These are the very best boutique hotels in Venice, Italy for an enchanting stay to remember

We love a trip to Italy! And there’s just something inexplicably unique and magical about Venice. Doused in culture, architecture, gastronomy, and elegance, the city beautifully merges the grandeur of its palazzos with the intimate appeal of its canals, bridges, and narrow streets lined with shops and eateries. Among the most visited cities in Europe, it’s no surprise that the best boutique hotels in Venice are forever in demand, and these are our absolute favourites.

The best boutique hotels in Venice, Italy

1. The Venice Venice Hotel

With the Grand Canal on its doorstep and the Rialto Bridge right around the corner, The Venice Venice Hotel offers guests an incredible vacation possibility. One that also includes residing in the 13th-century Ca’ da Mosto, the oldest palace on the canal.

With aspects of its past oozing from every nook, the hotel’s personality shifts from that of a stately sojourn to an artistic getaway where ancient, mid-century, and modern design elements combine most flawlessly. The various rooms carry the theme as they display a moody character, with curated art, and furniture acting more than embellishments but as statement pieces showcasing the modern-day zeitgeist of Venice.

Dining at The Venice Venice Hotel is all about encapsulating the surroundings. Breakfast and lunch alongside the Grand Canal are a must, as are drinks and dinner at the hotel’s terrace bar and restaurant.

Find out more about The Venice Venice Hotel

2. Palazzo Experimental

Designed by one of the world’s best hotel designers, namely Dorothée Meilichzon, as far as hidden gems go when it comes to boutique hotels in Venice, Il Palazzo Experimental ticks all the boxes. Central, yet in its quiet corner, direct access with a private pontoon to a quaint canal and a garden makes it an excellent choice for a relaxing sojourn in the city.

The building was previously the headquarters of the shipping company Adriatica, and here you’ll find singles, doubles, and suites among the hotel’s 32 rooms, each boasting ample natural light. The rooms showcase contrasting light and bold colour tones on the walls, forming the perfect background for bespoke furniture pieces.

Additionally, marble, wood, and furnishings give the spaces a chic, almost bohemian look. At the same time, conveniences cater to the new-age travellers, with in-room amenities such as en-suites with showers and soaking tubs, coffee machines, radio, and WiFi, ensuring you have a memorable stay.

As for gourmands, a meal at the Il Palazzo Experimental’s on-site Restorante Adriatica is a must to enjoy seasonal recipes presented in a modern fashion.

Learn more about Palazzo Experimental

3. Hotel Nani Moncenigo

For a stay in Venetian past, book yourself a stay at the Hotel Nani Moncenigo Palace. The 15th-century building was once the residence of the Barbarigo family, the Museum of Antiques, a university site, and then the Glass Museum Vitraria.

Restored by Sansovino, it now displays a stunning 18th-century exterior with eye-catching frescos and architecture. Inside, the grandness of the palace is evident in every corner. The spacious rooms, in particular, come with high ceilings, living spaces, Murano glass, Venetian-styled furniture, chandeliers, carpets, and lavish en-suites.

Dining at Hotel Nani Moncenigo Palace is slightly more casual. Vitraria Caffe is ideal for a restful afternoon snack or an after-dinner drink. In contrast, Chicchetteria is the perfect spot to relish seasonal recipes prepared by Chef Marika Contaldo.

Find out more about Hotel Nani Moncenigo

4. Casa Burano

The multi-coloured island of Burano, once an idyllic day trip, is slowly becoming a preferred spot for travellers wanting to stay away from the crowdedness of Venice. Casa Burano capitalises on this growing trend by offering five design-centric residences around the island, each with its distinctive style and character.

Collaborations with local designers and firms such as Moroso, Arclinea, Panto, and FontanaArte played a significant part in giving the spaces a distinct look. Nevertheless, a common theme runs through the abodes, that of muted colour tones that reflect the palette of the lagoon with contemporary furnishings that are more in tune with modern design aesthetics.

Consequently, guests enjoy comforts such as en-suites with showers, free WiFi, designer armchairs, mosaic bathrooms, ergonomic mattresses, as well as heating and air conditioning.

Learn more about Casa Burano

5. Venissa

A stone’s throw away from central Venice is a wine resort that promises an experiential stay amidst the beauty of the Mazzorbo waterfront. Venissa and its five chic rooms are a tranquil getaway ideal for a more peaceful holiday that lets you explore a lesser-known side of Native Venice.

Beamed ceilings with bare brick walls, wooden floors, en-suites with showers, air conditioning, free WiFi, and soothing colour tones give the rooms a homely feel. Simultaneously, the spacious spaces celebrate the calmness of their surroundings.

The absolute joy of staying at Venissa lies in all the varied experiences at your disposal. From scenic wine tours, memorable meals at Restorante Venissa, and visits to the islands of Native Venice to boating along the lagoon and watching local embroidery and goldsmith artisans work their magic, there is much to do from morning till night.

Find out more about Venissa

6. Al Ponte Antico

Quite honestly, it is pretty difficult to beat Al Ponte Antico’s stunning location. The boutique hotel in Venice, alongside the Grand Canal and near the iconic Rialto Bridge, basks in the glory of the views it offers. The building it occupies dates back to the 1500s, and the hotel’s petite size gives it a sense of warmth that cocoons every stay.

Personalised Venetian hospitality under the helm of the Peruch family adds to the appeal of Al Ponte Antico that impresses further with its rooms, decorated with affection in the style of Louis XV. Intricate wall tapestries, gorgeous headboards, comfortable couches, and carpets give the chambers a sense of regal elegance. At the same time, satellite TV, air-conditioning, free WiFi, and radio make them contemporary.

Our choice, however, is the Junior Suite featuring a beautiful beamed ceiling, a separate living space with arches, and a private patio that opens up to the Grand Canal.

Find out more about Al Ponte Antico

7. Nolinski Venezia

The visual transformation of the old Stock Exchange into Nolinski Venezia, by Le Coadic Scotto, is commendable. The design-led hotel in the heart of Venice showcases a seamless amalgamation of different architectural styles, creating a creative escape that embraces the spirit of Venetian style.

Spread over five floors, the 43 rooms and suites are extraordinary in their composition and include mosaic-tiled bathrooms, curated books, Murano glass showpieces, balconies, and in some cases, private terraces. At the same time, Nolinski isn’t just another boutique hotel in Venice. Its list of services ranges from a concierge and personal trainer to pet care, activities for children, and 24-hour room service, making the hotel an ideal choice for everyone.

Like the design, the hotel’s in-house epicurean options are another of its attractive features. The hotel houses two restaurants, both serving contemporary Mediterranean meets Venetian cuisine in magical settings.

Find out more about Nolinski Venezia

8. Ca Maria Adele

Tantalisingly attractive with a heavy dose of intimacy and fantasy, Ca Maria Adele is among the top romantic boutique hotels in Venice. With its extravagant unabashed amorous attitude, the Dorsoduro situated 12-room hotel that hides its eccentricities in a 16-century building is a bold statement on the changing nature of the hospitality business.

A passion project of Alessio and Nicola Campa, who are also responsible for the worldly and colourful interiors of the establishment, it is steeped in Venetian lore. Guests booking a stay at Ca Maria Adele can pick a deluxe room, a suite, or one of the more eclectic concept rooms. The latter have remarkably brooding characteristics that include deep colour tones, extravagant chandeliers, minibars with complimentary soft drinks, as well as thermal and acoustic insulation.

Our favourite bit is the a la carte breakfast menu. You get to decide what you want to eat the night before and can also pick a spot – bedroom, terrace, lounge – on the premises where you wish you enjoy the day’s first meal.

Find out more about Ca Maria Adele

9. Santa Croce Boutique Hotel

Situated in the city’s old neighbourhood, a stay at Santa Croce is a splendid opportunity to be close to all the major sights of Venice and still enjoy a calm and tourist-free environment. The 15-room property takes pride in its Venetian heritage but simultaneously adds plenty of modern features to create contemporary areas that will appeal to the modern-day traveller.

The guest rooms have wooden flooring, plush fabrics and bedding, air-conditioning, designer lights, flat-screen TVs, and en-suites featuring walk-in rain showers. The interiors, though, are a design-lover dream come true. Drawing from themes such as The Caravelle, The Orient, and the Stones of Venice, each room has a distinct personality and magnetism.

Santa Croce’s location places visitors near several local eateries to savour Venetian cuisine at its best. However, on-site, one can enjoy a drink at the bar. At the same time, you can spend a few relaxing moments in the comfort of the hotel’s “secret garden,” a tranquil escape amidst the bustle of Venice.

Learn more about Santa Croce Boutique Hotel

10. Hotel Danieli

Hotel Danieli allows guests total immersion into the aura of Venice through its unmatched lagoon-facing location and architecture that expands from the 14th to the 20th century through three connected palaces. As a result, guests have the chance to appreciate interiors and exteriors that underline the intricate complexity of Gothic, Baroque, and Venetian designs in all their glory.

Central to the city and close to Piazza San Marco, the establishment has hosted many celebrities, such as Charles Dickens, for centuries. Danieli, ever since its refurbishment, offers luxury to discerning visitors in the form of spacious rooms, elegant furnishings, kaleidoscopic decor by the likes of Pierre Yves Rochon and Jacques Garcia, and a range of in-room creature comforts. Moreover, all abodes brag stunning views, from that of the Venetian lagoon to Palazzo Ducale, the Church of San Zacharia, and the Grand Canal.

The high point of a stay at Hotel Danieli is undoubtedly a meal at Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. The in-house rooftop restaurant serves the most delectable seasonal menu and promises the best vantage point in the city for a romantic diner, especially at sunset.

Learn more about Hotel Danieli

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