Venice continues to fascinate and attract. Visitors see the must-see sights: St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, La Fenice, the Guggenheim collection, Ca' d'Oro, and the Pinault Collection at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana... but you can also discover the City of the Doges by strolling through the narrow streets along the small canals, uncovering hidden gems.
Where to sleep?
Londra Palace
This is one of the legendary hotels of La Serenissima! So obviously it puts itself in pole position on our list of most beautiful hotels in Venice ! Only member of the Relais & Châteaux in Venice, it was inaugurated in 1853, under the name of’Hotel d’Angleterre and renamed in the 1970s as London Palace. Five stars for this hotel that enjoys a dream location just a stone's throw from St. Mark's Square and the Bridge of Sighs, situated on the lagoon. Two-thirds of the 52 rooms and suites, all different, open onto the water and have a small balcony. The recent renovation has put Onward with Venetian spirit: Fortuny chandeliers, Murano mirrors, shimmering fabrics... all benefiting from current trends: walk-in showers, connected offices. For an exceptional stay, opt for for one of the two signature suites the Jules Verne, Dupleix, and Borges. As for the table, LPV Restaurant, In the evening, Chef Daniele Galliazzo revisits Venetian classics. And, at LPV Bistrot From appetizers to desserts, from salads to sandwiches, you'll find the refinement and gastronomy of LPV Restaurant, in a bistro version. We appreciate the gluten-free options. As soon as the weather permits, we settle on the terrace facing the lagoon to sip one of the Chef Barman's signature cocktails. Finally, don't miss the wooden rooftop terrace (altana), considered the highest in Venice, which can be privatized for an aperitif or dinner... Legend has it that on these palace terraces, beautiful Venetian women would have their hair done in the sun for hours to achieve that famous Venetian blonde...
Londra Palace
52 rooms from €600 per night
Riva degli Schiavoni, 4171, 30122 Venice
Junior Suite interior design Londra Palace Venice
Nolinski Venice
The EVOK group (Sinner, Brach, Nolinski Paris, Palais Royal restaurant, Cour des Vosges) chose for its first address outside France Venice. No surprise there: its refined art de vivre, tinged with carnival fantasy, suits the Nolinski spirit perfectly. “Our job is to offer pleasure, create emotions, and be part of very good memories. Venice is completely in sync with our values,” emphasizes Emmanuel Sauvage., Co-founder of Evok and general manager. Inaugurated in 2023, This 5-star hotel is housed in the former Chamber of Commerce of the City of Doges. This historic monument, redesigned by architect Alberto Torsello, boasts a dream location: a stone's throw from the Fenice Opera House and St. Mark's Square. Behind its two-tone facade, adorned with marine animals as a nod to the lagoon, you'll find 43 rooms, including 13 suites, ranging from 20 to 82 m², all unique with interior design by Yann Le Coadic & Alessandro Scotto. Throughout the hotel, terrazzo floors and marmorino stucco walls, hundreds of Murano glass objects dialogue with 200 works of art hung on the walls and contemporary-inspired furniture. The Chef Philip Chronopoulos, 2 stars since 2022 at the Palais Royal restaurant in Paris, oversees the destinies of the two restaurants: Le Café Nolinski and its patio where you can feast of raw dishes (marinated raw fish and meats), cicchetti, pizzettes, and pasta alla genovese and the gourmet restaurant Venice, set beneath a 7-meter high ceiling in the amphitheater of the former Council Room: majestic. Here, you can also enjoy an exceptional breakfast. As for the intimate bar-library, where wood and a piano reign supreme, it offers a library of over four thousand books, beneath a magnificent ceiling fresco by Simon Buret. Finally, on the third floor, in a sumptuous setting, you'll find the myBlend treatment suite; here, you can indulge in the Led Mask, a true emblem of the brand, which combines cutting-edge LED technology and highly effective formulas.
Nolinski Venice
43 keys, starting from €563 per night
Larga XXII Marzo-S. Marco 2032 Street, 30124 Venice
Nolinski Venice Library © Guillaume de Laubier
Nolinski Venice The Outdoor Cafe © Guillaume de Laubier
The Experimental Palace
After conquering Paris, After London, Verbier, and Menorca, the Experimental group opened this jewel of Venetian hospitality in 2019. Overlooking the Giudecca Canal in Dorsoduro, this 4-star hotel has the significant advantage of being both far from the crowds and close to the main attractions: a few minutes from the Accademia Bridge and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The decor, by Dorothée Meilichzon, the group's architect, displays an elegant and very contemporary look where Venetian identity is not forgotten. : terrazzo floors, stripes, a nod to gondolier outfits, featured on the guest room doors, restaurant cushions, headboards... It houses 32 spacious rooms opening onto the Giudecca Canal or the inner garden. At Adriatica restaurant, the menu is inspired by the cuisine of the Adriatic coast. The best part? Once the weather warms up, enjoy lunch on the outdoor terrace for views of the wide canal. Don't miss the hotel's rooftop terrace for a drink.
The Experimental Palace
32 rooms, starting at €188 per night
Fondamenta Zattere Al Ponte Lungo, Dorsoduro 1410, 1411, 1412
30123, Venice
Il Palazzo Experimental Venice Restaurant A © Karel Balas
Where to get a drink
Caffè Florian
It can boast of being the second oldest cafe in the world, after Le Procope, which opened in 1686 in Paris. Located on Saint Mark's Square it was created in 1720 by Floriano Francesconi. A true Venetian landmark, it has seen numerous personalities pass beneath its gilded ceilings, from Casanova to writers such as Alfred de Musset, George Sand, Madame de Staël, Charles Dickens, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Paul Morand, Jean d’Ormesson, and many others. It houses six salons: the Hall of Great Men, which derives its name from the many portraits of famous Venetians, the Hall of Seasons or Mirrors, the Hall of the Senate, the Liberty Hall, the Oriental Hall, and the Chinese Hall. Finally, the terrace overlooking St. Mark's Square hosts an orchestra during the warm season. We feast on coffee in various forms: iced, with blood orange liqueur, Venetian with Floria coffee liqueur, spritz, pastries, tramezzini (small savory sandwiches), and brunch. Be warned, the prices are as impressive as the establishment's reputation!
The Seagull Bar at Cipriani
You can't miss the’5-star hotel and spa in Venice Cipriani situated on the tip of the Giudecca island facing the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. So, of course, staying there is a dream… but, unfortunately, it’s not within everyone’s budget! We console ourselves by going there for a drink at the Bar Gabbiano, installed next to the spectacular pool. A welcoming and elegant spot to sip a Bellini with many cocktails, a burger, or cheese platters… Just crossing the lagoon aboard the hotel’s boat is a pure moment of bliss…
Hôtel Cipriani
96 rooms, starting at €1,495 per night
Giudecca, 10, 30133 Venice
© caffeflorian
Harry's Bar
Founded by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1931—20 years after Harry’s Bar in Paris—the restaurant created a whole series of original cocktail and food recipes for its patrons. His two most famous creations, known worldwide, are the Bellini cocktail and carpaccio. The ultimate recognition: Harry’s Bar was designated a national heritage site by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs in 2001.
1323 Calle Vallaresso (next to Piazza San Marco)
The Experimental Bar
This hotel bar, which has its own entrance separated features a common ambiance to the group's famous bars, both sophisticated and ultra cozy: antique mirrors and marble mixes. Here find the famous cocktails with their refined flavors that have made the Experimental a hit.
Bar at the Palazzo Experimental Hotel © karel_balas
Where to Eat
Avoid the tourist traps that are all over the San Marco district and along the Grand Canal—except, of course, for those in the magnificent hotels that also line the canal: The Danieli With its famous restaurant Terrazza Danieli, located on the rooftop, an unforgettable dining experience, The Bauer, which is set to reopen sometime in 2025, the Aman…
These prestigious addresses should not overshadow the multitude of local addresses in the Dorsoduro such as the bacari—small, traditional bars where you can enjoy cicchetti, the Venetian equivalent of tapas—and the osterie located away from the San Marco district. Ideal for a leisurely stroll and finding a nice restaurant along a canal, Cannaregio—one of Venice’s six districts—is known for its Jewish quarter.
Don't miss it
A visit to Burano, Take vaporetto number 12, which runs from the Fondamente Nuove pier to the island of Burano—the most beautiful of the Venetian islands, with its small houses featuring brightly colored facades lining the waterfront. Have lunch there at Trattoria al Gato Nero—it’s unforgettable!
The Rialto Market date from the 13th century and is made up of three markets: the Pescheria, or fish market; the Erbaria, located along the Grand Canal for fruits and vegetables (mostly from San Erasmo, an island in the lagoon); and the Beccaria, or meat market. You can also find flowers and spices there, best discovered in the morning before 9 AM for an authentic Venice.
Rosa Salva Pastry Shop is the oldest pastry shop in Venice: an institution! It is famous for its pastry specialties: fritters, tramezzini... You can sit on the terrace for a cappuccino and hot chocolate with a view of the church.
Saints John and Paul
The Merchant of Venice A visit to this sublime perfumery is a must. The shop, housed in an old pharmacy, is superb: wood paneling, sculptures in niches... the fragrances are extremely refined and quite rare, presented in delightful bottles. The ideal place to find an original gift.
San Fantin Square
Piedaterre Venice Don't leave Venice without buying a pair (or several) of Furlane. Inspired by gondoliers' shoes, they are made of velvet with a rubber sole, so you don't slip. You can find them in the two stores of the brand that makes them Venetian furlane since 1952 where shoes of all colors climb the walls. Just the sight is worth the trip!
Nardi installed in Venice on St. Mark's Square since 1925 This historic jewelry house is known for its jewelry inspired by the history of the city according to Venetian traditions. See the sumptuous rings that representVenetian masks in gold, enamel, colored stones, and diamonds, signet rings and crosses in yellow gold set with multi-colored gemstone cabochons.
Rigattieri Liliana This brightly colored shop houses an impressive collection of colorful Italian dishware. dishes and plates, and all kinds of dips: dishes for mozzarella, asparagus, citrus fruits, etc. Impossible not to fall in love!
San Marco District 3535, 30124 Venice
By: Adine Fichot-Marion
