At the heart of the Belmond Hotel Cipriani lies the swimming pool with the adjacent Gabbiano Bar, the most exclusive place in which to savour the "dolce vita" in true Venetian style. it is here that people meet and cocktails are born, often inspired by the suggestions and stories of the guests themselves, celebrities that have made their mark on the bar's creations.

For more than 40 years, the head barman, Walter Bolzonella, has been translating the guests' motions into a fusion of fragrance, colour and flavour to match their mood: " Cocktails in Venice. Tales of a Barman" is the diary of his inspiring 'laboratory' in which new drinks become classics and classics are refreshed with novel twists. In it, he reveals his precious recipes - from the famous Bellini to the Lucky Spritz, and from the Hidden Liquid to Casanova's Inspiration - illustrated throughout by the watercolors of Matteo Bertelli.

For Hollywood star George Clooney "Walter is as much a part of Venice as the canals or the gondoliers. Everyone who goes to Venice knows Walter. And it's easy to understand why. He's a class act".