Orient Express Venezia

I recently spent 9 nights at Orient Express Venezia, and by the time I left, it no longer felt like simply a hotel. It had become my home in Venice. I travel frequently and have stayed at many beautiful properties, but this was one of those rare experiences that stays with you long after returning home. Orient Express Venezia is housed within the historic Palazzo Dona Giovannelli, so during my stay, the hotel naturally became simply “the Palazzo” to me. Arriving by boat and seeing it rise from the canal was unforgettable. The building is breathtaking, but what struck me most was that it did not feel like a historic property that had merely been converted into a luxury hotel. Its history, architecture, and atmosphere remain present everywhere. You experience them in the grand staircase, frescoes, mosaics, carved fireplaces, stained glass, chandeliers, and extraordinary sequence of suites and grand rooms on the 2nd floor. The restoration and interiors by the architect Aline Asmar d’Amman are remarkable. The design respects the many historical layers of the Palazzo while introducing contemporary comfort with enormous sensitivity. Nothing feels generic, overly polished, or disconnected from Venice. Even after 9 nights, I continued discovering architectural details and rooms that I had not fully noticed before. I was incredibly fortunate to stay in a junior corner suite along the canal with original Hayez frescoes. Waking up beneath them every morning was surreal. The room was beautiful and deeply atmospheric while still being exceptionally comfortable and functional for a longer stay. The marble bathroom was spacious and luxurious, and the craftsmanship throughout the room was extraordinary. It felt less like occupying a hotel room and more like being entrusted with a small part of the Palazzo. The public spaces are equally memorable. I especially loved spending time in the salons and reading room, which felt intimate and peaceful even within such grand surroundings. I could sit with a book or have a drink and continually notice something new in the ceilings, artwork, textiles, or architectural details. In the evenings, the Palazzo took on an entirely different atmosphere. Returning after walking through Venice, settling into one of the salons, and hearing the water outside became one of my favorite parts of each day. Breakfast was also a daily pleasure. The setting, including the beautiful garden courtyard, made it feel like an experience each morning. The food was excellent, beautifully presented, and accompanied by genuinely attentive service. Having breakfast outside in such peaceful surroundings was a wonderful way to begin a day in Venice. The Cannaregio location was ideal for me. It offers a quieter and more authentic experience away from the heaviest crowds around San Marco while still allowing easy access to the rest of the city by foot or boat. After spending the day exploring, I was always relieved to return to this calmer part of Venice and to the sanctuary of the Palazzo. Arriving and departing by water also made the hotel feel wonderfully connected to the city. As extraordinary as the building is, the people are what ultimately made my stay so meaningful. Because I stayed for 9 nights, I had the opportunity to experience the team’s care at every stage of my visit, rather than only through the brief interactions of a typical hotel stay. The pre-arrival experience with Domiziana and Darya’s team was exceptional and made me feel welcomed before I had even reached Venice. Once I arrived, the in-person concierge service from Ciro, Alessio, and their colleagues was truly first class. They were knowledgeable, responsive, and always willing to help, whether I needed assistance planning something in advance or simply had a question during the day. It was also incredibly convenient to communicate with the team by WhatsApp whenever needed while still receiving the same warm and personal attention in person. That spirit extended throughout the entire hotel. Alessandro, Juan, and the bar and breakfast teams took wonderful care of me each day, while Arik, Qais, Gionah, and their colleagues always made returning to the Palazzo feel like coming home. These are just a few of the many people who made an impression on me. Even where I may have regrettably forgotten a name, I have not forgotten the kindness. The general manager has assembled an extraordinary team of people who genuinely seem willing to do anything they can to help their guests. Their kindness and attention never felt rehearsed or transactional. I felt sincerely welcomed and cared for from before my arrival until the moment I left. The thoughtful personal gestures throughout my stay, the cards, books, candles, banana bread, and the many smaller moments of care, meant a great deal to me. Even something as simple as making sure I had slippers that actually fit reflected the team’s attention to each guest as an individual. Those are the details that cannot be manufactured and that I remember most clearly now. Nine nights is an unusually long hotel stay, but I never became restless or felt ready to leave. Quite the opposite: the longer I stayed, the more attached I became to the Palazzo, the neighborhood, and the people who cared for me there. When departure day arrived, I was genuinely emotional to say goodbye. Orient Express Venezia is visually spectacular, but describing it only as a beautiful luxury hotel would miss what makes it special. It offers the rare feeling of living inside the history and romance of Venice while being cared for with extraordinary warmth. The Palazzo became an essential part of my experience of the city rather than merely the place where I slept. Thank you to Darya, Domiziana, Ciro, Alessio, Alessandro, Juan, Arik, Qais, Gionah, Awias, and the entire team for 9 unforgettable nights. I miss the Palazzo and all of you already, and I sincerely hope this was only my first stay.

Stepping into this hotel is like stepping into a dream. It is simply stunning—not a detail overlooked. From the plentiful breakfast served in the serene garden to the beautifully appointed rooms and shared spaces, the hotel exudes 15th-century elegance with masterful touches of modern-day Italian luxury at its very best. But beyond the aesthetic, the true heart of the hotel is its extraordinary and attentive staff. The cleaners behind the scenes who make everything sparkle; the cooks who make your taste buds sparkle; the surprise performing arts curations in the gardens—a harpist at breakfast, dancers in the twilight hours—whose presence adds yet another kind of sparkle; and, of course, the wonderful curators who are there to make every moment, and every desire, possible—and, rather conveniently, are always available on WhatsApp. This hotel is a dream, and one I long to wake up to again and again. We will most certainly return and look forward to utilizing the hotel boat, once fully operational. With tremendous thanks to the entire team for a truly magical time. And especially thanks to the Claudias, Alessio and Alessandro!

Our stay was exceptional from start to finish. Arriving five hours early due to our flight times, we were so grateful when the team arranged a seamless early check-in and kindly upgraded our room which was completely unexpected and a lovely surprise. While the property itself is architecturally stunning and finished to an exceptionally high standard, it is the staff that truly sets this hotel apart. The service was flawless. The team had an uncanny ability to anticipate our every need before we even realised it ourselves, whether that meant handing us a fresh drink or having a napkin ready. Every team member greeted us by name, and for my fiancé’s birthday, they arranged balloons and a cake in our room after breakfast, which was such a nice touch. We also looked forward to returning each evening after turn down service to see what little gifts had been left on our bed. Special thanks to the entire team and the fantastic concierge, who was incredibly knowledgeable about all the best places to visit and eat in Venice. He booked several dinners for us and ensured we had a great table with a wonderful view every single time. The food and drinks were equally brilliant. The welcome breakfast was great, and the Doge Spritz is a 10/10 must try! The location is ideal: a comfortable 15 to 20 minute walk from the main attractions of Venice, with the convenience of a private dock for direct water taxi pick ups. We could not have asked for a better experience and we are already looking forward to coming back.

One of the best hotels we’ve ever been to. And we’ve been to many great ones (a bunch of 4S, MO, Ritz, Waldorf A…) all around the world Immaculate service. Great attention to details. Beautiful beautiful decoration and design. Everything is high end and top notch. Food is perfect as well and diverse. The team is really close to the customers and anticipates any needs. The area is quiet and a short pleasant walk or water ride to the main attractions. We will be back soon.

It was a wonderful experience from start to finish: excellent service, incredibly friendly staff, a beautiful interior, and very good food. I truly loved it.