From secret gardens to island escapes, the Ciao Bella hotel edit
Venice is a tough nut to crack. It is one of the most beautiful and mind-blowing places in the world, and knowing where to stay in Venice is key to really falling in love with La Serenissima. The city is filled with hundreds of pensioni, hotels, and B&Bs that come in every flavor from cheap and cheerful to minimalist chic and over the top, old school grandeur. And then there’s location: frenzy of San Marco, the charm of Cannaregio, or the the quiet stretch of the Zattere on Dorsoduro. The best Venice hotels understand that location is as important as the room itself.
I’ve been asking myself the Venice hotel question ever since I lived here more than twenty years ago, and I still get it more than almost any other. Here’s my short list of current favorites that covers the full spectrum, from simple and peaceful to the kind of luxury that requires absolutely no justification or budget whatsoever.
For a more complete list, check out my Venice with Ciao Bella guide.
Pensione Seguso
Nostalgia for my post-university days when I stayed at cheap-n-cheerful pensioni draws me to Pensione Seguso. It does the job. No frills and a great location on the Zattere (southern part of Dorsurduro). The Seguso is one of the most peaceful stretches of Venices and faces the Giudecca canal. Simple, quiet, no drama. Exactly right.
Hotel Flora
Just off Calle XXII Marzo, Venice’s posh shopping road that feeds into San Marco, Hotel Flora has the best location since it is inset enough to feel genuinely private. The overall vibe is quiet, vintage-style, family-run hospitality for decades. They may not have canal views but they have a lovely garden courtyard that makes you forget you’re two minutes from the Piazza. Good for anyone who wants location without chaos. Tell Gioelle I sent you.
Hotel Violino d’Oro
Same neighborhood as the Flora but a different energy entirely. Violino d’Oro is contemporary boutique and an art piece – literally! Owner Sara Maestrelli selected Venetian artisans for every detailed practically installed the Venetian floor herself. She dishes all on the Ciao Bella podcast! The lounge is the place to be when it rains, which in Venice it will.
Hotel Palazzo Stern
Grand Canal real estate and a private garden? Yes, please. At canal’s edge in San Polo, Palazzo Stern reigns. Its old-school Venetian decor that stops just short of being too much. Canal-facing rooms, a terrace, the kind of yesteryear luxury that Venice does better than anywhere else.
The Gritti Palace
Peggy Guggenheim, John Ruskin, Claude Monet. If it’s good enough for these art world luminaries, it’s good enough for me. The Gritti Palace is over the top in the best possible way. It is all about Venetian grandeur from its early Renaissance architecture to its decor. Sunset on the terrace facing the Salute or turning westward the Grand Canal is one of the greatest views in Italy. Bonus points for the Marriott points.
Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel
As a friend once said, “you had me at Belmond”. I’ll add to that “You had me at Hotel Cipriani“, Belmond’s hotel on the Giudecca. Cipriani took my breath away the moment I found it, which in my case, was two vaporetti (public transport water buses) and a walk through hidden allies. This is classic, old world luxury – technically you should arrive by water taxi, and the enter a world of utter privacy and luxe, with gardens and a 30-meter saltwater pool that feels slightly miraculous in a city built on water.
Orient Express Venezia
Full disclosure, I have not stayed here . . .yet. I just had a press walk through and yes, Orient Express Venezia definitely is the toughest competition to Venice’s luxury landscape. What makes it truly stand out is it’s location in Cannaregio, not quite the craze of San Marco.
Venissa Wine Resort
For something entirely different, I’ll take one of the rooms in the five rooms at Venissa, a wine resort. Located on Mazzorbo (the island connected to Burano, island of lace), Venissa is not a place but a community of chefs ( incredible Michelin star restaurant and bistro), farmers (vineyards and gardens all over the island) and people. This is slow travel, slowed down even more.
For more hotels, restaurants, and everything else Venice, check out Venice with Ciao Bella guide. For more in-depth detail on hotels, trip planning and travel consulting, consider setting up a time to talk with Ciao Bella.
