The JW Marriott in Venice is an unforgettable haven of paradise situated in the middle of the Venetian lagoon. On your next trip to this romantic Italian city, you’d be missing out if you didn’t head here. Whether you choose it as a luxurious place to stay, or somewhere for a dinner that is quite simply out of this world, you won’t be disappointed. We recently headed here for a meal in their fine dining restaurant Fiola at Dopolavoro and were blown away by the food, service and atmosphere. Find out more about our experience and why it’s a real must when looking for somewhere utterly breathtaking to eat and drink.
To get to the JW Marriott in Venice, you take a complimentary private shuttle that runs from the city centre regularly and drops you off right at the hotel entrance. Your experience begins as soon as the boat pulls up, with you welcomed in by an impressive canal-side entryway. We began the evening with rooftop cocktails in the hotel’s signature sagra rooftop restaurant and bar. Perched on the fourth-floor rooftop of the hotel, it offers breathtaking views of the lagoon and the city of Venice just beyond. We head just as the sun is beginning to set and hazy amber glow puddles off the wooden surfaces. The space is effortlessly elegant and luxurious, with a laid-back vibe. It’s somewhere you can dress up to visit yet it’s not pretentious or over the top. There’s a rooftop pool with 360 panoramic views and plush sunbeds. It’s the ideal spot to sip a glass of champagne and cool off under the hot Italian sun.
Sagra at the JW Marriot’s cocktail menu is varied, with all your favourite traditional tipples as well as a number that are created by the hotel too. Music plays softly from speakers, the air is heady and fragrant with the scents of cooking and the buzz is electric. It’s somewhere that you instantly feel your worries melt away and know you’re in for an evening to remember. Be sure to time your visit with the sun setting as when it starts to lazily disappear, the most beautiful light casts over the whole of the rooftop, further adding to the atmosphere. We sip our cocktails slowly, savouring all the flavours and just taking in our surroundings. They have a food menu of light bites and snacks as well as main meals if you wish to dine al fresco.
It was with a little reluctance that we peeled ourselves off our wooden seats at Sagra at the JW Marriott Venice to head to Fiola at Dopolavoro for dinner. While we were excited, this little spot is somewhere that once you arrive you instantly feel comfortable and it makes it very hard to leave. To get to Fiola at Dopolavoro there is a little walk (or they can take you via golf buggy!) We opted for the walk as the hotel’s grounds looked too beautiful to miss. We amble through the manicured gardens, marvelling at the array of plants and greenery before approaching the restaurant. Set in its own stunning courtyard, the air is fragrant with the smells of its own herb garden where many of the ingredients for the food are grown.
Fiola at Dopolavoro features floor to ceiling glass windows,with sheer white curtains draped over them elegantly. The walls are made from an exposed brick with both dark and light elements while low-level lighting creates an intimate ambience. Led by Michelin-starred Chef Fabio Trabocchi, we were expecting to be wowed by the dishes, but just how much so we didn’t quite anticipate. Everything here makes you feel like you are somewhere truly special. From the way the staff are friendly and helpful without being overbearing, to the carefully and perfectly executed decor to the mouthwatering menu choices and wine selection. Their menu is “founded on authentic Italian traditions creatively evolved for the modern age” and they pride themselves on every dish blending their passion for the season with rich nostalgia and unexpected delight.
We begin our evening at Fiola at Dopolavoro with a glass of champagne while we pursue the menus, wondering just how to choose between the delectable array on offer. We settle on the tasting menu with the wine pairing and are advised this is the best way to have a truly memorable experience. Every dish is executed to perfection, with presentation that makes it look almost too good to eat. Water is served in glasses made from local Murano glass and every care is taken to ensure your meal is special. Dishes range from seafood to meat and vegetarian and if you have any dietary requirements they are more than happy to adapt the set menu for you. With elegant garnishes, sauces that are packed with flavour and meat that melts in the mouth, each dish that is brought out is just as if not more spectacular than the last.
The tasting menu commences with the antipasti course which is a plate composed by the finest nuances and tastes fresh from their garden. We tuck into lightly grilled octopus with celery root puree, anchovy and black truffle sauce. Each bite is a treat for the senses, it’s elegantly flavoured without being overpowering and the presentation is immaculate.
The primi course is a contemporary take on ancient Venetian tradition and my partner samples the Fiola lobster ravioli with ginger emulsion and garden chives, while I (not a fan of lobster) enjoy their fennel risotto with Morlacco cheese sauce and lemon. Our secondi course is Garronese beef with onion, amarone and peverada sauce – converging a cut of the finest Venetian beef with one of the most acclaimed wines in the world, the Venetian Amarone. They complement each other as though they were made to be as one, the dish and the wine bringing out scents, flavours and notes that aren’t easily distinguishable alone.
Our dolce course was a Torcolato soaked baba with white chocolate ganache, oranges and fior di latte gelato. It packs a punch in taste but is beautifully light.
The evening here passes in a blur, where time goes quickly yet you also feel as though real care and thought is being put into the experience. We feel at no point rushed and instead are able to sit back and just take it all in.
Fiola at Dopolavoro is one of the best restaurants I have ever set foot in and the food is some of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat. I am left in awe of how such an exquisite set of flavours can taste so incredible, without being overwhelming on the palette. It strikes the perfect balance in all senses, offering you a real treat without leaving your feeling overly-stuffed or still wanting more. We feel comfortably full, sleepy and utterly content as the end of the evening winds down. If we had thought it difficult to drag ourselves away from Sagra, this is a million times harder for its admitting the evening is over, which we are reluctant to accept. With a heavy heart and a full stomach, we gratefully accept the golf cart to take us to the boat which will deliver us back to mainland Venice where we can amble back to our hotel. If you’re wondering whether it’s a negative fact that the JW Marriott is set on its own little island away from the mainland, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It offers the best of both worlds on your break – the chance to be amidst the fast-paced city life of Venice before escaping to a tranquil haven once it all gets too much.
If you are looking for a meal in Venice that will tick all the boxes and so many more, Fiola at Dopolavoro is an effortless choice. It’s sophisticated, elegant, and welcoming. The food is unforgettable and the atmosphere is beautifully relaxing. It offers a welcome reprieve from busy days spent exploring the city and somewhere you know won’t disappoint. Whether you are looking for a special meal as a family, a restaurant to celebrate an occasion, or to dine on some of the best Italian food you will ever sample, look no further than Fiola at Dopolavoro.
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