The London Lounge

We'll be in Venice and Verona in March and are interested in recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and any interesting shopping. (I already saw TimMureau's rec for Camiceria San Marco which looks a bit dodgy, frankly.) I'd like something nice particularly in Venice, without needing to be in a palace hotel -- recent reviews I've seen of the Gritti, Danieli and Cipriani seem a bit frightening. Any recommendations will be appreciated.

I stayed at the Gritti in 2006 - arrival by motoscafo (watertaxi) from the airport was a treat in itself. The Gritti is on the Grand Canal and really is a palace. Rooms are generally furnished with antiques. I did not eat in the restaurant but the bar was a delight - ancient mirrors all around creating a feeling of going back 100 years.

try www.alponteantico.com ..fantastic place with some rooms looking out over the grand canal...I'd be there now if I could

I too am interested to know if Venice has any interesting menswear shops? Or is it just full of predictable designer labels?

We have stayed at Cipriani twice, once off season (December), and it was much nicer than during the tourist high season. Location, location, location, close enough to everything, yet far enough away for calm. During the first visit, right after the film festival, I collected from the lobby floor, a "Hello, my name is BO DEREK" name tag (sic). I believe the Hotel has gone into some decline, recently, except for the tariff.

I do recall, near Harry's Bar, a shirtmaker, with a nice selection of Testa cloths. That was old Testa before they were bought out or consolidated. I guess that would be the same place mentioned by Tim Mureau. At the time I bought cloth only, since the Testa cloth was very nice and not so readily available in the US (my cloth went to Seewaldt and Bauman, in NYC, which shows my age). My wife got some lovely Agnona cashmere sweaters in Venice, fairly priced, great colors. I think Agnona got bought by Zegna since then, but still operates their own shops. I don't recall men's knits.

The island of Guidecca, has a couple of low key, more pleasantly priced Restaurants, I think one was called Harry's Dolce (this was more than ten years ago). I think there is now a new second good hotel on the island to compete with the Cipriani, worth looking into.

Villa Cipriani in Asolo if you are driving out of Venice, is worth a night or two, with an excelllent restaurant, lovely town, and a 4-5 star small hotel. A lot of smalll shops with women's clothes, for some reason in that town. The views from Villa Cipriani appear almost artifiicial: the light, the architecture of the villas, and rolling landscape. Worth a journey.

Bringing this post back up to recommend the tiny, boutique, exquisite restaurant "Il Ridotto". It was some of the best food I've had anywhere, and a great experience overall.

http://www.ilridotto.com

No mention of anything to do with Verona yet..any ideas anybody ? Wedding anniversary trip in April booked and I need a good restaurant.
Just to add to the Venice reccommendations my favourite is Taverna San Trovaso in Dorsoduro.. ate there several times when I was in Venice last year .. about 85 euros for 2... nicely tucked away .. total immobility afterwards due to the ingestion of so much food. Memorable.

You were lucky to get "so much food" with 85 € for 2 in Venice. If it was good, too, you can call it a miracle!
Go see St. Anastasia church when in Verona - close to the conservatory. Superb colours and painting on the ceiling. Uplifting...

I recently stayed in Venice at the Palazzo Stern on the Grand Canal next to Ca Rezzonico and it was lovely.

Stayed at the Hotel Bauer a couple years ago, and thought it to be one of the best hotels I've stayed in. Loads of character and more discreet than the Danieli, like the Venetian version of Brown's in London before it was taken over. The rooftop bar and restaurant are worth visiting as well.