Il Paradiso Perduto

Il Paradiso Perduto is a restaurant and live music venue on Fondamenta della Misericordia in the Cannaregio district of Venice, founded in 1979 by a group of university students in a building that had housed Remo d'Oro, a local rowing association. It operates as an osteria with a menu that changes daily according to what the fish market has, serving Venetian dishes including bigoli pasta and gran fritoin, a mixed fried fish plate with white polenta. Alongside the dining room it functions as a jazz club, with concerts historically staged on Monday evenings and at special events; performers have included Archie Shepp, Gary Lucas, Vinicio Capossela and the 29th Street Saxophone Quartet. The atmosphere is informal and the place has long been associated with Venice's artistic and countercultural circles. It opens daily from around 12.30pm to midnight. The nearest vaporetto stop is San Marcuola on Grand Canal line 1, a short walk from the fondamenta.