Orient Express Venezia
Venice, Italy
Cannaregio
Vibe
Private water taxis pull directly up to the Gothic canal gate, ushering guests into a living salon layered in velvet and Murano glass.
“Theatrical palazzo heirloom”
Aline Asmar d'Amman balances restored Hayez frescoes, Venetian terrazzo floors, and bespoke Murano chandeliers with lost-color palettes.
A 15th-century Cannaregio palace restored with Filippo Calendario lancet windows, historic ballrooms, and a noble ducal lineage.
Private boat arrivals through the water gate, Rivolta Carmignani linens, and Guerlain bath amenities elevate the stay.
In Cannaregio along Rio di Noale, a short walk from Strada Nova and Santa Lucia station.
“Orient Express Venezia gives new life to the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, dividing it into 41 rooms and 6 suites...”
Rooms
Six signature suites showcase restored nineteenth-century frescoes, monumental marble fireplaces, and tall windows looking out over the quiet canal waters.
“Common spaces here are anything but “common.” The ground-floor lobby or Corte del Conte (“Count’s Court”) is lined with velvet seating and Fortuny cushions”
Wellness
Steam rooms and thermal suites draw on Venetian and Ottoman bathing rituals, complemented by private treatment rooms and an on-site fitness centre.
“The Venetian dream begins by ascending Giovanni Battista Meduna's majestic 19th-century octagonal staircase into one of the 29 rooms or 16 suites.”
Backstory
Once home to the Duke of Urbino and Giorgione masterpieces, this fifteenth-century palazzo underwent an eight-year restoration to revive its historic salons.
“The romance of Venice is palpable here, with contemporary interventions executed so deftly that you barely notice them.”
Eat & drink
The Wagon Bar serves cicchetti with vintage rail glamour, while La Casati offers courtyard dining and the orangerie hosts refined lagoon cooking.
“Historical details, including painted ceilings and carved stone, abound in the guest rooms and public spaces.”
The neighborhood
Tucked in residential Cannaregio where laundry drapes across quiet waterways, the palazzo sits a short walk from the historic Jewish Ghetto.
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The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.