London , England ( CNN ) -- When people think of Venice , three things come to mind : gondolas , art and sinking buildings . The watery city , a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture , is not normally associated with cutting-edge cool . But recent developments show that the city is in fact thriving -- due in large part to the many artists and designers who have chosen to make the city their home , and because each year it is host to exciting events such as the alternating architecture and contemporary art biennales , and the Venice film festival . The yearly influx of creative professionals , in addition to the vast numbers of tourists visiting the city , is starting to forge a different , more contemporary vibe . Getting off the beaten tourist track and into local Venetian haunts can also yield some pleasant surprises . CNN 's arts and culture show , icon , has dug beneath the city 's old-world veneer , and come up with a guide to the cooler side of Venice . SEE : If you want to see contemporary art outside of the Biennale , which takes place every two years in the Giardini Pubblici , look no further than the Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi . Both were developed by French billionaire and art collector Francois Pinault to showcase his impressive contemporary art collection , which includes work by artists like Jeff Koons , Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami . The Punta della Dogana , located between the Grand Canal and the Guidecca Canal , was developed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando , and the interiors are sleek and almost industrial in comparison with the ornate palaces normally associated with the city . Other contemporary art spaces to visit include the Peggy Guggenheim Collection on the Dorsoduro , which hosts a changing schedule of exhibitions in addition to a permanent collection and a shop selling artist 's books , posters and gifts . Currently the museum is hosting a show of work by American abstract expressionist painter Adolph Gottlieb and the Restaurant Terrazza Danieli is serving dishes inspired by the artist 's work until the beginning of January -- so if you ca n't take a piece of work home , you can at least eat one . Otherwise , check out the Fondazione Querini Stampalia , a stunning palazzo in central Venice that hosts temporary art exhibitions alongside a permanent museum of fine art and antiquities . Every two years the foundation teams up with Italian fashion brand Furla to award a prize to a young Italian artist , encouraging local creativity and attracting artists to live and work in the city . STAY : French product designer Philippe Starck , who has lived on the Venetian island of Burano for 25 years , has designed the interior of a luxury hotel called the Palazzina Grassi . A far cry from the typical Venice hotel experience , the rooms feature floor-to-wall mirrors , Pop-art inspired chairs and a minimal palette of white and chrome . If you are on a lower budget and craving something other than the heavy brocades and four poster beds prominent in many of the hotels here , head to the light and modern Ca ' Pozzo Inn in Cannaregio . It 's handily located near the rail and bus stations , and is in one of the more typically `` Venetian '' parts of the city . Featuring modern and contemporary art on its walls and simple , modern furniture , it 's a calm , minimal oasis for Baroque-weary visitors . DRINK AND EAT : Venice is known for its mouth-watering food and elegant drinking establishments . Harry 's Bar -- once a drinking hole for the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Charlie Chaplin -- remains a popular haunt for celebrities and the art crowd , as does the bar at the chic Bauer hotel , which becomes inundated at Biennale time . If you want to get away for an evening , a water-taxi trip will take you to Burano and the restaurant Da Romano , one of Philippe Starck 's favorites , and an excellent purveyor of delicious fresh seafood . For partying , Piccolo Mondo is one of island 's most frequented clubs , a pit-stop for students and tourists as well as celebrities . Though the city has acquired the nickname La Serenissima ( in English , The Most Serene ) for its ordinarily quiet nightlife , it becomes a party hotspot during the film festival and biennales . Events take place in grand palazzos , on yachts moored near the Giardini and even in an art deco aircraft hangar out on the Lido -- if you can bag an invite , these are the places to see and be seen . SHOP : The aesthetic in Venice is smart , chic and understated . Though not ideal for bargain-hunting , the city is teeming with boutiques . Max Mara , Prada and Furla -- Italian designers known for their classic designs , and all three patrons of contemporary art -- are the brands to wear for casual bellini drinking and museum hopping .
Venice 's old-world image hides some hip contemporary galleries , hotels and eateries . Architecture and art biennales , and the film festival , are attracting creatives to the city . The most famous of these is probably the Biennale di Venezia, which has been held every year since it was founded in 1951 by a group of artists who wanted to promote international cooperation between their countries