In Venice, the restaurant and bar at Sina Centurion Palace holds the promise of refined aesthetics and love, drawing inspiration from ancient Rome’s most cultured emperor, Hadrian, and his lover, Antinous, renowned for his legendary beauty.
Situated in a panoramic location between Punta della Dogana and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the refined Antinoo’s Lounge & Restaurant offers the opportunity to dine right on the water, enjoying the comings and goings of boats on the Grand Canal from a privileged vantage point.
During restoration work on the 5-star Sina Centurion Palace, which houses it, a Venetian Gothic-style building built in 1892, a rare coin depicting the profile of Antinous was found among the ruins of the destroyed monastery of San Gregorio and pre-existing 7th-century stone buildings. This event inspired the restaurant’s name.
Since its inception, Antinoo’s Lounge & Restaurant has been dedicated to the cult of Beauty, a concept expressed both in its cuisine and in the many works of art that adorn it.
Antinoo’s stands out in the lagoon for its contemporary interior design, which, thanks to the talent of architect Guido Ciompi, blends perfectly with the neo-Gothic style of the building. In the white and red rooms of the restaurant, as well as in the purple of the bar, every object is unique, inspired by Venetian craftsmanship.
The intimate restaurant’s terrace overlooking the Grand Canal is perfect for a special evening at sunset, pampered by chef Giancarlo Bellino, a native of Puglia and renowned for his delicious yet light cuisine. Perhaps one of the reasons why he’s so beloved by many Hollywood stars, including Al Pacino, who are regular guests at Antinoo’s.
Starting with a solid foundation of traditional recipes, the chef draws inspiration from the beauty of Venice, creating dishes he “draws” as if on a canvas, intoxicating them with flavors thanks to his meticulous research into pairings of excellent ingredients with innovative touches that delicately enhance them.
The Antinoo’s tasting menu is spectacular in its flavor and theatricality, featuring the chef’s signature dishes, including red shrimp carpaccio with sweet and sour sauce, marinated amberjack, fresh crème, seaweed, and fennel, hooked sea bass buttons with butter, lemon, and caviar sauce, and lobster Wellington with Americana sauce.
Eating on the terrace, just a few meters from the water, watching the relaxing spectacle of the comings and goings of gondolas and boats on the Grand Canal, truly gives you the unique feeling of being “inside,” a protagonist, of the most magical Venice.
The Secret
Emperor Hadrian, who lived in the 1st century AD, was deeply passionate about the young Antinous. Following his mysterious death by drowning in the Nile, he deified him and founded an organized cult dedicated to him that spread throughout the Empire. After 133 AD, various coins bearing his effigy were minted in Eastern mints. If in good condition, they are worth several thousand euros. The coin found during the restoration is now held by the Superintendency of Archaeological Heritage.
Useful Info
Antinoo’s Lounge & Restaurant
Dorsoduro 173
30123 Venezia
Tel. +39 041 34281
Tasting menus: from 110 euro, wines excluded
Starters: from 35 euro
First courses: from 34 euro
Second courses: from 48 euro
Cocktails: from 15 euro
