The Art of a Red-Carpet Drink

There’s a corner of the Lido where time slows down, and every detail breathes glamour and memory. This is the Blue Bar at Hotel Excelsior—an intimate stage for whispered conversations, post-screening toasts, and encounters that never make the headlines.
From this summer salon, set against the soft murmur of the Adriatic, cinematic legends have come and gone. Sophia Loren, regal even with a glass in hand. Federico Fellini, savoring his Martini as if framing the perfect shot. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, magnetic between laughter and champagne. And Al Pacino, stealing a rare moment of quiet far from the spotlights.

The Blue Bar is more than a bar—it’s a miniature film set, where every toast tastes like a behind-the-scenes moment. From this legacy comes a new experience for cinema and cocktail lovers alike: a signature menu inspired by Golden Lion–winning masterpieces. A refined tribute where every sip tells a story, and every story lingers on the palate.

Golden Lion Cocktails

At the Blue Bar, the new cocktail list isn’t simply read—it’s lived, sip after sip, like a private film festival in your glass.
Take the Roma 1972, which welcomes you with the warmth of a Fellini set: red vermouth wraps the palate, a whisper of black cherry brings sweetness, and a sudden citrus spark lights the finish like a spotlight snapping on. Then comes the Laguna d’Inchiostro, a noir in a glass—dark and velvety, with cocoa notes and a slow sweetness that glides across the tongue like a gondola at night. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s Sospiri d’Autore: light, effervescent, with white floral aromas that dissolve like the final fade-out on the silver screen.

Here, every cocktail is more than a drink—it’s a fragment of cinema to savor, a toast that turns the present into memory.

A Toast Beneath the Lido Stars

When evening falls, the Blue Bar glows in that suspended space between reality and film. Golden lights dance on crystal glasses, the lagoon’s whispers mingle with soft piano notes, and for a moment you feel you’ve stepped into a scene that will never end.
Taking a seat here means claiming your own piece of cinematic history—the same counter that has hosted visionary directors’ toasts and the knowing glances of legendary divas.

Whether it’s a sunset aperitif or a late-night cocktail after a festival screening, each sip becomes its own private premiere. Because at the Blue Bar, you’re never just an observer—you’re the protagonist, with the Lido as your backdrop and flavor as your standing ovation.

Stories to Savor, Memories to Keep

Some moments linger: a scene, a note, a taste. The Golden Lion Cocktail List was created to turn an aperitif into a memory worth keeping.
Whether you’re a cinema enthusiast, a curious traveler, or simply in search of something beyond the ordinary, the Blue Bar welcomes you with quiet elegance and a legendary soul.

Reserve your table and let the journey unfold—every cocktail is an invitation to discover, to feel, to remember. After all, every journey begins with a story. And every story… deserves a toast.