Venice Editor Picks

One of the few design hotels in Venice, the Ca’ Pisani is perfect for both comfort seekers and art lovers. Owned by the Serandrei family – who have been hotel owners in town for as long as anyone can remember – the property houses original art work (including some important pieces from Italian Futurist artists) as well as rooms that are as visually pleasing on the eye as much as the other senses. All rooms have wi-fi and are – refreshingly – devoid of the usual Venetian grandeur one usually finds in the city’s hotels. The rooms are quasi-minimalist, filled with an airy ceiling space (interrupted by wood beams), flat screen TVs, and, in some rooms, legions of natural light. The in-house restaurant, La Revista, serves up above-average Venetian cuisine.

This 16th-century palace is one of the best places in Venice to rest your cobble-weary feet for the night. Built in 1525 for the Doge Andrea Gritti, it's guaranteed to transport you.

2008 SMART LUXURY WINNER
A Timeless Venice Classic

With peerless Grand Canal views, five-star service, and rooms decked out in marble tiles, gold-rimmed ceilings, and late-Baroque and neo-classical furnishings, Gritti Palace seems fit for royalty – indeed, it’s Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite place to stay when she’s in town. Each room is uniquely designed, with lavish details like hand-painted furniture, floor-to-ceiling antique mirrors, and Murano glass chandeliers. Guest rooms are also equipped with DVD players, flat-screen TVs, Bang & Olufsen sound systems, and high-speed internet access. See more Smart Luxury Award winners

 

The perennially popular Flora offers moderate prices in exchange for quasi-luxurious ambience. Located in San Marco and housed in a 17th-century palace, the hotel sits next to the reputed home of Desdemona, the heroine of Shakespeare’s Othello. The hotel’s 43 rooms, light and airy, are decked out in period furniture. Wood beams cross the ceilings. Ancient chandeliers and views across the ancient rooftops of Venice will certainly bewitch even the most hardened traveler. All rooms have a private bathroom and wi-fi access.

Don’t miss the chance to fritter away an afternoon sipping a cappuccino and enjoying the live music in this beautiful town square that Napoleon called “the drawing room of Europe.”

One of the most famous spots in Italy, this clubby, comfortable, and classic joint provides your best chance of rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous in Venice; dress to impress, and order the Bellini, of course.

As one of the oldest watering holes in the city, this tavern has hosted legendary romantics like...more

If you can’t make it to Murano to stroll along Fondamenta dei Vetrai (where all the best glass stores are located) this shop near the Piazza San Marco sells pieces from several of the best Murano factories at good prices.

This sleek little storefront facing the Rialto fish market has secured a loyal following in...more