The St. Regis Venice

From the moment my first foot stepped on the St. Regis private dock, we felt the high level of luxury service the brand is known for. Extremely welcoming and attentive service starting from the porter at the dock, the butler that escorted us from the dock to the restaurant, the manager that greets you at the Art Bar, the service staff, unmatched luxury service. We visited the property for an aperitivo before our dinner reservation, and we are so glad we did. They made me an off the menu mocktail, simply delicious. The Murano glassware, the warm service, the attention to detail. A memorable evening. Thank you St. Regis Venice for making our last night in Venice magical.

We recently stayed at the St. Regis Venice with my family. The location on the Grand Canal is magnificent! The St. Regis combines the grandeur of a historic palazzo with sleek contemporary interiors, beautiful art, soft colors, marble, elegant furnishings and lots of natural light. The setting is its greatest asset. It sits directly on the Grand Canal, very close to Piazza San Marco, and has a private water entrance. Arriving by water taxi is particularly dramatic—you arrive at the hotel from the Grand Canal. The area immediately behind the hotel has high-end shopping, art galleries and restaurants. Calle XXII Marzo is essentially Venice's luxury-shopping street. There is a great view of Santa Maria della Salute , the magnificent white-domed Baroque basilica across the canal from the hotel. Allessandra Pagano the General Manager greeted us upon arrival and was very engaging. She was so lovely and brought us to our suite which they had decorated beautifully for a special occasion I was celebrating. St. Regis is lucky to have such a charming and passionate General Manager. We booked a Grand Canal View One-Bedroom Suite that was very spacious and had a separate living area and bedroom. The furnishings were attractive and contemporary. The bathroom was large with a soaking tub and walk in shower. We had full length picture windows with a Juliette balcony overlooking the Grand Canal. It surely was a wonderful view! Housekeeping cleaned our suite to perfection twice a day. We had breakfast every morning in their restaurant overlooking the canal. There was a buffet and also you can order a la carte. The breakfast buffet was a major disappointment for a five-star hotel. The overall quality was inferior, and the pastries were awful—far below the standard I would expect from The St. Regis. The selection was uninspiring and the overall presentation fell well below expectations. This is something the hotel needs to greatly improve. The Food and Beverage Director needs to go to the new 5 star hotel in Venice -Airelles Palladio Venice where we had a fabulous dinner one night and see their pastries and learn from it. We also found the breakfast service to be only average. The wait staff seemed disorganized and the service lacked the attentiveness and efficiency I would expect from a five-star property. When I am paying $4,300 USD per night for my suite, I expect every aspect of the hotel experience including breakfast and its service to consistently reflect a true five-star standard. We also ate twice at their hotel restaurant- The St. Regis Bar. The food and drinks were very good and the staff was attentive. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Thank you to the staff: Gabriela – Director of Sales Butlers- Nicole and Arianna Nicola Giancomazzo- Bar Supervisor Concierge Team: provided great service

Quite possibly the finest hotel experience ever. The parlor artwork is stunning. The concierge service, checkin and checkout, butler response, all the people there were so incredible. We were given an upgrade to a suite with a lovely view. The bed was incredibly comfy and the bathroom was the bomb! What really stands out is the attention to detail in every way. Don’t cheap out: spring for the private water taxi to and from the airport. The hotel location is perfect that its main door opens into a quiet courtyard that is only a five minute walk to st marks square and even less for a gondola ride. Thank you to all for making our stay so wonderful.

4/5 Stars: Unbeatable Location and Grand Canal Views, with Minor Service Hiccups Arrival & Transportation If you are flying in, I highly recommend arranging the seamless airport transfer via the hotel before check-in. They use Blitz Exclusive, a luxury water limousine service, which sets a spectacular tone for the trip. When it comes time to leave, do take note that taking a water taxi from the hotel to the train station area will cost about €90 each way. The ride takes around 30 to 35 minutes depending on the "traffic" conditions on the water. The Room & Amenities We originally reserved a City View Room but were upgraded because of Marriott Bonvoy Hotels membership. The room was exceptionally spacious, featuring distinctly separated living room and bedroom areas. The bathroom was equally roomy, complete with two separate basins. A lovely touch was the Acqua di Parma toiletries. I was aware of the brand but this was my first time trying them, and they felt high-quality with a very pleasant scent. The room is also stocked with complimentary water in heavy glass bottles. Tip: If you intend to take water out with you while exploring, ask the staff for their paper-packed water instead! Service Hits and Misses For a brand with the standard of the St. Regis, the room service had a couple of surprising flaws. First, our luggage took 30 minutes to arrive in our room, and we actually had to follow up with the reception (physically travelling down) to get it delivered (I highly suspect that our luggage were delivered to the wrong room). Second, a maintenance request to replace a burnt-out lightbulb placed shortly after check-in remained undone three days later. However, the concierge team absolutely shined. A special mention must go to Alex at the concierge desk—he manages guests incredibly well and was remarkably attentive and helpful throughout our stay. Dining at Gio's Restaurant & Terrace This hotel offers the best breakfast view you could possibly ask for. Sitting right by the Grand Canal is a foolproof way to start your day. The breakfast area itself isn't very large (which makes sense for a property with 169 rooms and suites), but the service was incredibly attentive. The breakfast consists of a buffet spread and an à-la-carte menu, though I personally found the culinary quality to be standard rather than exceptional. Location, Location, Location The St. Regis truly sells itself on its location. Within a one-minute walk, you are surrounded by luxury boutiques, including Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, and Moncler. Walk just 2 to 4 minutes further, and you arrive right at St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). Another 5 minutes of walking brings you to the Bridge of Sighs. It is unbelievably convenient. If you are into café, the oldest cafe in Venice is Caffè Florian, established on December 29, 1720, is just 5 – 10 mins walk from the hotel. The Verdict If cost is not a sensitive issue for you, this is unequivocally the best hotel to stay at when visiting Venice. The convenience, the sheer luxury of the location, and those Grand Canal views make it a highly memorable experience.

I had high expectations even before arriving, and what I actually encountered exceeded them by far. First, the general atmosphere – classic, meticulous. Then the room: spacious, charming, and very clean and organized, beautifully furnished with lovely interior touches. Right after that, the bathroom and shower – simply wonderful! Well-equipped, modern, and very roomy. The breakfast dining room is so welcoming, attentive, and everything is done in good taste. The service from everyone, starting with reception, through the bellboy and the rest of the staff (bar, dining room), was simply wonderful! Words can't describe how kind, attentive, available, and unobtrusive they were! They were professional and knew how to help and elaborate on anything, including maps and local recommendations. The location: 100 out of 100! Everything within easy reach and very close. Next to the boat exit (to the canal) there are intimate seating spots overlooking the canal, and toward the Bridge of Sighs, which is visible from the small balcony and is so close. Just about 200 meters from the exit is Piazza San Marco. What more is there to say?! Well, there is. The hotel's regular entrance is quiet and away from the bustle happening just 50 meters from it. Nearby: restaurants, bars, and alleyways that lead you to every worthwhile and fascinating place. To sum up: if I go to Venice again, I won't look for another place – I'll arrange in advance to stay at this hotel, and I'll warmly recommend it to anyone who asks about accommodation in Venice. The value for money – the best you could ask for!