Londra Palace Hotel Review | Hotels Above Par

"I first discovered this stunning boutique hotel as an art student because of the roughly one hundred windows on its facade—I even turned a photo of it into an intaglio print—and it still evokes the soul of Venice. Sitting on the Riva degli Schiavoni overlooking the San Marco Basin and the Venetian Lagoon, the palazzo has operated as a hotel under various names since 1853 and has been owned by the Babini family since 1938; after a creative refurbishment by Studio Ruberti Cutillo it reopened in 2024 as a bijoux Relais & Châteaux hideaway with fewer but larger guest rooms (52 total). The rework retains classic Venetian elegance while adding updated technologies and playful abstract fabrics: expect bold velvets, bits of brocade, marble bathrooms, Murano light fixtures, d’antan mirrors and Fortuny chandeliers and vases in some suites. Many rooms face the water (two-thirds of the suites have views of Chiesa San Giorgio), some have terraces or balconies and a gorgeous top-floor suite offers prodigious 360° views; three signature suites honor Borges, Jules Verne and Tchaikovsky. Dining under Chef Daniele Galliazzo at the Londra Palace Ristorante and Bistrot celebrates the Rialto Market with dishes like slow-cooked pork belly, house-made pasta with prawns and langoustine, and gnocchi with ragù and Amarone; start with a Negroni in the glamorous LPV Bar, and expect a decadent breakfast of Venetian cheeses and apricot tarts. Service feels sophisticated but affable—intimate and posh, with an outstanding concierge who arranges immersive experiences such as bespoke Venetian artisan tours—and practical touches like a water taxi stand directly in front of the hotel make getting around easy. Rated five star, pricing starts around €900 and up, and a private rooftop terrace provides sweeping views of the city." - Becca Hensley