Bar del Posta @ Hotel de la Poste (BL)
More than a hotel, a real institution. Located in the center of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the history of the Hotel de la Poste, the oldest in the “Pearl of the Dolomites”, begins in 1804. Created by the Manaìgo family, now in its seventh generation, initially as accommodation, post office, stable, and tavern to offer refreshment to travelers and their carriages on the Dobbiaco-Lienz route, it houses one of the world’s finest good drinking den: the famous Bar del Posta.
Born in the early 1900s where the post office was once located, the bar has seen the entire international jet set sitting at its counter – from all of the European Royal Families to the most famous Hollywood celebs such as Liz Taylor and Henry Fonda, up to artists, politicians, writers. Such as Ernest Hemingway who here was a regular*, as well as, obviously, the protagonists of the many films set in Cortina, like the legendary Vacanze di Natale (Christmas Holidays) filmed in 1983.
Not surprisingly, among the bottles of the bar, the statue of the “three wise monkeys” also peeps out, a symbol of the motto “I do not see, I do not hear, I do not speak”, indicating the total discretion of the staff towards their customers, whoever they are. And who knows how many legendary moments has witnessed the famous barman Antonio Di Franco who, since 1965, prepares delicious cocktails for his customers, to be accompanied by an extensive menu inspired by the Venetian tradition.
A place that, while enchanting for its timeless atmosphere characterized by wooden beams and antique furniture in the traditional Ampezzano style, never fails to renew itself.
Recently, the Ville Venete lounge room was born, located on the ground floor and overlooking the famous Corso Italia, an elegantly contemporary environment designed to host various types of events, such as live music or DJ sets during weekends. The space is characterized by a materic velvet fabric that covers all the seats, from the ottomans to the sofas, and by a palette of warm colors such as green, orange, and yellow. More traditionally furnished, the adjacent Cigar Room is a pleasantly secluded room, perfect for savoring a good distillate after dinner.
The Hotel de la Poste also offers the Il Posticino restaurant, with a wide range of meat and fish dishes, typical of “grand hotel” restaurants.
The top experience? Sit at the bar and ask the barman to prepare a Bellini cocktail for you to savor while leafing through the book “L’arte nel bicchiere” (art in a glass). The original volume tells of the cocktails that Di Franco dedicated to the artists who make up his private collection of works of art and who, of course, frequented Il Posta.
The Secret
Cortina was one of the favorite destinations of Ernest Hemingway, who spent long periods here and where it is said he met the young Adriana Ivancich, the Renata from the book “Across the river and into the trees”. At the Hotel de la Poste the writer used to stay in room 107, now dedicated to him, which still preserves intact his typewriter and some objects that belonged to him; while at the bar he used to sit at the corner table under the large clock (see picture in the gallery).
Useful Info
Hotel de la Poste
Piazza Roma 14
32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno
Tel. +39 0436 4271