Best Luxury Hotels in Veneto

Within two decades of opening, the Cristallo played its part in World War I as a military hospital. It’s had a more glamorous recent history, hosting royalty and the Hollywood elite. The 74 bedrooms have a classic, grand Italian style, but the decor is entirely fresh due to a 2017 refurbishment. A ski resort with an in-house spa, it’s part of Marriott International’s Luxury Collection. There are three restaurants; La Veranda for breakfast and lunch, the fully wood panelled La Stube 1872 which serves mountain favourites and the fine dining room, Il Gazebo, with its stunning 360-degree views across the Dolomites.

The Gritti Palace dates back to 1475, although didn’t become a hotel until just before the turn of the 20th century. Opening right up onto the Grand Canal, with its own private jetty, the Luxury Collection property has 82 bedrooms. Inside, guests can enjoy the Sisley Paris spa, hammam and hairdressing services, or take cookery classes at the Gritti Epicurean School. Its Club del Doge restaurant serves an award-winning Venetian heritage-themed menu. These dishes are (in part) crafted using vegetables from the hotel’s private garden, which is hidden on an island in the lagoon. The resulting gourmet meals can be taken in the sumptuous dining room, or on the candlelit waterside terrace. And the Gritti Palace’s Riva Lounge – styled to reflect the mid-century design of the Monaco Yacht Club – is one of the most glamorous spots in town for late-night cocktails.

Guest staying in the 130 guestrooms and 39 suites of the St Regis all benefit from the brand’s attentive take on butler service, while some also enjoy private terraces with plush furnishings and panoramic views. The building, just a few minute’s stroll from the Piazza San Marco, is over 150 years old and avant-garde both inside and out. Its Italianate garden provides a backdrop in which you can eat, drink, or just relax, away from the tourist throng and features geometric patterning, curlicue topiary, rose planting and pathways. Or you can dine on modern Venetian cuisine in Gio’s Restaurant and sip cocktails in the Arts Bar.

Combine your beach break with a wellness retreat at the Falkensteiner’s all-new Acquapura SPA, where treatments are based on Hawaiian rituals. This space spans 1,500 square metres including an indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi and a hammam. The restaurant has a sea view terrace and wine cellar, there’s a firelit lobby bar and a cigar lounge, as well as a private stretch of beach. Modernist architect Richard Meier worked alongside interior designer Matteo Thun to create a chic property with a vintage Miami vibe; neutral tones are accented with bold colours and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the outlook.

Boasting more than 700 years of rich history, this grand hotel regularly receives ratings as one of the leading hotels in the world and has received its fair share of celebrities over the centuries. While the Due Torri Hotel has managed to maintain a vintage style that is true to its roots, guests are treated to plenty of modern and luxurious touches such as full concierge service and a large lobby to unwind in. there are just 89 guestrooms to choose from and top picks include the lavish Maria Callas suite that is named after the famous singer who was a regular guest and the Presidential Suite that has played host to the Sheikh of Dubai. Rooms feature stylish pink marble bathrooms and balconies overlooking the pretty Piazza Sant’Anastasia.

Nestled near cultural landmarks such as the Guggenheim Collection and Accademia Gallery, Il Palazzo Experimental serves as a hub for both tourists and locals. Its 32 well-appointed rooms and suites are bathed in natural light and offer views of a serene canal and garden. The collaboration between the Experimental Group and the founders of the Italian Supper Club has led to the establishment of Adriatica Restaurant, promising an authentic Italian culinary journey with locally sourced ingredients. The bar, designed by Cristina Celestino, pays homage to Venice through a symphony of marble and antique mirrors, drawing inspiration from Carlo Scarpa.

This 16th-century palace is now part of the slick and contemporary NH Collection. It’s an ideal choice for those wishing to escape the throng, yet still within walking distance of the main attractions, as it’s located in the peaceful residential quarter of Sestiere Cannaregio, surrounded by an 18th-century botanical garden. And when you do want a slice of the action, you can easily take a boat trip from the hotel’s private pier, or hop on the complimentary shuttle. 64 Venetian-style rooms are accommodated over five floors, along with its Il Giardino Segreto and La Loggia restaurants and La Voga Bar.

Following a major redesign by architect Flaviano Capriotti in 2018, the Faloria Mountain Spa Resort has been reimagined with a palette of neutral colours and the prolific use of local wood and stone. The resulting building harmonises beautifully with the landscape and boasts a huge new spa, providing sensory journeys as well as a semi-Olympic pool covered in blue-green majolica tiles. 48 rooms are spread over three floors, with lashings of light coming through the huge picture windows. Take a seat in the Faloria Restaurant for views of the mountain Croda da Lago on one side and Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Olympic ski jump on the other.

Taking us back to the artery of Venice, PalazzinaG and its rooftop eatery, are perched alongside the Grand Canal. But, like the JW Marriott, it eschews antique interiors. Instead, guests will find chic French infused interior design by Philippe Starck. While displaying modern decor with many an artistic statement piece, the hotel nods to the building’s previous life as a Roman Spa (look out for the giant columns). Rooms come equipped with Bottega Veneto toiletries, nightly sweet treats and – if you bring your pooch – canine beds and bowls too.

Right on the Lido, this luxurious resort has a subtly Moorish interior design. Reminiscent of a former era, the turn of the 20th-century building’s furnishings encapsulate a sense of North African mid-century style. The Excelsior boasts bedrooms with terraces overlooking the sea, tent-like private cabanas on the beach, a swimming pool, complimentary water shuttles, in-room Salvatore Ferragamo bath products, and a renowned intimate candlelit restaurant and some incredible seafood. It may be a glamorous venue – an optimum place to star spot during the film festival – but the resort is very welcoming of families, offering a kids’ club among its amenities.

Art lovers who have a taste for the finer things in life are sure to enjoy staying at the luxurious yet understated Grand Hotel Des Arts. The Piazza Bra is just a five-minute stroll away and wandering through this charming neighbourhood is an uplifting experience. Guests are treated to their choice of tea, coffee and cakes each day and the staff are always on hand to go the extra mile to make them feel special. Guests can take their pick from rooms that overlook the pretty garden or the Corso Porta Nuova and dining in the hotel’s courtyard is a real treat.

This Grande Dame hotel opened in 1907, under the original name of the Hungaria Palace Hotel. Nicolo Piamonte was the architect of the building’s neo-Rennaisance exterior, whose interiors followed an Art Noveau and Liberty style. Now the five-star venue close to Lungomare d’Annunzio Beach includes a full-service spa with 12 treatments rooms, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a winter garden and two bars (one of which is on the rooftop). A lavish refurbishment has retained original details and stunning frescoes but added many modern amenities like espresso makers and air-con. There are 60 bedrooms in total, including suites, all filled with lashings of character.