Spring is a wonderful time to visit La Serenissima, when the sun shines over the archipelago of islands and maze of canals, and the art crowd flock to its palazzos and galleries. Our favourite place to stay in Venice is always Ca Maria Adele, a lavishly romantic hotel in the Dorsoduro — the modern art district where you can live like a Venetian away from the crowds. Set right on the Grand Canal, just a short walk from the must-visit Peggy Guggenheim Collection, it’s run with love by Alessio and Nicola Campa. The charming duo will arrange a classic Riva water taxi to pick you up from the airport terminal and bring you directly to the hotel’s private jetty, greeting you with a glass of fizz. Make sure you ask for the seductive Noir room, which is inspired by the spice routes passing through Venice and designed with a weekend of passion in mind. Lunchtime is all about cicchetti and spritz stops (made with Select not Aperol) on sundrenched terraces by the water — we love Linea D’ombra on the other side of the Dorsoduro for this. For dinner, book a table in advance at the small but perfectly formed Osteria alla Testiere, where the owner Luca serves up the freshest catch from the lagoon, bought at the Rialto market that morning.
Here we share our secret address book, exclusive for 84 Rooms Members:
Hotels
- Ca Maria Adele Dorsoduro 111
- Aman Palazzo Papadopoli Calle Tiepolo 1364
- Brand new Venice Venice Hotel Cannaregio 5631
Restaurants
- Do Forni San Marco 468
- Riviera Fondamenta Zattere Al Ponte Lungo 1473
- Da Ivo S. Marco 1809
- Linea Dombra Dorsoduro 19
- Da Mario alla Fava (Classic Venetian dishes) Calle dei stagneri 5242
- Antiche Carampane (crudo) San Polo 1911
- Cantino Storico Fondamenta Bragadin 661
- Acqua Pazza (lunch) San Marco 3808
- Oficina Ormesini - Osteria, Cannaregio, 2689
- Vino-Vero Fondamenta della Misericordia Cannaregio 2497
- Restaurant Local 1 Michelin Star, Local Castello 3303
- Restaurant Al Covo Castello 3968 ©Anna Ambrosi
- Restaurant CoVino Castello 3829a
Drinks
- Palazzo Gritti Campo Santa Maria del Giglio 2467
- Bauer Hotel S. Marco 1459
- Caffè Florian Saint Mark’s Square 57
- Harry’s Bar San Marco 1323
- Cantine del vino Gia Schiavi Dorsoduro 992 - fondamenta Nani
- Ai Artisti is a place with a great wine list and a menu that goes beyond the usual suspects. Fondamenta della Toletta 1169/A
Gelato
- Gelati Nico Dorsoduro 922
Culture
- Palazzo Fortuny San Marco Museum 3958
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection Palazzo Venier dei Leoni Dorsoduro 701
- Palazzo Grassi Campo San Samuele 3231
- Punta della Dogana Dorsoduro 2
Shopping
- Maneki Neko (linen shirts) Campo Sant'angelo 3820
- Piedaterre (handmade slippers) Campo Santo Stefano
- Fabric factory Fortuny Giudecca 805
- Luigi Bevilacqua The 18th-century weaving workshop Santa Croce 1320
- Workshop MARIO BERTA BATTILORO, the last goldbeater in Italy Cannaregio, 5182
- Textile shop Chiarastella Cattana San Marco 3216 Salizada San Samuele
Murano Island
Busa alla Torre, Campo Santo Stefano 3 (Lunch)
- Glass manufacturer: Mazzega Mazzega srl Fondamenta da Mula 147 30141 Murano
Torcello Island
- Locanda Cipriani Torcello (lunch) Piazza Santa Fosca, 29
Burano Island
- Trattoria da Romano on Burano makes the most famous bowl of risotto in the world. Via San Martino Destra 221
Artisans
The Venetian fine art photographer Renato D’Agostin Renato D’Agostin Studio Via Nobel 22-28, Noventa di Piave
The studio of silk-screen printer Fallani Venezia Cannaregio 5001/A
84 Rooms recommends: Aboard The Splendid Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and The Italian Hotels To Book This Summer.