Hotel Londra Palace

There’s a certain magic to arriving at Londra Palace — the kind that starts before you even step inside. The hotel sits right on the Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice’s storied waterfront promenade, with the city’s energy humming just outside the door and the vaporetto stops mere steps away. It’s the rare address that lets you feel both in the heart of things and somehow above the fray. From the moment I arrived, the staff set the tone: warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in making each stay feel personal. This is a Relais & Châteaux property, and you sense it in the way every detail is handled — not with formality, but with a kind of practiced ease that makes you feel like a returning friend, even on your first visit. But the real showstopper here is the altana — the hotel’s traditional Venetian wooden rooftop terrace. It’s one of the highest in the city, and standing up there, you get a 360-degree sweep of Venice: the lagoon shimmering below, the rooftops and bell towers stretching out in every direction, and on a clear day, the Dolomites etched on the horizon. The hotel can arrange a private brunch, dinner, or aperitivo up here, complete with a curated picnic hamper of local delicacies. I can’t overstate this: a meal on the altana is a bucket-list experience, the kind of moment that makes you fall in love with Venice all over again. If you do one thing here, make it this. Choosing a room at Londra Palace is less about right or wrong and more about what kind of Venice you want to wake up to. The lagoon-facing rooms are the classic fantasy: throw open your windows to the San Marco Basin, watch gondolas drift by, and catch the sunrise over the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. But don’t overlook the city-side rooms — they offer a quieter, equally mesmerizing view of Venice’s rooftops and spires, a tapestry of terracotta and stone that feels like your own private slice of the city. I always talk through these options with clients, because both are exceptional, just in different ways. And then there’s breakfast — a ritual I look forward to every morning. Forget the buffet; here, breakfast is cooked to order, served à la carte by the same staff who seem to know exactly when you need another cappuccino or a gentle nudge toward the day’s best pastry. Whether you’re on the terrace watching the city wake up or tucked into a cozy corner of the dining room, it’s a moment to slow down and savor — the kind of start that sets the tone for the rest of your day in Venice. NEED TO KNOW ──────────── 1) The Altana rooftop experience is in high demand and available for private use only — book it as early as possible, especially if you want a sunset dinner or a special occasion brunch. 2) When choosing your room, think about what matters most: lagoon-facing rooms deliver those iconic water views and sunrises, while city-side rooms offer a quieter, more authentic perspective of Venice’s rooftops and daily life. 3) The hotel’s location right on the Riva degli Schiavoni means you’re steps from major vaporetto stops — a genuine advantage for exploring the city and the islands without hassle. 4) Breakfast is à la carte and cooked to order — take your time and let the staff guide you to their favorites. 5) If you’re celebrating something special, let the staff know in advance; they excel at creating memorable moments, whether it’s a rooftop dinner or a surprise in your room. A special grazia to Alessandra, Annimi, and Primo Maitre Sante Malizia for your absolutely amazing hospitality and making my stay such an amazing time!

Andrea was the most competent and delightful professional concierge I have ever worked with. Everything he suggested met or exceeded our expectations. He was always at our disposal and ever ready to please. Londra Palace is just a delight!

Our stay at Londra Palace in Venice was nothing short of extraordinary. We spent three days and two nights at the hotel before departing for Greece, and from the moment we arrived, we knew we had chosen something special. As soon as the doors opened, we were welcomed with genuine warmth and treated as though we were the only guests in the hotel. Every member of the team was kind, attentive, and sincerely committed to making our stay memorable. When we entered our room, we were greeted by a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, delicious chocolates, and a thoughtful note from the General Manager. It was such a gracious touch and set the tone for the entire experience. Breakfast each morning was absolutely divine. The restaurant manager took impeccable care of us and made us feel incredibly special. He even remembered that we were celebrating a birthday and surprised us with a beautiful morning pastry, a gesture that perfectly reflected the hotel’s exceptional attention to detail and heartfelt hospitality. Having stayed at many wonderful hotels around the world, including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and JW Marriott properties, we can honestly say that Londra Palace delivered one of the most personal and memorable experiences we’ve ever had. The level of service was flawless, yet warm and authentic. The hotel itself is elegant, intimate, and absolutely gorgeous, and its location is simply the best in Venice. We are beyond thrilled that after our trip to Greece, we will be returning to Londra Palace for one more evening. Knowing we get to come back is a joy in itself. If you’re looking for a hotel that combines luxury, charm, impeccable service, and an unbeatable location, look no further. Londra Palace exceeded every expectation, and we cannot wait to return in just a few days!

The Londra Palace is obviously an expensive establishment, but for me it was worth it - especially for the view of Venice and San Giorgio Maggiore from my window. True, the area is perhaps busier than other parts of Venice away from San Marco, but the location was an advantage for me as I was attending the Biennale. True, also, as some reviews have mentioned, the rooms are a bit small - but this is Venice, not Phoenix Arizona. My only complaint is that breakfast was not up to the standards of this type of establishment, with little to choose from, no buffet, and a supplement for certain items that are standard elsewhere. Still, I would definitely go back - for the view but also for the staff who were perfect.

Second stay at Londra Palace. The hotel is absolutely beautiful and is perfectly located in the center of it all on the Grand Canal. Service was great at the front desk and bar, housekeeping was outstanding, and the hotel was immaculate. I want my review to be fair and balanced so here’s the not so good. The restaurant was a huge disappointment. Our room included daily breakfast. The first morning we went down to eat and we were seated immediately. The restaurant was pretty empty as there were only 3 occupied tables. We saw at least three servers there. Even though it was empty, we waited patiently for approximately 20 minutes for a server to come to our table. Again, there were only 3 other occupied tables in the entire restaurant and we saw 3 servers standing around. They took our breakfast order, delivered coffee, and never served our food. After waiting another 30 minutes for our food, a different waiter finally came to our table with no food and asked us what we ordered. No explanation, no apology, just that we needed to order again. So we sat for approximately 50 minutes and never had our breakfast served. We got up and left to eat elsewhere. When we returned to the hotel a manager came to apologize and did offer us a bottle of wine. He was very apologetic. It’s hard to explain but the restaurant staff just doesn’t make you feel welcome. It’s almost like you’re bothering them. We stayed at 4 top hotels in Italy the past two weeks and the others were welcoming and on point. There just seemed to be an air of arrogance that we didn’t feel at the other hotels. We stayed for 3 nights, never ate a single breakfast that we paid for in the hotel and quite frankly didn’t have a great feel there. We went out to eat dinner around Venice each night and that was amazing. Frankly, we didn’t want to eat dinner at the hotel after our experience. This is a very expensive hotel and it did not live up to expectations.