What’s your favourite destination and why?
Venice, because it’s the only place that I visit and feel as though I’m in a completely different world. Like I’ve gone back in time thousands of years and am in a fantasy. I’ve been going every year for over a decade now, and Venice Film Festival is one of the best in the world. The most glamorous and exclusive thing I’ve ever attended in my life.
When were you last there and who were you with?
I was there last year to DJ at the Hotel Cipriani (book it here) during the film festival. I was flying solo, but everyone was there when I got there.
Where do you like to stay?
The St Regis (from £701, book it here) on the Grand Canal, which is fabulous. One time, I walked in, got in the lift and Catherine Deneuve was in there. It’s very Old Hollywood there. The patio is so historic and there’s a very instagrammable dock as well. When you walk out you’re right in the shopping district, so there’s loads of places to eat.
What are your favourite restaurants?
My little secret for food that’s not super fancy and is affordable, but with options that are also full of protein — as I find that quite difficult to come across in Venice with all the pizza and pasta — is a place called Falciani Ristorante Pizzeria on San Marco Square. It’s cheap and cheerful and the food’s really good.
The one problem I have in Venice is there are so many carbs and not enough healthy options, but I’ve managed to find a juice bar, Frulalà. It’s down a windy pathway and I walk there every time I go. And coffee is my thing when I’m there. I just down those double espressos and get walking! There’s a really good coffee shop called Caffè Florian, which is one of the oldest in the world. It was built in 1720. Andy Warhol and Jean-Paul Sartre used to go there. It looks the same as it did in the 1700s — there’s so much history there.
What’s the one unmissable thing you recommend doing?
It has to be Doge’s Palace. It was one of the first places I went to in Venice, and the frescoes are so ornate and beautiful. The most inspirational things you can see.
If you only had 24 hours there, what would you do?
I would definitely get on a gondola and go around the canals, and then I’d walk and get lost in all the little shops and sidewalks, which are so beautiful. Plus I’d go to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and finish my day off at Harry’s Bar at the Cipriani.
What would you bring back as a souvenir?
My favourite shop is this witchy occult stationery store named Charta, which sells everything from tarot cards to watercolour paintings, and the most beautiful leather-bound notebooks, which I always end up buying to write lyrics in. They have lovely parchment paper.
Where do you go to let your hair down?
Normally I am the night out! But my favourite place to play is the rooftop of the Gritti Palace hotel (book it here), which is so famous and has so much history. All the old movie stars have been going there since the Venice Film Festival started. I’ve played the rooftop party co-hosted by Timothée Chalamet and Cartier and it’s literally the most magical view — you’re looking over the whole of the Grand Canal, the whole of Venice. It’s small but cool to be outside playing the best music with the best people.
Who do you call to have a good time there?
People call me!
What are your packing essentials for the city?
Comfortable shoes and a ball gown.
Is there a dress code?
There’s a lot of tourists walking around, but if you want to add a bit of Italian movie star magic then wear a headband and sunglasses, a cute skirt and sandals.
Which building would you love to live in?
The Fortuny Museum, which is a hidden gem in Venice — Mariano Fortuny died in the mid 1900s and was an inventor, an artist and a fashion designer. His old palazzo has been turned into a museum and it’s phenomenal, very gothic. All of his paintings and some of the dresses he created are there, and it has heavy velvet curtains and is full of paintings.
Is there a song that reminds you of Venice?
There’s two! The first one is Notorious BIG, Juicy, because every time I leave on the water taxi going towards the airport, I always seem to hit play on it. The phrase “It was all a dream” is so true of my Venice experience. Then Break My Soul reminds me of the parties at the Gritti Palace. It was Zendaya’s birthday, and Beyoncé’s album Renaissance had just came out, so we played loads of songs from that, and it reminds me of that party and time in Venice.
Do you have a favourite memory of being there?
My friends had done the music on the movie La La Land, and it was premiering at Venice, and they kindly brought me along. It was my first red carpet experience and in the water taxi on the way back from the premiere to the after-party — which I was DJing at the Bauer Hotel (book it here) — all the reviews were coming in for the movie, and there was so much Oscar buzz. It made me so happy for my friends, knowing it would be big and get great reviews. A magical pinch-me moment to share with them.
