Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

The colour palette at this elegant hotel has been selected to mirror the hues found in local nature — turquoise blues, earthy browns and neutral shades. There are 40 bedrooms, all with king-size beds and free minibars, some with balconies. Days at the Airone City Hotel begin with a breakfast buffet, featuring homemade cakes including the speciality Airone Wellness Hotel pastry, as well as plenty of savoury options. A highlight is the outdoor hydro-pool and waterfall surrounded by chairs and parasols. Garage parking is available and the hotel has a lounge bar serving light meals.

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.

Located in the heart of Venice, and overlooking the San Marco Basin, this world-class 5-star hotel is elegant, sophisticated and offers the best of Italian luxury. All the romantic rooms and prestigious suites are decorated in luxe Venetian style and offer opulent comfort.  The hotel is also home to the award-winning Canova Restaurant – with a cosy atmosphere and a menu that represents the elegance and finesse of the international food and wine scene. Artistic, culinary and cultural experiences can also be arranged for guests to enjoy – a fine choice for a historic and romantic escape!

Stay in grand, empiric style in this 14th-century palazzo. Comprising three adjoining palatial premises (previously homes for nobility), the Marriott Collection hotel contains 210 bedrooms – some overlooking the Venetian Lagoon. High-value artworks and antiques are around every corner, reflecting the city’s rich heritage. Its jewel of a restaurant – Terrazza Danieli – lies on the hotel’s sun-soaked rooftop, proffering direct waterside views (of both the lagoon and Grand Canal). Gourmet multiple-course or tasting menus feature fruits of the lagoon and oriental spices. But breakfast and light lunches can be enjoyed here too.

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.

Found on Giudecca island, the Cipriani is but a few minutes away from the tourist centre, accessed via the Belmond’s own luxe launch moored at the edge of its gorgeous gardens. Once on its grounds, you’ll find tennis courts, a 15th-century wing housing period bedrooms with butler service, a private marina and an expansive pool terrace that meets the Grand Canal. Offering lovely lagoon views as you sunbathe and swim, this area has an Olympic size pool, filled with seawater. Another highlight is its Michelin-starred formal restaurant, Oro. Those seeking a more laid-back ambience can dine lagoon or pool-side at two further eateries.

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.

Found only 100 meters from the Duomo, The Gray Sina is a five-star design hotel with an impressive Art Nouveau façade. Inside are 21 rooms and suites, decorated in a sophisticated contemporary style that utilises steel, glass, silk and natural woods, offset by daring touches, such as animal print textiles. Some are especially unique with features including suspended beds, private gyms and Turkish baths. It has three places to eat and drink; Le Noir restaurant for modern and delicate dishes in a cleverly lit dining room akin to a black container; the on-trend GBAR, and Aria, The Gray Sina’s alfresco lounge.

This boutique guesthouse follows an ethos of authenticity and personalised service, catering to a new generation of travellers. It comes from Neri Baccheschi Berti, whose family launched the award-winning Castello di Vicarello in Tuscany, and it only recently became a hotel; prior to this, it had been the Legnano racing bike factory and the Baccheschi Berti family’s fashion brand studio/showroom. Guests can curl up in the sitting room with a good book from Vico Milano’s curated library, work out in the gym and spend evenings in the hotel’s speakeasy bar, sampling Baccheschi Berti award-winning organic wines and nibbling on classic Italian snacks.