In the romantic Pellestrina island, just meters from the lagoon and its splendid sunsets, the Residenze Damare are an oasis of taste and hospitality for exploring the island and its unspoiled wonders.
The idea for this “marine” dream was born during an evening between Massimo, Alessandra, Cristina, and Federico (known to all as Chicco) and took shape with the renovation of an old grocery store and a fisherman’s house overlooking the lagoon. This world, called Pellestrina Damare, comprises the now-famous Osteria Damare and the new Residenze Damare, a love song to this wonderful island.
Massimo’s project evokes the atmosphere of Formentera or Patmos, an emotion that greets guests as soon as they disembark on the island by boat or climb into the 1972 Land Rover Series II (service by reservation) that takes them to the Residenze Damare.
Pellestrina is the secret soul of the Venice Lagoon, a thin strip of land where time seems to have stood still among lace, fishing nets, and fiery sunsets.
The Atmosphere: Where the Sea Meets Design
The Residenze Damare, inaugurated in March 2026, are located in a small white house overlooking the lagoon, just steps from the Osteria Damare. While the restaurant is already a must-see for gourmands seeking the authentic flavors of the Adriatic, the new rooms and suites complete the experience, offering a complete immersion in the island’s spirit.
The five rooms—three on the ground floor and two suites on the first floor—were designed by Massimo as a tribute to the village’s maritime history, featuring natural materials, light-colored woods reminiscent of boat decks, and large windows offering a marvelous view of the lagoon and the fishing boats docked on the shore.
There are many stylish details, such as the wooden fish hanging on the walls, handcrafted by a local artist using materials recovered from the sea, the Nemo Driade chairs that adorn the terrace of one of the suites, and the lighting made with vintage lamps purchased at antique markets and old fishermen’s accessories.
Experiences: the true soul of the Venetian Lagoon
Staying at Residenze Damare means having the privilege of experiencing the slow pace of life of the fishermen, of children playing soccer in the alleys, and of women sipping coffee by the window while gazing out to sea.
The day begins with breakfast of freshly baked brioches and plum cakes in the small artisanal bakery and café that opened right next to the Residenze Damare. It continues with a bike ride to the Ca’ Roman Nature Reserve or a swim at the (unequipped) beach located just behind the Residenze.
Bikes can be rented upon reservation to explore the island, including its famous Murazzi, an Istrian stone breakwater built by the Republic of Venice in the 18th century to protect the lagoon from storm surges.
The Flavors of Osteria Damare
Right next to the Residenze, Osteria Damare is the epicenter of Cristina and Federico’s hospitality, known to all as Chicco. The restaurant is decorated in the distinctive Tiffany blue that reflects the color of the typical lagoon house that houses it.
Here, you can savor the great seafood classics, from the more “noble” ones like the selections of raw fish, oysters, and scallops, to the more “popular” ones like polenta with fried schiette, fried calamari, pasta with clams or crab, and baked catches of the day, all the way to delicious grilled cuttlefish as a main course.
Gin and aperitif overlooking the lagoon
The most incredible experience on the island is starting with an aperitif featuring Cristina’s Ginestrina gin, prepared with local botanicals and flavored with salt marsh honey. Sitting on the wall separating Osteria Damare from the lagoon, you’ll be waiting for the sky to turn purple with one of the most beautiful sunsets in Northern Italy.
The Secret
Pellestrina’s width is poetically narrow: it’s a full 11 kilometers long, but in some places it’s so narrow, even just 100 meters, that the sea and lagoon almost touch.
Useful Info
Residenze Damare
Località Pellestrina 833
30126 Venezia
Tel. +39 348 2617180
Rooms from: €150, breakfast not included
Osteria Damare
Appetizers: from €25
First courses: €20
Second courses: from €28
Residenze Damare can be reached by public transport (ACTV Line 11) from the Venice Lido or Chioggia, or by boat transfer (bookable with ApeTours).
Private boat transfer from Chioggia: €30
Bike rental: €14 per day
