One of the things that people often enjoy doing in Venice is having a picnic lunch. With so many beautiful outdoor spaces, it’s hard not to want to grab a bite to eat and enjoy the scenery. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent spots in Venice where you can do just that.
Where is the best place to have a Picnic in Venice?
Let’s start with all the reasons Venice is such an incredible place to visit! Venice has had many nicknames throughout the centuries including “The Most Exciting Town In America” and “The City That Time Forgot”. Venice offers art lovers plenty to do with museums like The Ringling Museum Of Art And Rosemary Keating Garden, Venice’s First Friday Gallery Walk every month in town or at one of the many galleries around town where you can find original paintings, jewelry pieces from local artists and more! You’ll also enjoy some amazing food options while here-discover your favorite cuisine whether it be Italian Trattoria style restaurants that offer authentic dishes such as pizza & pasta or try out some new flavors by trying different cuisines to see what Venice has to offer. Here are my favorite places to have a picnic lunch in Venice and where I grab my meal from before I go!
Centennial Park
200 W. Venice Ave Venice, FL 34285
This park often has events going on such as a local farmers market, jazz and blues music, seafood festival, etc. You can pair your picnic with upcoming events or watch the schedule to avoid a busier day and enjoy a relaxing picnic in the park.
Centennial Park has picnic tables ideal for taking it easy or set up a blanket on one of the open grassy areas. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, you can choose from several restaurants to pick up a picnic lunch, check out Bodrum on Miami Ave for eastern Mediterranean food that will dazzle your tastebuds. There are several fabulous restaurants up and down Venice Ave to grab a bite to eat!
Centennial Park has benches, an interactive splash pad (fun for the kids!), ADA accessible gazebo, a veterans memorial, free parking, beautiful nature, and shady trees to relax under. There is definitely a lot to explore.
Shamrock Park & Nature Center
3900 Shamrock Drive Venice, FL 34293
Shamrock Park is great for picnics with its scenic nature and bountiful wildlife. Choose from picnic tables complete with grills, rent a pavilion, or lay your blanket down. If you are going during the week, stop by the food truck in front of the Lowe’s on 41, Sausage Express for a sandwich or a wrap to bring with you!
Relax and have your picnic lunch in this 80-acre park. Bask in the beauty of the butterfly gardens while enjoying your favorite fare. Check out the pet-friendly areas, playground fields, sports courts, and hiking trails which are perfect for a nice day out in nature.
Service Club Park
1190 Harbor Dr. S, Venice, FL 34285
This beautiful beachfront park is a flawless spot for a romantic sunset picnic on the sand with delicious, authentic Cuban food from Belkis Cuban Deli. If you want to see a picturesque sunset, this location is matchless. There is a nice boardwalk with decks and picnic tables (some covered) if you prefer; either way, you will still enjoy the amazing view of the Gulf. Other cool things you’ll find at Service Club Park are volleyball courts, barbeque grills, walking trails and wildlife.
Maxine Barritt Park
1800 S Harbor Dr. Venice, FL 34285
Spend some time walking on the beach at Maxine Barritt Park. Then come under the shelter of one of their beautiful large gazebos. Take a walk around the park and see the fenced pond looking for birds and possibly an alligator! Then choose your favorite spot for a picnic. You can sit at one of the picnic tables with charcoal barbeques or find another hidden spot to set up your blanket and have some fresh sushi. Who said sushi isn’t a picnic food? Pick up a delicious sushi lunch from Baiyoke Thai Bistro! Being located right off the Gulf makes this park a great location for picnicking and enjoying the cool breeze. Maybe take a swim after your lunch settles!
Brohard Paw Park
1600 Harbor Drive South Venice, FL 34285
This unique park is perfect for dog lovers. Some people may not want to leave their dogs at home so, at Brohard Paw Park, you can have the best of both worlds. It’s actually a fenced dog park with a beach, picnic tables, showers & drinking fountains for you and your furry friends. Grab some takeout from Joy’s Kouzine in Bird Bay Plaza and Fido can play in the park after!
Nokomis Community Park
234 Nippino Trail E, Nokomis, FL 34275
While technically not in Venice, this beautiful park is just north of Venice at Located at 234 Nippino Trail E. There are so many amenities at this park, including picnic pavilions, a community garden and a kayak launch, that I simply had to include it for picnics! We love to stop by and grab smoothies at Cafe Evergreen before heading over to play. They also have incredible sandwiches and salads for a healthy lunch at the park and you can even order in advance for pickup.
Have A Catered Picnic At The Beach With Paradise Picnics
There are so many parks around Venice that you can enjoy a picnic lunch. We recently learned of a new service in town called Paradise Picnics! They will set up a beautiful picnic for you on the beach to enjoy with your favorite people. We look forward to trying them in the future, as their Tiktok showcases a beautiful spread worthy of a luxurious afternoon. You can find them on Facebook or call (702) 355-9709 to book your picnic today!
No matter where you choose to have your picnic lunch in Venice, FL, you’re sure to enjoy the beautiful scenery and relaxed atmosphere that this charming coastal town has to offer.
Tell Us Where You Would Have Your Picnic Lunch in Venice, FL in the Comments Below!
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We picnic at Blalock Park in the Arboretum. Lots of picnic tables.
We picnic at Blalock Park in the Arboretum. Lots of picnic tables.
We would like more restaurants use their outdoor area to add tables to eat outside. Covid is not to fool around with, our family refuse to eat inside of restaurants. Please think about putting tables outside your restaurants – many more customers will come your way. Please The need for even two or three tables is important. Please add a few tables to your outdoor storefronts please.
I think that’s why it’s so great these places offer takeout to do picnic lunches around town!
We like Casperson Beach for picnics.
We would like more restaurants use their outdoor area to add tables to eat outside. Covid is not to fool around with, our family refuse to eat inside of restaurants. Please think about putting tables outside your restaurants – many more customers will come your way. Please The need for even two or three tables is important. Please add a few tables to your outdoor storefronts please.
I think that’s why it’s so great these places offer takeout to do picnic lunches around town!