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THE TEMPLES OF THE COCKTAIL MARTINI
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The Grand Hotel Gritti Palace, Venezia
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A deliciously délabré sign welcomes the visitor to the most iconic hotel in Venezia: the Grand Hotel Gritti Palace |
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OK, I must admit that I'm biased. I am definitely NOT impartial on several issues; you will never make me drink a gin named 'Geranium', I'll never drive a Pegaso and would always avoid Paris, if possible. On the other hand, in my biased mind no car is more exciting than a Ferrari Daytona, no watch has ever been better than a Rolex GMT-Master, no gin is better that Hayman's Royal Dock and I'd be ready to jump on every means of transportation to get to London, Firenze, Roma... or Venezia. Having dismissed this way any pretense of being impartial in my taste, I happily admit that for me the Gritti Palace is the best place to stay in Venezia, and one of the very finest in Italy, therefore of the world |
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2024 Return to Gritti |
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A rainy day in Venezia during Carnevale could be a disaster, but luckily there's the Gritti ready to offer its delicacies to the weary, damp travellers. Their Club Sandwich is delicious, on par with Villa d'Este's, and at this point I must point out that the one pictured above is one half of the normal serving. Anna and I have this old tradition of sharing the CS everywhere we order it. The Marco Felluga Pinot Grigio was equally extraordinary; being lunchtime I wouldn't have a Martini, but I know from past experience (see below) that it's probably my all-around favourite, especially if you stick to the classic recipe |
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Anna looks satisfied... |
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2022 |
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After the unavoidable stop in 2020, I resumed an old habit, and, as I did in 2021, I drove my 911 to Porsche Italia in Padova to have it serviced. Then, instead of waiting there, Anna and I boarded a fast train to Venezia, where we spent a very enjoyable evening testing once again the excellent quality of Gritti's restaurant and, needless to say, the perfect Martin mixed in Bar Longhi |
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Anna looks pleased.. who wouldn't be, when sipping a Martini in the dehors over Canal Grande? |
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Dott. Paolo Lorenzoni, General Manager of Gritti, was kind enough to show us this machine. It chills the Martini glass exactly as needed for a proper cocktail Martini (click on the image for a short clip). Details like this one make the difference between a good Martini place and the very best. Thanks! |
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If you can get a table at the restaurant of the Gritti, not only you will have a very good dinner, you will also enjoy one of the world's great views, over Canal Grande to the Chiesa della Salute. At dusk, its incomparable. Luxe, calme, volupté... |
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2021 |
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Well, I like to have a chat with the bartender and this time this chat proved both enjoyable and rewarding. This bartender was happy to find a patron who was NOT interested to see the table where Hemingway's Colonel had dinner with his young lover in 'Across the River and into the Trees' (though I frankly love the pages of their loving around a deserted Venezia just after 1918). Thus he not only mixed a great Martini following my recipe, he proposed me some of his personal creations; a nice afternoon and the scenery was, as always, incomparable. The Gritti has been completely renovated and it again one of the best hotels in Venezia, so we had to get there in 2021, the first time Anna and I had the chance to get back to Venezia. We left the 911 in Padova, took a train to Venezia and we were not disappointed: to be honest, we spent a glorious day (and night) there....
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Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is always splendid, a great sight on our way to the Gritti |
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The Martini served by Paolo was splendid. Ice-cold Tanqueray Ten, an olive (unstoned!), no lemon, a perfect glass....The bar of the Gritti is now fully sponsored by Riva, and one cannot think of a better pairing between two Italian excellences for whom the water is a fundamental basis of their life and business |
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We moved at a pleasant first-row table at the restaurant of the Gritti for diner, that's what you see from there...and a Riva Aquariva is moored just in front of our table. Also the second Martini was excellent |
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The hall of the Gritti is the epitome of elegance in every detail |
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One of my favourite churches in Venezia, San Giacomo di Rialto |
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The only delusion of the whole Venezia trip: I travelled there to see, among other things, the 'Nettuno e Venezia' painting by Tiepolo. It was advised, in the Museum's site (Palazzo Ducale) to be there, but it was not, apparently it's in Japan or Cuina or another place in the world where they don't have the faintest idea of what and who Tiepolo was...so we were left with this mediocre-quality copy of this painting |
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The Battle of Lepanto painting is at least a reminder of the Dominante's former military glory |
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If Gritti is wonderful for a luxurious dinner, for lunch you would like to book a table at this splendid little Osteria in Cannaregio. Vini da Gigio will offer you, among many other dishes, this very tasty 'Tris di Saor'. Very Venetian: if you don't know what 'saor' is, don't bother to ask for it |
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After such a great time in Venezia it was nice to get back to Padova and collect my 911 perfectly fixed, waxed and polished. 24 March 2023 |
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Grand Hotel Gritti Palace
Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, 2467 ·
30124 Venezia, Italy
Telefono:
+39 041 2961222
Fax:
+39 041 2961100
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