Aman Venice Vs. Belmond Cipriani Vs. Gritti Palace, Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, which is the best luxury hotel in Venice? All these properties are luxury 5-star hotels. All have wonderful rooms and restaurants, excellent spas, and bars.
In all honestly, all are great, but they are very different. The refurbished Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel is set to open in 2025.
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1. Best Location: Aman Venice Vs Belmond Cipriani Vs Gritti Palace Vs Hotel Danieli
Aman Venice, Belmond Cipriani, Gritti Palace and Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel are all brilliantly located for different reasons.
Belmond Cipriani is located on Giudecca island across the water from St Mark’s Square. This hotel has a gorgeous teak shuttle boat that is fun to take and travels in and out of the main drag. This regular shuttle which runs every 20 mins or so, makes seeing the sights very easy while allowing you to escape to the sanctuary of the Cipriani hotel grounds and away from the madness and tourists. While some visitors may find the need to use a shuttle inconvenient, I personally think it adds an extra element of fun to your stay.
Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, is the most centrally located of all the hotels, located on the waterfront where the Cipriani shuttle arrives so you literally step out of the front door into the charm and madness of Venice.
Aman Venice is set on the Grand Canal, which means you get the most incredible views of this famous canal in Venice from the hotel and some of the rooms, but it is found up side streets away from St Marks Square and is a confusing walk through maze-like passageways to reach the center of the action.
Gritti Palace, like the Aman, overlooks the Grand Canal and is set up the maze-like Venetian passageways. It is closer to St Mark’s Square than the Aman, so this walk is relatively easy. The views over the Grand Canal are phenomenal.
In terms of which has the best location, I like the Belmond Cipriani as I love taking the water shuttle across the waterways, and I like to escape the madness of central Venice for some of the day. If you want to be in the centre of everything, Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, is the one to pick. If you are looking for hidden gems with views over the Grand Canal, go for Gritti Palace or Aman.
2. Exclusivity
Aman Venice, Belmond Cipriani, Gritti Palace, and Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel all feel utterly exclusive.
3. Best Room
I expect Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel to offer the best rooms in 2025 as these rooms will be newly and brilliantly refurbished. For now, the rooms at Aman Venice are the winners for me. they are large with expensive modern furnishings mixed with historic palatial features.
4. Best Grounds
The Belmond Cipriani has wonderful grounds, gardens, and a large pool area, as well as numerous restaurants on the water’s edge right by the boats. The Aman also offers a walled garden outside but, nice as it is, this garden feels a little enclosed, and the views of the Grand Canal are slightly obstructed by a wall and railings.
5. Best For History
The palatial setting of Aman Venice is simply unbeatable if you want to step back in time. I expect the Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, to offer a similar level of historic atmosphere. Gritti Palace also offers a palatial setting, if a little toned down when compared to my first two suggestions. Belmond Cipriani is a more contemporary hotel. It’s not built in a palace, and while I love this hotel, it does not have the historic significance of the other palaces.
6. Best Pool
The Belmond Cipriani is the only one of these hotels with an outdoor pool, and it’s one of my favorites in the world. If you are looking for a pool, the Cipriani offers the best pool in Venice, in my opinion. The Kempinski also offers a very good pool in Venice, so it is worth considering if your budget doesn’t stretch to the room rates at Belmond Cipriani.
7. Best Resort For Families
The Belmond Cipriani is the best hotel for families because of its pool, grounds, tennis courts, etc. It feels like a resort rather than a city hotel.
As Four Seasons as a brand always shows huge love for children, I would pick Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel as the second best for families. Rooms and communal areas will all be child friendly, but the lack of a pool knocks it off the top spot.
8. Best Restaurant
The Belmond Cipriani has a number of restaurants. A hugely high-end Oro, which is formal but unbeatable for food. The Cip is your usual evening venue which offers incredible Italian food delivered with panache on a pontoon-style restaurant that juts out over the water – for me, this is what I dream of Italian dining to be. A setting fit for a scene in a blockbuster movie. Il Porticciolo also juts out into the water and serves fresh fish at lunchtime. All three of the Belmond Cipriani restaurants are amazing and packed with Italian alfresco character.
The restaurant at the Aman is also out of this world. You can dine in the garden in the summer (pictured above) or within the palace throughout the year. The food here is incredible. The setting is palatial. Eating here is not to be missed.
I have not eaten at the Gritti Palace or the soon-to-open hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, but I can say that the restaurants at the Cipriani and Aman are not to be missed, and some of the best food I have ever eaten in the most incredible settings.
9. Best Bar
Don’t make me choose on this one. I love the atmosphere at the Belmond Cipriani bar with its poolside setting. For palatial grandeur, the Aman bar has to be a top pick. I have no doubt the Four Seasons bar will also be brilliant.
10. Conclusion
If you are looking for Palatial elegance, I would pick Aman Venice or Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel. if you are looking for a resort setting with a pool or are traveling with kids, my top pick is The Belmond Cipriani. If you cannot stretch your budget to these hotels, consider the Kempinski or Hilton Molino Stucky Venice and book via our luxury travel concierge to get free benefits at all of these fantastic hotels.
Note: Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.
