Overlooking Venice’s enchanting canals, Nani Mocenigo Palace has unveiled one of the city’s most exciting contemporary dining destinations: La Bauta, the restaurant named after the iconic mask of the Venetian Carnival. Its culinary philosophy unfolds through three distinct yet harmonious dining experiences, designed to accompany guests from a leisurely late breakfast and light lunch to an elegant dinner, all united by a common thread: Mediterranean cuisine deeply rooted in Venetian tradition, celebrating seafood, seasonal vegetables sourced from the finest local producers, and unexpected creative touches that bring together different culinary heritages.

With a truly distinctive gastronomic offering, La Bauta aspires to become one of Venice’s leading dining destinations, appealing both to guests eager to discover the authentic flavors of Italian cuisine—from the perfect spaghetti al pomodoro to classic eggplant parmigiana—and to the most discerning gourmets seeking refined and innovative dishes.
The restaurant bears the prestigious signature of Michelin-starred Chef Gennaro Esposito and is led by Executive Chef Raffaele Iasevoli, together with Pastry Chef Raffaele Santoro, whose creations transform every course into a memorable culinary experience.

Dinner Menu: Elegance Inspired by the Sea

The evening menu represents La Bauta’s most ambitious expression. It begins with delicately balanced starters such as gently cooked scallops served with fennel and citrus purée, or zucchini tartare with almonds and zucchini blossom pesto—a dish that playfully overturns expectations by placing vegetables, rather than meat, at the center of the plate. Traditional meat dishes are equally well represented, including Fassona beef tartare paired with tomato gazpacho, while the chef’s interpretation of raw seafood reflects the restaurant’s desire to move beyond convention and offer a contemporary vision of Venetian cuisine.

Among the first courses, the Riserva San Massimo risotto with sweet pepper variations and buffalo milk kefir sits alongside more traditional filled pasta, such as eggplant Parmigiana tortelli, as well as an unmistakable tribute to Campania’s great culinary heritage: Chef Gennaro Esposito’s signature spaghetti al pomodoro.
Main courses continue the dialogue between land and sea, ranging from grilled beef fillet with Périgueux sauce and traditional hunter-style guinea fowl to the catch of the day and crispy mixed Adriatic seafood served with a refined aioli sauce.

Light Lunch: Refined Informality

At lunchtime, La Bauta adopts a more relaxed yet equally sophisticated approach. Fresh salads such as the Caprese, Caesar, and Horto Salad share the menu with satisfying international classics, including the Club Sandwich with organic chicken, bacon, and fried egg, the Vegan Sandwich with grilled vegetables and basil pesto, and the restaurant’s signature Chicken Burger. It is, however, within the Main Course selection that the restaurant’s true identity emerges. Vitello tonnato, eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti alla Nerano, and linguine with fresh clams elevate lunch into a complete Italian dining experience, perfectly concluded by elegant individual desserts designed to offer sweetness without weighing down the rest of the day.

The Snack Bar: Casual Dining with Exceptional Ingredients

The third expression of La Bauta is its most informal, created for guests looking for a light meal or an elegant aperitivo while maintaining the same uncompromising attention to quality ingredients. Caprese prepared with burrata or Campanian buffalo mozzarella, carefully selected Italian cured meats and cheeses, gourmet toasted sandwiches featuring Ferrarini roast turkey and aged Comté cheese, crispy baby squid, and an assortment of traditional Venetian cicchetti compose a menu ideal for a relaxing break between exploring the lagoon and discovering Venice.

More than simply offering three menus for different moments of the day, Executive Chef Raffaele Iasevoli has conceived a single gastronomic narrative. Much like the famous Venetian mask from which it takes its name, La Bauta reveals different facets while remaining faithful to a clear identity: contemporary Venetian fine dining that seamlessly blends the flavors of the sea, Italy’s rich culinary traditions, and international influences, all within one of Venice’s most evocative settings.