Best Luxury Hotels in Venice

Violino d’Oro Venezia is an elegant, inventive, and exquisitely designed boutique hotel set in the heart of the city. This 5-star hotel is the brainchild of the aunt-and-niece team, Sara and Elena Maestrelli, brought to life with the imaginative flair of architects Piera Tempesti Benelli, Riccardo Burigana, and Tiziano Folin. Within close proximity of iconic landmarks such as St Mark’s Basilica, Harry’s Bar, and Rio San Moise, this 32-room boutique hotel is a the perfect base from which to explore Venice. It showcases an impressive art collection that ranges from classical to contemporary, paintings, glass art, and textiles, along with historical tile work and an authentic Venetian seminato floor. Within the hotel, Piccolo Ristorante and Bar, serves traditional and regional dishes tastes, along with cocktails, and guests are always guaranteed a warm welcome.  with cocktails and chicchetti in the elegant comfort reminiscent of a beloved Venetian friend’s home.

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.

​​Nolinski Venezia, EVOK’s first destination outside of France, is a historic 43-bedroom hotel located in the former old Stock Exchange building in Venice. The hotel’s design, crafted by the French-Italian duo Lecoadic-Scotto, blends Art Nouveau, Stile Liberty, and Modernism in perfect harmony. Situated close to the iconic Piazza San Marco and La Fenice opera house, the hotel captures the refined art de vivre and carnivalesque fantasy of Venice. Nolinski Venezia offers a peaceful oasis discreetly away from the popular shopping district, featuring its own courtyard restaurant and an indoor rooftop swimming pool with stunning 360-degree views of the city skyline. The gastronomy at Nolinski Venezia is overseen by Two-Michelin-starred Chef Philip Chronopoulos, who introduces two restaurants. The courtyard-based Il Caffè Restaurant, inspired by Venetian palaces and the art of the gondola, serves traditional Italian dishes with a contemporary twist, using 100% Italian ingredients. The Library Bar, adorned with art by Simon Buret and a curated library of over four thousand books, offers guests a chance to enjoy live piano music while savouring exquisite cocktails created by Jérémy Bacquet, the Creative Director of the Evok Group’s Bars.

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.

Arrive via Aman Venice’s private jetty into the gardens that lead down to the water. Built in the 16th century, this was once the Palazzo Papadopoli, a grand Baroque masterpiece which retains its original frescoes to this day. The decor is Neo-Renaissance and very opulent, its 24 bedrooms balancing this period grandeur with the modern niceties like Bang & Olufsen flatscreen TVs and Nespresso coffee makers (as this was the first building in the city to get electricity, it’s fitting that it should include some cutting-edge gadgets). Aman Venice has a small spa, Arva restaurant, a bar and a library stacked with books, board games and puzzles.

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.

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.

So many of the city’s buildings have a story to tell. And while many of them were once grand palaces, this one used to be a flour mill. But the Neo-Gothic landmark creation was later reimagined for far more sophisticated purposes – now it’s the largest hotel in the area, retaining some of the original industrial features. Found on the island of Giudecca, it’s a way from the heart of the action, providing a tranquil space to house 379 bedrooms. Its rooftop pool, adjacent to the expansive spa is a highlight, offering panoramic views. There’s also a 24-hour fitness centre, three eateries, a bar and plenty to keep children occupied.

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.

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.

A National Monument, Ca’ Sagredo is housed in a 15the century pink palazzo. With incredible original frescoes, grand staircases, antiques, Murano glass, marble cherubs and sculptures, its detail is sufficient to rival many a museum. The very opposite of minimalism, its 42 rooms are plush and embellished in traditional Venetian style. Dishes at the hotel’s L’Alcova Restaurant are also traditionally Italian, with a selection of regional delicacies on the menu – and guests can join the executive chef in cooking classes. The hotel boasts a convenient location for sightseeing, right beside a Grand Canal Vaporetti stop.

Found close to Venice’s most famous square – St Mark’s – the Bauer Venezia also offers a spectacular lagoonside location. Established as a grand dame in 1880, the elegant palazzo underwent a renovation just before the millennium. A VIP wing with individually decorated suites and a private launch makes it popular with celebrities seeking exclusivity. A blend of regional and international dishes is served at De Pisis, plus there are two drinking establishments; Bar Canale overlooks the Grand Canal, with live music in the summer months, and there’s B-Bar cocktail lounge with live tunes and tipples during the winter.