Enjoying George Clooney's Drinks at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice

Enjoying George Clooney's Drinks at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice
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Walter Bolzonella, Head Bartender at Hotel Cipriani

To call the Hotel Cipriani a favorite of celebrities would be like calling the Pope Catholic. You can even go to bed with George Clooney at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Sort of. Clooney, like so many others, is a huge fan of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, and has created two drinks with popular bartender Walter Bolzonella. So will it be the Buona Notte you’ll take to bed or the Nina’s Special?

The Buona Notte, created when Clooney presented his film Good Night, and Good Luck at the Venice Film Festival in 2005, starts with half a lime, fresh ginger, 1 spoonful of cane sugar, angostura bitter, vodka, cranberry and crushed ice. On the night it was created, “100 people came to the bar and demanded the Buona Notte,” Bolzonella laughs. “It was a disaster.”
In September 2011, he asked Clooney for help in naming his new creation with elderflower and passion fruit. And Nina’s Special was born, named for Clooney’s mother.
The Hotel Cipriani, by Orient-Express, is a world apart from other luxury hotels. Located on Giudecca Island, a 5-minute boat ride from St. Mark’s Square, the Cipriani has been an idyllic sanctuary in Venice since it opened in 1958. Luxury is found in staff that feel like family, flowers blooming, or a perfect plate of pasta pomodoro. Gwyneth Paltrow mentioned the hotel’s pasta pomodoro as “perfect” in her newsletter, GOOP. When I stayed as a guest of the hotel and ordered room service, I chose the pasta pomodoro and it was indeed the best.
Bolzonella is one of the best bartenders in the world, for his Italian charm as much as the drinks he creates, and he has been listening to life stories for 34 years at the hotel. “I take care of everything and spoil the guests. They are my friends. The Cipriani is like my house and you can tell me anything. I cry together with the guests about their problems and I laugh with them,” he says.
Inspiration comes from the Hotel Cipriani’s fragrant grounds. “Last year, I was walking the property, smelled the fresh herbs of the hotel’s garden and I wanted to make drinks with the sweet herbs of the Cipriani. I mix sage, basil, thyme, and marjoram with fruit and lime.”

On a beautiful Venetian night, there is simply no better place than Cip’s Club for an al fresco dinner with the best view in Venice-the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square. The hotel has created a slate of distinct programs to see Venice in a new way including Venice as a Movie Dream, Venice by Kayak, and a Secret Gardens of Venice tour. But the summer heat and crowds of Venice are escaped by the Olympic-sized swimming pool that despite its size, feels hidden away in the gardens. The Gabbiano Bar faces the pool and this is where you’ll meet Walter Bolzonella, order a drink named by Clooney or a sweet bellini, and listen to piano music. Just remember as you’re telling Walter your life story to ask about his. The stories are fascinating.
This hotel stay was part of an all-expenses paid trip, courtesy of Orient-Express. Annie Fitzsimmons is a freelance travel and hotel writer based in Manhattan. Connect with her @anniefitz or at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Lovely article thank you...

See you all in the bar and the
last one in is buying !

ready, set, go . . .

Hey, where is everybody??? I've been sitting here in the bar for days drinking Buona Nottes and Nina Specials and I'm totally shit-faced and my bar tab is gynormous!!!! Bring $$$$$$s!!!!!

Wow. I have to try one of those clooney special drinks. Sounds exiciting and fun. I really don't drink but maybe the bartender can make me up one without alochol. where is george now. Hope he is out here making a movie, so I can be an extra in it. love to work with you again george. Bless you george and your little Einistein.barbara garabedian

melbert wrote:Hey, where is everybody??? I've been sitting here in the bar for days drinking Buona Nottes and Nina Specials and I'm totally shit-faced and my bar tab is gynormous!!!! Bring $$$$$$s!!!!!

Sorry....I can't make it there this weekend melbert.
There's too much going on at home
over this weekend with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and an England International
football match to cheer on !

$$$$ are in the post though !

Cheers

Hang in there, mel....I'm on my way!!!!! As soon as I finish 50 Shades of Grey!

I brought mine with me waiting at the bar for you chickitas!!!! The bartender keeps giving me "looks" while I'm moaning....

you kinky gals !

oh Melbert how I wish I could join you...I sooooo need a drink! Have one for me!