Top 10: best luxury hotels in Venice

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today (October 5, 2015): Top 10 best luxury hotels in Venice.

Built atop 118 small islands separated by winding canals and linked by arching bridges, Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site suffused with beauty. Art, architecture and artisanal crafts are in full bloom across the city, evident while wandering the streets and canals, in visiting the churches and museums and during the events that mark the city’s calendar, from the art biennales to Carnivale. Here’s my selection of Venice’s top 10 most luxurious and iconic resorts, so you know where you have to stay when you visit this ultra-romantic city.

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10. GRAND HOTEL DEI DOGI

The Grand Hotel Dei Dogi is an excellent location for completely immersing yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Venice, because it is housed in the old and prestigious Rizzo-Patarol noble palace. The five star hotel combines contemporary comfort with the ‘period luxury’ of the precious marble, splendid frescoes and majestic chandeliers. Located in Sestiere Cannaregio, it is close to the center of Venice but at arm’s length from the more crowded thoroughfares, and thus shows the true face of Venice and its inhabitants. The 72 luxury rooms are a compendium of Venetian style, with high ceilings, oriental carpets, and painted XVIII-century wardrobes .

Hotel website: Grand Hotel Dei Dogi

9. HOTEL DANIELI, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL

With sweeping views over the Venetian lagoons, Hotel Danieli enjoys a location rich in history on Riva degli Schiavoni. The hotel is just moments from Piazza San Marco, the heart of the city and guests can easily wander around the many authentic streets nearby. The Danieli has 210 rooms and suites, welcoming guests across the hotel’s three palaces to sumptuous, elegant surroundings reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Venice. French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon has masterfully detailed three unique Signature Suites inspired by glamorous female celebrities of cinema, opera and fashion, who selected Hotel Danieli to celebrate important milestones in their lifetime.

Hotel website: Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, $100 USD food & beverage credit, early check-in, and late check-out).

8. HILTON MOLINO STUCKY

Going down the canals on a gondola is not the only aquatic pleasure you can have in Venice. You can also swim above the city at the stunning rooftop pool of Venice’s largest hotel, Hilton Molino Stucky, which is located on an island off the coast of Venice and offers breathtaking panoramic city views – described as “the best views in Venice, bar none” by Lonely Planet. The hotel, once a flourishing flourmill, is now internationally recognized as one of Italy’s iconic pieces of industrial architecture. Beautifully restored and minutes from Venice’s main attractions via shuttle boat, it now houses 379 charming and comfortable guest rooms, offering a different view of Venice.

Hotel website: Hilton Molino Stucky
Other accolades: Hilton Molino Stucky also features in my top 10 list of the world’s most spectacular rooftop pools.

7. PALAZZINA GRASSI

The Palazzina Grassi 5 stars hotel in Venice is located in the heart of the beautiful lagoon city, in the central Ramo Grassi, at a short distance from Piazza San Marco and the iconic symbols of the city. 16 rooms and 6 stylish suite apartments divided into 6 extraordinary types allows you to enjoy spaces whose shapes, colors and furnishings create prestigious ambiences full of modern conveniences. In every corner of the structure the style is unique and special, created by the inspiration of the French architect and designer Philippe Starck. The areas for events, parties and ceremonies, “sui generis” experiences, the Krug Space and the outdoor restaurant complete the offer of this fantastic hotel, which is overlooking the Grand Canal.

Hotel website: Palazzina Grassi

6. SINA CENTURION PALACE

Overlooking the mouth of the Grand Canal, Sina Centurion Palace is housed in the former convent of Palazzo Genovese. Rooms and suites have a contrasting modern influence and there is a private garden, butler service and a gourmet restaurant. Expect peace and tranquillity in this relatively quiet area of Dorsoduro, virtually next door to the famous landmark, Santa Maria della Salute. Each room and suite is individually decorated in contemporary style, many of which have dreamy, mystical city views. The name Centurion refers to the ancient Roman coin depicting Antinous, who was famous for his friendship with the Emperor Hadrian, which was discovered when the building was being restored. Centurion Palace is a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property.

Hotel website: Sina Centurion Palace

5. SAN CLEMENTE PALACE KEMPINSKI

The San Clemente Palace Kempinski (previous a St Regis hotel) is a legendary retreat that sits on its own private island in the heart of the Venice lagoon, just minutes away from Piazza San Marco by one of the hotels iconic complimentary boats. San Clemente island was founded in 1131 with the purpose of encouraging “the recovery of the soul and spirit”. Today, a private retreat offering experiences beyond expectation including 6 hectares of lush gardens and a private 15th century church ideal for celebrations. The 189 suites and rooms are surrounded by majestic gardens and terraces that overlook the Venice lagoon. The hotel is also home to a world-class restaurant.

Hotel website: San Clemente Palace Kempinski
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early chech-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
Review: read here here my review of San Clemente Palace.

4. JW MARRIOTT VENICE RESORT & SPA

The JW Marriott brand’s first hotel in Italy is a world-class addition to its global portfolio of 59 luxury properties. Opened in March 2015, the resort is located on a private island, Sola Delle Rose, in the Venetian lagoon, just a 20-minute ride across the Lagoon to central St. Mark’s Square by complimentary shuttle service. The resort features 266 contemporary-styled rooms and suites designed by the architect Matteo Thun, in addition to 4 restaurants, the largest spa in Venice, a romantic church for events and private ceremonies, a rooftop lounge area with pool offering a dramatic 360° view over Venice, and lush green areas with a combination of tropical and Mediterranean plants.

Hotel website: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Other accolades: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa features in my lists of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2015 and Europe’s 10 best hotel rooftops.
Review: read here my review of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa.

3. THE GRITTI PALACE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL

The Gritti Palace, managed by Marriott’s The Luxury Collection, is one of Venice’s most celebrated luxury hotels. It is a place where Italian history and culture meet with renewed Venetian style, a place of exceptional art and elegance, reassuringly intimate with a homely feel. With a floating terrace on the best spot along Venice’s Canal Grande, the Gritti Palace has always attracted global influencers, celebrities and the world’s elite to socialize, draw inspiration, and celebrate during international city events such as the Biennale of Contemporary Art and the Venice Film Festival. The hotel reopened in 2013 after a $50 million refurbishment, so now it’s time to explore its original wooden ceilings, dressing-table mirrors and 18th century wall lamps, hand-made in Murano.

Hotel website: The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Other accolades: the Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s most spectacular hotel rooftops, the best hotel rooftops in Europe, and luxury hotels made famous by Hollywood movies.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, $100 USD food & beverage credit, early check-in, and late check-out).
Review: read here my review of the Gritti Palace.

2. BELMOND HOTEL CIPRIANI

Venice is a glorious, theatrical experience that touches all the senses. And if Venice is a theatre, the Belmond Hotel Cipriani must be one of its Royal Boxes. Five minutes by private launch from Piazza San Marco, on the tip of Giudecca Island, this luxury hotel commands unrivalled views of the lagoon and Doge’s Palace. Steeped in Venetian style, it is known for interiors decorated in exquisite local artefacts, classic cuisine with an innovative twist and the most fabulous, Olympic-sized swimming pool in the city. Lovestruck vacationers may never want to leave the comfort of Belmond Hotel Cipriani’s 95 rooms and suites, but the sweeping views of vineyards and a lagoon are sure to tempt even the most smitten into the gorgeous streets of Venice.

Hotel website: Belmond Hotel Cipriani
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, $100 USD resort credit, early check-in, and late check-out).
Review: read here my review of the Belmond Hotel Cipriani.

1. AMAN VENICE

As sumptuous and romantic as the city itself Aman Venice – located within a phenomenal 16th-century Palazzo Papadopolion on the Grand Canal – is currently the most (ultra)luxurious property in the city and home to museum-quality treasures including Tiepolo frescoes, gilded ceilings and centuries-old leather wall coverings. More home than hotel, Aman Venice offers the rare privilege of space in the centre of the Floating City. High ceilings and spacious light-filled salons are joined by two mature outdoor private gardens and a small rooftop rarely seen in the city. With views to the hotel’s private garden or the Grand Canal, many of the 24 rooms and suites feature protected frescos and reliefs. The hotel belongs to the portfofio of Aman, the world’s most exclusive hotel brand.

Hotel website: Aman Venice
Other accolades: Aman Venice also features in my lists of the best new luxury hotels of 2013, the 10 best Aman hotels in the world and the 10 most amazing city hotels in Europe.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, one lunch for two, early check-in, and late check-out).
Review: read here my review of Aman Venice.