Hotel Snapshot
For me, Venice isn’t crowds trudging over the Rialto Bridge or tourists lining up for gondola rides for a novel, albeit touristic, experience. Rather, my Venice is a twisty haven of mystical hidden nooks with come hither waiters beckoning, plates of pasta al nero, Murano glass chandeliers, Fortuny fabrics, Rubelli textiles, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Bellinis at Harry’s Bar in a discrete corner—and yes, a water taxi, whisking you from the train station to the simply quintessential Venetian Londra Palace.
A place I first discovered as an art student because of its some hundred windows on the facade—I took a photo and turned it into an intaglio print, etched in my art class— this stunning boutique hotel evokes the soul of Venice. On the Riva degli Schiavoni, overlooking the San Marco Basin and the Venetian Lagoon, it’s been a hotel under various names since 1853. Owned by the Babini family since 1938, the bijoux, one Michelin key hideaway reopened after a creative refurbishment in 2024. Refreshed, with fewer (but larger) guest rooms than before and brandishing up dated technologies, Londra Place is like a jewel box that safeguards a collection of Venice’s treasured traits, lavish roots and rich legacies. A member of Relais & Chateaux, the re-polished palazzo sparks awe with bold velvets, bits of brocade, marble bathrooms, Murano light fixtures and d’antan mirrors aplenty.
Design & Character
Though imbued with modern amenities and lashings of updated abstract fabric patterns in playful bits and bobs, Londra Palace’s refresh by Studio Ruberti Cutillo embraces classic Venetian elegance. Inspired by bygone Veneto villas, the hotel feels princely but welcoming. Summoning refined classics—Venetian silks, artisanal chandeliers and ancestral craftsmanship—, the hotel’s style won’t disappoint artistic travelers with a penchant for sense of place.
The Rooms
As noted, the redo resulted in fewer, but larger guest rooms and suites—52 in total. Many face the water, some with terraces or balconies. The smaller ones also have cachet, offering distinctive rooftop views. A gorgeous top-floor suite with a Fortuny chandelier and Murano-made vases, provides prodigious 360 degree views of the water and city rooftops. Three inimitable suites named for illustrious past guests (Jorge Luis Borges, Jules Verne and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) also take top honors.
Food & Drink
The Londra Palace Ristorante and Bistrot, under the keen eye of Chef Daniele Galliazzo celebrates the offerings of the traditional Rialto Market in Venice with sumptuous flair. Start with a Negroni in the glamorous LPV Bar, then sit on the outdoor terrace to gobble up as many courses as possible, including slow cooked pork belly, house made pasta with prawns and langoustine or gnocchi with ragu and amarone. Breakfast is decadent, with a range of delights from Venetian cheeses to apricot tarts.
Amenities
An outstanding concierge staff oversees immersive experiences such as a bespoke Venetian artisan tour, which showcases talented craftspeople and practitioners who work outside the touristic realm.
Location and Neighborhood Recs
On a quieter section of the Riva, Londra Palace lies mere steps from the city’s top sights and monuments. Water taxi stands sit directly in front of the hotel, a transport option that beats getting lost on the serpentine streets that line the canals if you’re in a hurry.. Still, getting lost is what Venice is all about—don’t deny yourself the spellbinding wonder as you meander through the chaos to discover so much magic. If you can bear to eat or drink away from the hotel, nip into Harry’s Bar for that emblematic Bellini.
Fast Facts
Location: Venice, Italy
Vibe: Sophisticated but affable, intimate and posh—there’s a sense that staff knows everyone by name, and that they actually like you.
Rating: Five Star
Room Count: 52 rooms and suites.
Pricing: 900 euros and up
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: Besides the lavish design, we love the fact that two-thirds of the suites have views of Chiesa San Giorgio, with the remaining rooms embracing Venice’s bell towers, rooftops and piazzas. For private use by hotel guests, an expansive rooftop terrace wows with views in every direction.
Dining: The Londra Palace Ristorante and Bistrot changes menus and mood at various times of day. Breakfast is as artful as dinner
Amenities: Classic hotel amenities with a local twist.
Nearby Attraction: Doge’s Palace, Piazza San Marco and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, among other delights.
Airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport
