche with coconut milk and whole grilled fish with mole morado, plus cocktails that come with interesting ingredients like mole bitters and agave rum." - Sylvio Martins