"The stretch of Grand Canal frontage west of St. Mark's square hosts some of the city's most famously classic luxury hotels. The St. Regis, inaugurated in 2019, is a newly crowned queen among these, boasting more water-facing balconies than any other. If it's a close-up relationship with the superb basilica of Santa Maria della Salute you're seeking, this is the hotel for you. A massive pre-inauguration restoration removed traditional brocades and gloomy corners, clearly aiming to entice a younger, more culturally aware clientele by filling public spaces and suites with some excellent contemporary art, and a collection of pieces by top Venetian glass makers. Between the two canal-facing wings, a gorgeous garden is the perfect venue for aperitivi." - Sarah James, Anne Hanley
