In Dordrecht, you can enjoy Italian at the most beautiful addresses. Not for nothing is the city also called the 'Venice of the North'! Not surprising, with all that water and all that fine attention to the Italian good life.
Enjoy Italian summer (vacation) atmospheres in Dordrecht!
Culinary delights at La Focaccina . ..
At La Focaccina you will find stuffed focaccias, a real highlight of your summer! The most popular is the "Casereccio," with homemade pesta alla genovese, Parma ham and Caciotta cheese. The classic genovese focaccia with olives also does well. "Many customers who have been to Italy come to us to relive the simple, authentic flavors of Italy," says Brisilda Mecaj. "Everything at our place is Italian and also homemade: from focaccias to fresh meals. The latter we make nice and summery right now: rice salad, stuffed anchovies, octopus salad and ham with melon. Delicious to take home with you!"
... and at Piacere Italiano
At pizzeria Piacere Italiano, too, you'll find all kinds of goodies. In the summer period, the Pizza di Caio is the runner up. Also tasty: a delicious margarita topped with prosiutto, arugula, grated grana Padano and a little olive oil after baking. Adrie and Rory: "We use fresh products every day and there are some that come straight from Italy every week. In summer they have even more flavor because they are ripened by the sun and not in a greenhouse. Customers taste the difference with truly authentic Italian products!"
Italian wine at Vino di Marco
Marco van Asch of wine store Vino di Marco does not sell only Italian wines, but they do make up a large part of his assortment. You will find wines from different areas in Italy. For example, from Piedmont, where the Barolo wine is well known. From Veneto, Marco has prosecco, among others. He has especially many wines from Puglia, in the south. "One of the better wine regions, I personally think. I have beautiful red wines from there, like the Primitivo." You can also find wine from Sicily at Vino di Marco. Marco: "Italian wines are generally labeled as good because they have a lot of their own grapes growing there. Especially in the south, the weather is good and therefore you get a full, rich flavor. In the north again you find the somewhat lighter wines, such as a Pinot Grigio. Very diverse!"
Ice cream parlor La Venezia: genuine Italian ice cream
If you say 'real Italian ice cream', you automatically say 'IJssalon La Venezia'. A household name in Dordrecht and that is not surprising because you will find quality artisanal ice cream. This summer there are a lot of popular flavors again, such as matcha ice cream, made from green tea. "People like this flavor because it has less sugar and the ice cream is not so sweet," explains Cristina Gervasio. "It's a healthy ice cream flavor. Fruit flavors like strawberry, watermelon, raspberry, passion fruit and limoncello also do well with us." And if you're in the mood for a distinct flavor like Kinderbueno ice cream, you've also come to the right place at Ice Cream Parlor La Venezia, which, by the way, has a waterfront terrace. Cristina: "We make our ice cream ourselves, fresh every day. It goes straight from the machine to the counter!"
Delicious Italian fragrances at Vicino Sei
At perfume boutique Vicino Sei you will find a nice mix of classics and new discoveries from Italy. Fragrances with refined citrus from Sicily, sultry musk from Tuscany or fresh scents that smell like walking along the coast! Go for brands like Lorenzo Villoresi, Xerjoff and Maria Candida Gentile, each with their own unique signature and style. This summer, light, sparkling scents are favorites, with citrus, green notes, fig or sea salt. Anything that smells like freedom, sunshine and bare feet. Renaissance, Aria di Mare, or 195 aC are real summer hits. Fresh, outspoken and always good for a compliment. "Italians understand the sweet life like no other," Gertjan and Janou tell us. "They enjoy themselves like the best and they effortlessly translate that into fragrance. There is sunshine in it, a zest for life, but also elegance. Italian perfumes are often just a bit more outspoken: more floral, more lively, with a cheerful character. Like catching Italy in a bottle!"
Habets menswear: one and all Italian fashion
Habets menswear, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, focuses one hundred percent on Italian menswear. Not surprising, according to owner Mark Habets. "When something is made in Italy, for many it has something magical! Italian fashion stands for style and sense of perfection." At Habets menswear, you will find the atmosphere and look of Italy, in the form of Italian Sportswear with sportier clothing, Italian Fashion with polo shirts, jackets and jeans and finally, the pride of the Dordrecht menswear store is the genuine Italian made-to-measure suits. This summer you will see many earth tones, such as off-white, cream, pebble and camel. Brick red and pistachio green are also doing well in Italian fashion. A combination of earth tones with pistachio green, for example, is also very stylish! The coffee is ready and Mark and Sonita are happy to receive you.
Ultimate vacation feeling at Otto e Mezzo
Tasting Italy by the harbor on the terrace: you can at restaurant Otto e Mezzo. What began 11 years ago as a pizzeria has grown into a restaurant with Italian specialties, including Italian shared dining dishes. From squid rings, polenta, steak tartar and Italian mussels to burrata, an Italian stew of chicken thighs and roasted leeks in white wine sauce: there is something for everyone on the tasty menu. "Shared dining is becoming more and more alive," notes Dick Lap. "You sit down and order and before you know it, the whole table is full of delicious dishes! But there are also guests who 'just' order a pizza or pasta from us. We have a large terrace by the water, where you experience the ultimate vacation feeling."
The Italy tip: Si Barone!
For the Venetian feeling in Dordrecht, of course you choose Si Barone, the canal company in Dordrecht for luxury private customized canal cruises, shared group tours and water taxi cruises aboard exclusive, classic boats. Like Venice, Dordrecht is surrounded by water, many historic buildings are built directly into the water and our city has a rich trading history. Experience the Venice of the North in Dordrecht. After all, our city is most beautiful from the water!
