The best hotels in Venice
If you're going to indulge in a special stay anywhere, make it at one of the best hotels in Venice. There’s no other city in Italy – perhaps even in the world – as transportive and dreamlike as the City of Water, a realm whose fluid limits curtail the extent to which modernity can seep in and encroach. The canals set the pace, the gondolas glide gracefully, and with each quaint bridge and narrow calle, the city preserves a rhythm that feels distinctly of another time. For better or for worse, this otherworldly atmosphere lures over 20 million visitors each year. These islands, crossed with 150 canals and connected by more than 400 bridges, can feel at once magically cinematic and crushingly overrun.
And of course, when thinking of Venice, you can almost hear it, a soundtrack so unmistakably its own that it’s impossible not to recall the sounds alongside the sights. Undeniably, there’s something eerily tranquil about the absence of car traffic, and Venice compensates for it on its own terms. The city speaks with the verve of a world-wise polyglot: Italian, French, English, German and beyond ping and flutter to compose a gentle cacophony, layered with the steady churn of vaporetti and motorboats and the periodic peal of church bells.
At night, Venice is at its most tender. La Serenissima becomes its most serene, crooning a much softer tune: water laps on the canal banks, underscored by fleeting, muffled hums of vaporetti while footsteps and low murmurs echo through the calli. If you’re near a canal, you might awaken to the thud of packages as delivery boats begin their rounds. But here, even that can feel soothing.
So, where to sleep on nights like these? Here’s our guide to the best hotels in Venice.
More recommendations for where to stay in Venice and Italy:
- The best affordable hotels in Venice
- The best Airbnbs in Venice
- The best hotels in Italy
- The best villas in Italy
- The best Airbnbs in Italy
- The best hotels in Milan
- The best hotels in Naples
- The best hotels in Rome
- The best hotels in Puglia
- The best hotels in Lake Como
What is the best area in Venice to stay in?
Many of the hotels on this list are located in San Marco, the most popular of Venice’s six sestieri (central districts). San Marco is home to the city’s top attractions as well – St Mark Basilica, Doge’s Palace and The Bridge of Sighs – and, in turn, is also the busiest part of the city.
While the Venice Venice Hotel lies within the central cluster of islands, it’s perched at the edge of the Cannaregio district, where the Rio dei Santi Apostoli flows into the Grand Canal. Cross the first bridge on your left when you leave the hotel, and you’ll find yourself in a lively yet pleasantly calmer part of the city, where you’re often moving against the tide of crowds heading toward San Marco.
For a stay that’s away from the crowds, opt for a hotel in Dorsoduro, like Ca Maria Adele and Palazzetto MyVenice, where you’ll find a mix of tourists and locals along with the city’s top art galleries. Another option is Il Palazzo Experimental, located at the eastern end of Le Zattere, a residential area which is becoming a bit of a Venice restaurant hub, with nearby Riviera and Balkan-themed Sudest 1401 among the current highlights. Also relatively removed from the fray is the Ca’ di Dio, which sits on a scenic stretch of promenade near the entrance to the Arsenale, the Biennale’s central hub, and just a short walk from the Biennale gardens.
For a genuine reprieve, head to the outer islands. Giudecca sits just across from the historic centre on the opposite end of the Giudecca Canal. There, you’ll find the Belmond Hotel Cipriani and the Hilton Molino Stucky. Over on Isola delle Rose, the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa offers a secluded luxury escape, while Casa Burano brings boutique charm to the colourful island of the same name.
How we choose the best hotels in Venice
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.
Julius HirtzbergerThe Venice Venice Hotel
While it’s hard to define what a typical Venice hotel might be, the Venice Venice Hotel defies all expectations – in the best way possible. This avant-garde “post-Venetian” five-star retreat occupies the 13th-century Cà da Mosto, the Grand Canal’s oldest palazzo and the only one to retain its original Byzantine façade. Owners Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo, art collectors and founders of Golden Goose sneakers, haven’t merely incorporated art into the guest experience; here, art is the experience – the art directs the design. The hotel teases a whimsically clandestine character, whether arriving by water at the discreet canal entrance, where Fabio Viale’s marble sculptures of the Madonna and Jesus evoke a pietà in two parts, set amid an enchanting interplay of water, light and geometry that pays homage to the late 20th-century Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa. The black metal gate protecting the arched entryway slides open on approach — a modern-day drawbridge welcoming you into a realm unto itself. Or perhaps, those arriving by land find themselves reckoning with the idea of climbing the two dozen-ish stone steps looming before them. Fret not — the first-floor lobby is within easier reach thanks to an elevator tucked into the back corner of the ground-floor concept shop, a vessel lined with a silk pattern displaying artist Francesco Simeti’s custom tapestries that adorn the walls of the first-floor bar. The motif reappears throughout the hotel in blankets, curtains, kimonos, Friulane shoes, and more.
All 43 rooms draw from the works of an artist: Room 5 pays tribute to Christo and displays an original work above the bathtub. Guests staying in Room 25, the Renato D'Agostin suite, can use one of the photographer’s own cameras and have the film developed by the photographer himself. Room 35 is a two-level, 200-square-metre suite devoted to Jannis Kounellis, occupying the very space where Canaletto painted the Rialto – a view that remains relatively unchanged. Among the amenities is a ready-to-use Moka (pre-filled with coffee and water, attached to a boiler and ready to be switched on), a complimentary minibar stocked with a mini bottle of prosecco and toiletries by the hotel’s in-house lifestyle brand, Erose, which include pop-top cans of body wash. The ground-floor restaurant spills out onto the expansive bannister-free wood terrace. By day, it’s M’Art, which opens for breakfast and keeps continuous afternoon hours between lunch and dinner with an aperitivo in between. At night, it becomes the more upscale Francy’s, serving refined takes on Venetian classics. Jaclyn DeGiorgio
Palazzetto MyVenice
The word palazzetto implies a certain degree of refined cosiness: a palazzo pared down by its diminutive suffix, suggesting something more intimate and personal, a fitting eponym for Palazzetto MyVenice. Housed in a 16th-century structure, the boutique property is a 200-metre walk from the Ca Rezzonico vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal – water taxi arrivals can disembark at the hotel’s private water gate on Rio del Malpaga. The passion project of Padua-based businessman Giuliano Canella, Palazzetto MyVenice resides in the former Locanda San Barnaba, a modest inn that closed during the pandemic.
Upon entering the ground-floor lobby, a lulling aroma – a bespoke blend of bergamot and cedar – sets the mood for the hotel’s snug, cultivated ambience. From there, you access the first floor via an elevator or a staircase outfitted with a cascading Murano glass chandelier from Schiavon. The landing opens into a spacious jewel-box of a salon with a soaring, nearly four-metre-high ceiling, frescoed walls, a Lehmann piano, low lacquered tables and plush, teal sofas paired with burnt sienna armchairs. An original dark wood door opens into the Champagneria, a private cocktail nook for guests, while the others lead to the five Romantic rooms, whose neutral palettes are warmed up by slate grey and marine blue accents. The rooms juxtapose original details, such as wood-beamed ceilings and terrazzo floors, with contemporary fixtures like lofted sleeping areas and see-through bathrooms. Five suites span the two upper levels, reachable by a staircase that leads to the top-floor terrace. Back downstairs, veterans of the three-star Michelin-rated Le Calandre helm the ground-floor restaurant. In the canal-side courtyard, guests linger over breakfast beside a pair of Murano flamingos and perhaps even catch a glimpse of a gondlier’s straw hat drifting through the brick wall’s archways. Jaclyn DeGiorgio
hotelThe St Regis, Venice
Alice Monet is said to have remarked that the Britannia Hotel boasted the best view in all of Venice and that was all that mattered for her husband, the Impressionist painter Claude. Today, the St. Regis Venice occupies Britannia’s former home — one of five historic palazzi that comprise the hotel — and maintains that very same view with timeless poise. Aptly, the hotel feels more like a living museum, curated with art and objects that honour its artistic origins. Upon arrival by water taxi, guests cross a corridor adorned with contemporary art and set with a black, white, and grey 3D geometric patterned floor. The Grand Salone comes into view, its terrazzo floor overlooked by an extravagantly tangled, frosted white Murano glass chandelier designed by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in collaboration with Berengo Studio, the hotel’s frequent collaborator.
The 100 rooms and 39 suites are airy and artful, outfitted with custom furnishings, plush textiles in soft pastels, Acqua di Parma toiletries and Fred Jerbis bottled cocktails. At the restaurant Gio’s, Pugliese chef Giuseppe Ricci approaches local ingredients with deliberate precision, even swapping lemon for a house-made apple umami, coaxed from a native variety to preserve local regionality. Meals are presented on Ginori 1735 plateware, a fitting prelude to the recently revamped, canal-side Ginori Terrace. The new look swaps pastel pink patterned umbrellas for a more restrained palette of the Castagna brown and Meringa beige hues, a soft, stylish backdrop for taking in San Giorgio Maggiore, a subject of several Monets. Sip a Santa Maria, the hotel’s riff on a Bloody Mary named for the basilica right across the Grand Canal, served in bespoke Murano glassware inspired by its cupola. And linger, admiring the same view that once captivated Monet, less, of course, the Miu Miu billboard. Jaclyn DeGiorgio
Andrea GetulihotelCa’ Pisani, Venice
A refined, design-led sanctuary in the heart of Dorsoduro, Ca’ Pisani offers a rare blend of Venetian history and Art Deco sophistication – perfect for travellers who want to feel the soul of the city without sacrificing style or serenity. A stay here feels like stepping into a quieter, more thoughtful Venice – one far removed from the tourist crush around St Mark’s, yet just a short stroll away from the city’s most compelling art. It was one of Venice’s first true design hotels, and it still leads with quiet confidence. Housed in a 14th-century noble residence, the property is family-run, but with all the polish of a boutique stay with international appeal. The building’s historical bones have been lovingly preserved – think timbered ceilings, original terrazzo floors, leaded-glass windows – but it’s the overlay of 1930s and ’40s Italian futurism that sets it apart.
The 29 rooms and suites feel more like stylish private apartments than hotel spaces. Richly toned wood panelling, geometric mirrors, and sculptural lighting give each room a distinct personality, while large beds and crisp linens anchor everything in comfort. La Rivista, the hotel’s in-house restaurant and wine bar, is a favourite of in-the-know locals as well as guests. It’s small, dark and unfussy with a focus on seasonal Venetian produce, beautifully plated without affectation. Expect creamy risottos, fresh Adriatic fish, and homemade desserts served with thoughtful pairings from small-batch Italian vineyards. Sarah James
Courtesy Starwood Hotels & ResortshotelThe Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel
$$$Featured in our Gold List of the best hotels in the world 2024
If you were to enter The Gritti Palace without realising it offered board and lodging, you might find yourself looking for the ticket counter. The ultimate grande dame in Venice is every inch a museum of the city’s decorative history, with its silk and damask wall coverings, acres of painted stucco and precious marble, and gilded ceiling beams from which Murano chandeliers hang like elegant jellyfish. It was only in 2013 when it reopened following a $38 million revamp, that The Gritti was able to square the wow of the guest experience with the wow of its antique splendour. (In the 1940s, when Ernest Hemingway penned his Gritti-set novel Across the River and Into the Trees, it didn’t even have en-suite bathrooms). You don’t need to book the airily magnificent Somerset Maugham Royal Suite to feel that you have joined the club; a not-so-modest, entry-level Deluxe Room will do just fine. It, too, is swathed in stylish Rubelli fabrics; it too feels like Casanova might be hiding in the wardrobe. The Gritti Terrace, with its views across gondola-infested waters to the great Salute church, is one of Venice’s finest breakfast spots, and the late 2023 arrival of executive chef Alberto Fol from Hotel Danieli is a local win. At the deliciously private Bar Longhi, happiness is pulling up a stool at the inlaid marble counter, asking head barman Cristiano Luciani to fix one of his moreish wild fennel martinis and channelling your inner Peggy Guggenheim.
Fol’s team recently took part in a program dedicated to reducing food waste and promoting hyperlocal, seasonal ingredient sourcing led by the Copenhagen-based MAD Academy. This commitment extends to the hotel’s new collaboration with the Venice Gardens Foundation to restore the historic Orto Giardino del Redentore, a sustainable garden on the island of Giudecca, which supplies the kitchen team with zero-kilometre produce. Hotel guests enjoy exclusive access to the garden. Lee Marshall
Address: Campo Santa Maria Del Giglio, 2467, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Courtesy Violino d'OrohotelHotel Violino d’Oro
As featured in our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
It’s easy for hotels to say they want guests to feet at home – it’s harder to pull off. But from the moment you enter this intimate boutique hotel just five minutes from Piazza San Marco, you feel like you’re being welcomed into the abode of a sophisticated host. That’s because it’s a very personal project for Sara Maestrelli, who’s joining her aunt Elena in the family business. (The Maestrellis own hotels in Florence and Forte dei Marmi, but this property is the first of theirs to be part of the Leading Hotels of the World.) They were adamant that Violino d’Oro be a completely “made in Italy” project that not only showcases archival designs by Fortuny, Venini, and Martinelli Luce, but also supports young Italian artists and artisans – including the Micheluzzi sisters, whose Venetian glass vases decorate the hotel; and Allegra Santini, who created regenerated marble busts for the rooms. The locally minded, artisan-led philosophy extends to the bar, where lauded bartender Francesco Adranga shakes up creative cocktails using Gin Venice (one of the only gins made in the Venetian lagoon); and Il Piccolo restaurant, which serves gourmet dishes with an emphasis on plant-based and gluten-free options served, naturally, on Ginori porcelain. But more than the fancy trappings, it’s the staff – from the charismatic general manager, Annabella Cariello, right down to the receptionist – who make you feel at home. Laura Itzkowitz
Guillaume de LaubierhotelNolinski Venezia
As featured in our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
In 1819 Shelley wrote of Venice: “Its temples and its palaces did seem/Like fabrics of enchantment pil’d to heaven.” They still do. The new Nolinski Venezi is a glorious addition to the city’s pile of enchanted fabrics. In the context of five-star hotels, it’s also a slightly unusual addition. It occupies the former stock-exchange building in the Calle Larga XXII Marzo, in the thick of what is these days the smartest shopping street in town.
This is the second Nolinski hotel from French hospitality group Evok. Like the first, which opened in Paris in 2016, it’s been undertaken with exceptional sensitivity and flair. The interiors, by Frenchman Yann Le Coadic and Italian Alessandro Scotto, deploy contemporary, Art Deco and mid-century industrial elements in a way that honours and elevates the grandeur of the fine Liberty Style building. The tones and textures are ravishing: powder-pink, rust-red and blue-grey; strict metallic geometries offsetting soft, wavy lines. Their contribution is complemented by a superbly curated collection of art and glassware. It all comes together to dazzling effect in the Library Bar, tall and narrow, plush and velvety, sexy and nerdy, its walls lined with 4,000 books and its ceiling decorated with a hypnotically radiant painting by Simon Buret. Steve King
Courtesy Belmond/Photo by Helen CathcarthotelHotel Cipriani, Venice
$$$As featured in our 2023 Gold List of the best hotels in the world
The journey is as important as the arrival, they say, and when applied to the home and garden of earthly delights that is the Belmond Cipriani, it means something. A vintage motor launch in varnished cedar, the last word in 1970s Venetian nautical chic, awaits to whisk you from the terminal or the crowds of St. Mark’s Square to the hotel, where the charming Roberto, who has been here forever, greets guests with a personal flourish. Unlike Venice’s other luxury hotels that have been poured into existing historic palaces, fighting against a corset of strict regulations, the Cipriani was custom-built in 1958 with plenty of elbow room, on three acres of land of the Giudecca, then owned by Guinness nobility. The daughters, Honor and Brigid, were fans of Harry’s Bar, a small panelled den in the heart of Venice, and invited its owner, Giuseppe Cipriani, to think big and create a hotel in partnership with them. The result is a place that is still unrivalled for that spirit of urbane hedonism; for generous and attentive service that never genuflects; for an easy atmosphere of peace and sanctuary alongside a sense of clubhouse discretion and rarefied exclusivity.
In the summer, when the canals in Venice get stinkier, the Cipriani offers more than a breath of fresh air. The grounds are large enough for tennis courts, a kitchen garden, a vineyard, and a spa within the orange blossom-scented Casanova gardens. Meanwhile, around the showpiece Olympic-size pool, the beating heart of the hotel, sunbathing is raised to the level of theatre, with endless opportunities for people-watching around the travertine-marble terrace. Here, Hollywood moguls cement film deals in loud voices while Venetian aristocrats settle into cabanas for the day, spraying complimentary Evian like Chanel No 5 and addressing the staff as extensions of their family.
In May 2025 the hotel unveiled the first phase of a redesign by Peter Marino. The 13 newly styled rooms signal the start of a three-part renovation inspired by three eras: Old Venice, La Dolce Vita, and Contemporary Art and Design, all carried out during the off-season. Catherine Fairweather
hotelCa'di Dio
With a prime spot on the St. Mark’s Basin waterfront, right in front of the Arsenale ferry terminal, no bridges or steps are required to reach the boutique Ca’di Dio. A water taxi can deliver you directly to the hotel’s dock. From the ferry stop, it’s mere steps before reaching the jewel box hotel lounge-meets-lobby. Plush velvet and leather seating and colourful Murano glass are sprinkled about, all courtesy of Spanish designer Patrica Urquiola, who executed a unique retro-modern makeover when the VRetreats hotel opened in 2021. There are 66 rooms, some with lagoon views, others with wooden beam ceilings, all with refined art deco-style glass lighting. In a previous life, the bolthole was a medieval pilgrim's hostel. There are two traditional Altana-raised roof terraces and three internal courtyards, the largest of which is a dreamy, leafy space. If the weather permits, don’t miss breakfast – organic eggs, perfect bacon and fresh juice – or aperitivo hour in the courtyard, possibly one of the most peaceful spots in the crowd-loving city. Lauren Burvill
Address: Ca'di Dio, Riva Ca' di Dio, 2183, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
Karel BalashotelIl Palazzo Experimental
In a city where aperitivo hour is built into the day, the diet and the dining experience, it was only a matter of time before the mixology masters at Experimental Cocktail Club brought their skills to the scene. At the eastern end of Le Zattere, the hotel has its entrance through the restaurant and bar rather than the lobby, tempting those at check-in to peruse a menu before they’ve even picked up their room key (we like the almondy house Negroni, an Experimental twist on the classic). In the bedrooms, designer Dorothée Meilichzon, a regular collaborator with the group, has paired Art Deco touches with the kind of playful, colourful, curvaceous furniture and fittings associated with Italy’s 1980s Memphis design movement. Plump for a room with a balcony that comes with postcard views over the Giudecca Canal. In terms of location, the streets between here and the church of San Nicolò are Venice at its most charmingly residential, and the area is becoming a bit of a restaurant hub, with nearby Riviera and Balkan-themed Sudest 1401 among the current highlights.
Address: Il Palazzo Experimental, Fondamenta Zattere Al Ponte Lungo, Venice, Italy
Diego De PolhotelBaglioni Hotel Luna
In terms of location, Baglioni hotel can’t be beaten – tucked literally around the corner from Piazza San Marco, and with a private canal for water taxi arrivals and a gondola ride stop, literally on its doorstep. It’s also the oldest hotel in Venice, dating all the way back to 1118, and one of the most Venetian – as can be only expected from the Italian hotel brand. Inside is suitably resplendent with original Murano chandeliers, antique furniture and silk brocade walls. Breakfast is served in a grandiose room with a fresco ceiling. In the rooms, ornate gilt bed frames are flanked with tasselled pendant lights, bathrooms are generously sized and all marble. It’s a feast for the eyes, but if that’s not enough, lagoon views are also an appealing option. In the evenings, head to the downstairs bar for aperitivo hour – the alla moda order is a glass of Cantine Ferrari – followed by a very special supper at The Canover. You’re in good hands here with Chef Claudio Sadler, who received a Michelin Star in 2021 when helming the Gusto by Sadler restaurant at Baglioni’s Sardinia property. Now in Venice and working with Executive Chef Gennaro Balice, Sadler is making new waves with a traditional yet unexpected approach – dishes like Venetian-style Ox meat or Cappellacci stuffed with shrimp from the lagoon. Whatever the order, everything is delicately plated to look like a whimsical work of art. It’s only a matter of time before the Michelin guide comes calling. Lauren Burvill
Roberta ValeriohotelAman Venice
Aman is best known for its ultra-minimal Asian beach hotels. So news it was opening a hotel in Venice (a city! In Europe!) in a palazzo (so flouncy!) was something of a shock to die-hard Aman junkies. But, of course, the group nailed it, partnering up with proper Venetian aristos Gilberto and Bianca Arrivabene (he’s a count; she’s a princess), taking over all the family’s 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli (one of only eight palazzo monumentali in Venice) and pairing the priceless frescos, enormous Murano chandeliers and opulent silks with trademark minimal design – low-slung B&B Italia works remarkably well against all that gilt.
There are just 24 bedrooms here, all slotted into the palazzo’s original rooms so each is unique, some – the best – with all the palazzo flourishes you’d expect and Grand Canal views. Try the Alcova Tiepolo Suite to sleep beneath Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s cerub-filled frescos (like the Clooneys did on their wedding night) with walls lined in dove-grey Rubelli silks. Or the Sansovino Suite with its standout fireplace by 16th-century architect Jacopo d'Antonio Sansovino. If you want the full Italian aristo experience in Venice this is as close as you can get, while not sacrificing any of the super-smart hotel slick that Aman brings to the party. Sleep under priceless frescos, drink spritzes overlooking the Grand Canal – this is a very special place in a very special city. Fiona Kerr
Address: Aman Venice, Palazzo Papadopoli, Calle Tiepolo Baiamonte, Venice, Italy
hotelPalazzina Grassi
Just two potted palms mark the street entrance to Palazzina Grassi, an indication of the discretion guests can expect when they stay at this stylish hotel designed by Philippe Starck. Engraved pillars from what was originally a family home hold up spotlit ceilings, blood-red curves of Murano glass hang above the bar, and a multitude of mirrors throw reflections at every angle. With masks on the lampshades, TVs hidden in the mirrors and a steam room/shower with neon lights and music, it’s safe to say that Palazzina Grassi’s 20 rooms and five suites will suit those looking for an ultra-modern twist on Venetian hospitality with attention to what guests really need: Dyson hairdryers, full-sized tubes of Diptyque products, and breakfast served until noon. At night Venice’s most flamboyant wander in wearing wigs and Ferragamo to dine on frothy crab cappuccino, shiny stacks of tuna tartare and rich, black squid risotto flecked with gold. Monisha Rajesh
Mattia MionettohotelCasa Burano
Casa Burano is perfectly on-point, with refreshingly contemporary rooms decked out with local furnishings, and bathrooms that deserve a shout out for the enormous steam room and a tub big enough for 10 people. Breakfast is delivered in hampers every morning – homemade yogurt, jam and croissants – and there are limitless espressos. But the best bit is the price. Gianluca Bisol has passed the reins over to his charming son Matteo, and the family want to access that sweet spot in travel, where places aren’t expensive for the sake of it. There’s no reception (you’re simply trotted from vaporetto to room) so it’s easy to instantly relax. No interruptions, just glorious Burano, with its lace and linen shops, lollipop-bright fishermen’s houses and bakeries serving S-shaped Bussolai biscuits that you won’t find anywhere else. All so ridiculously pretty it feels like being on a film set.
Address: Casa Burano, Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, 3, 30142 Venezia VE, Italy
Lydia EvanshotelJW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa
Until 2015, one of Venice’s larger lagoon islands, Isola delle Rose, lay abandoned for decades. Its latest incarnation is as a JW Marriott hotel, the group's top-tier brand designed by Milan-based Matteo Thun & Partners. Spaces are lustrous and bright with unfiltered Mediterranean light; the interiors are refreshingly contemporary for Venice, and on the fourth floor is the ravishing rooftop bar and pool (one of very few in the city, which makes this hotel doubly special). Interiors are clean but not minimalist, and the most coveted rooms overlook the lagoon (we’ll take number 506, please!) or the 1,000-year-old olive groves or the soaring neo-Romanesque Catholic church. Less urban bolthole, more holiday hotel with all the trimmings, this property is all about the location, the space, the light, the air. Michelle Jana Chan
Address: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Isola Delle Rose Laguna Di, 30133 Venezia VE, Italy
Matthieu SalvainghotelPalazzo Cristo
Paris-based interior designers Anna Covre and Frédéric Tubau have done an inspired job renovating this 16th-century house on Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo in the Castello, a neighbourhood still thriving with Venetian families and local life. Following an initial restoration of what was supposed to be their second home, the pair got the opportunity to buy an additional floor in the building and create the kind of turbo-slick, ultra-smart, bells-and-whistles apartments not seen before in the lagoon. The original exposed timber beams have been repaired, Carrara marble and travertine installed, oak parquet flooring and bespoke lighting fitted and canopy beds and flock velvet armchairs placed just so. The pared-back palette is a million miles from the usual gilded ceilings and Murano-glass extravagance. Jill Weinreich
Address: Palazzo Cristo, Campo S.S. Giovanni e Paolo, 6805A, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
PilottohotelThe Novecento
The Novecento is what every townhouse boutique hotel should be: homely, eclectic and a little scuffed at the edges. Downstairs, the oak-beamed breakfast room, which occasionally hosts photography or glassware exhibitions, opens onto a delightful patio where the morning spread of croissants, fruit, coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice is served when the weather is good enough. The nine bedrooms are all a little different, decorated with furniture from Bali, India and (occasionally) Venice, a mix that reflects the maritime republic's Eastern horizons. Beds have firm mattresses, and mod-cons fit snugly into the ethno-antique scheme, including air-conditioning, satellite TV and even Wi-Fi Internet access. Service is willing and attentive, with none of the snooty, world-weary attitude that is so often on parade at many of the city's more expensive hotels.
Address: The Novecento, San Marco, 2683, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
