Aman Venice

This is a review for Arva (Venice), the restaurant within the Aman hotel. Not the hotel itself. Although, I cannot fathom how such a gorgeous hotel could house such a low quality staffed restaurant. I really hate leaving bad reviews, but I have to warn people about Arva at Aman in Venice. The interior is absolutely breathtaking. I simply cannot understand why there's such a stark contrast between the Palazzo's beauty and the terrible ''service'' & treatment we received from the staff at Arva. My 50th birthday celebration at Arva was a total disaster. Firstly, the two ushers at the entrance were lovely men. Sadly, the beautiful Palazzo & the 2 kind ushers are the only positives I have to offer. The entrance ramp is so bad that I nearly fell out of my wheelchair. It is seriously dangerous for such a high end place to have such poor quality ramp. The bar and restaurant staff were a mix of rude, dismissive, ignorant and condescending. They knew it was my birthday, but not a single person acknowledged it even though they were notified months in advance as well as reminded by my concierge the day of our visit. The food was practically slopped onto the plates. It was nothing like the "luxury with meticulous attention to detail" they claim. It was embarrassing & shockingly bad, like a terrible joke. Menu descriptions were misleading and vague. For example, my husband's steak tartare was described to have a chestnut element, but there wasn't a hint of chestnuts to be found. When my husband asked, the waiter said, "Oh, no, there are no chestnuts. It's just in the shape of a chestnut! Isn't that lovely?" It was simply round?! It was so odd. It felt like they ran out and hoped we wouldn’t notice, then tried to pass it off as a surprise. It was not interesting & lacked flavor. The whole meal was less than meh. My scallops were unevenly cooked and served amongst dollops of pumpkin purée with a sloppily smeared seaweed sauce. They even served my husband kebab meat on wooden skewers. The lack of quality and presentation was shockingly bad & appalling for the prices they charge, not to mention the unkind staff. When I complained, local management offered a 50% refund plus two aperitifs, as their guests, if we returned. But the only way to enter is by water taxi, which is €70 one way, so that’s €140 round trip, just to cross the canal! That cost makes their offer completely impractical. That’s more than the drinks are worth, and they refused to offer any fair alternative solutions. For an establishment of this calibre, I assumed it would be far more professional & highest of quality. This ''fine dining'' experience was a gift from my parents for my milestone 50th birthday and it makes me sick that Arva has let us all down so badly. :'( I am unable to reach anyone higher up who actually values & appreciates the quality and experience of fine dining & knows what is expected in such a fine establishment as Aman. Emails to corporate just bounce back. For a big global brand, it’s pitiful & petty how they're hiding and refuse to take responsibility for such a small amount when I am a guest who was deeply let down. They ruined my 50th birthday, I cannot redo that. They didn’t even care enough to make it properly right with me. Overall, this was an extremely disappointing, overpriced experience with terrible food and service. If you choose to celebrate a special occasion at Arva, please, be aware. I wish I would've booked my celebration somewhere that has true class & values its guests. I am extremely disappointed. It is a beautiful place but the lack of compassion & care from the staff plus the unwillingness of upper management to properly acknowledge what happened & make amends properly, destroyed all of that beauty & turned my experience into a cold, heartless, low-class memory that should have been the happiest of days, but is one I’ll never get back.

We had a delicious lunch. But almost hilariously expensive. Thirty euros for a glass of Venetian white wine. Forty for a salmon and avocado sandwich. Lovely service, tasty fare. But this is a place for the rich.

Aman Venice, Italy Room: Alcova Tiepolo Suite facing the Grand Canal There are many "palaces" in Venice, but only one where you genuinely feel like you are living inside it instead of visiting it. The Aman Venice is not simply a hotel — it is a private residence with butlers, frescoes older than most countries, hidden gardens, and silence that feels shocking in a city full of tourists and gondola songs. Most luxury hotels in Venice deliver grandeur. Aman delivers privacy. 🛌 Room Experience: More Like Staying in a Museum than a Suite We stayed in a suite overlooking the Grand Canal. The ceilings were so high they looked like they belonged in a cathedral. The walls were original Tiepolo frescoes, and yet the room somehow felt minimalist, as if Aman intentionally refuses to overcrowd spaces that already have history. No golden overload, no trying to prove luxury — just space, light, and respect for art. Even the bathroom felt curated like an art gallery. The soaking bathtub facing the garden was a highlight after evening walks. Insider tip: If art and silence matter more than the view, choose a garden-facing suite. They are less famous, but even more peaceful. 🍽 Dining: Simplicity Meets Sophistication Breakfast in the ballroom was unlike anything we’ve had in Venice — no buffet madness, but à la carte perfection. The ingredients taste like they were chosen one by one. A single croissant felt more curated than a 20-item spread in other luxury hotels. Dinner was elegant, quiet, focused on Venetian roots rather than the overly experimental approach we see in Milan or Paris. Don’t expect dramatic flavors; expect precision and balance. Recommendations: Try the lagoon sea bass with capers and lemon — clean, confident flavors. Do not skip the homemade ravioli with local herbs — it tastes like Venice in spring. 🌿 The Secret Garden: Venice’s Rarest Luxury Most visitors don’t realize Venice has no real green spaces. That makes Aman’s private garden one of the rarest luxuries in the city. Sitting there at sunset, you hear birds instead of selfie sticks clacking against gondolas. If you want a quiet morning coffee, ask to have it served in the garden — not in the dining room. 🚤 Arrivals & Logistics: A Few Things to Know Arriving by private water taxi directly to the Aman dock is absolutely worth it. It costs more, but it sets the tone: you’re not checking into a hotel, you’re arriving home. But be prepared: Google Maps won’t guide you perfectly to the dock. Luggage transport in Venice is slow — patience is luxury here. Taxis depend on tides; delays happen. The staff handles all this effortlessly, but don’t expect the pace of Dubai or Singapore. This is Venice. 🧘‍♂️ Service Philosophy: Quiet, Invisible, and Personal Aman staff don’t hover; they anticipate. They observe how you live. They learn your rhythm. They rarely ask questions — they appear with what you need before you realize you needed it. One small example: We asked once for softer pillows. The next evening, they changed even the backup pillows we never mentioned. That is Aman. ⚠️ Small Imperfections (That Make Sense Here) There is no loud luxury — some guests may feel the hotel is “too quiet.” Food is refined, not Michelin-flashy. If you love nightlife, noise, and Instagram crowds, this is not your Venice. Aman is for souls, not for show-offs. ⭐ Final Thoughts If you want the Venice that Instagram doesn’t know how to capture, if you want luxury that whispers instead of screams, Aman is irreplaceable. Not everyone will understand it, and that’s precisely why it’s special. This is one of the few places where history protects you, and you protect history by being there.

A historic palazzo with frescoes and hushed salons; discreet service, romantic Grand Canal views, and a refined cocktail bar. An elegant oasis in the busy heart of Venice.

We stayed here for 3 nights during our family trip to Venice and the hotel is exceptional. Quiet and peaceful right outside hectic Venice. Located in a palace, highly recommend and make sure you ask for some extra coffee chocolate and raspberries in the morning.