Palazzo Venart: Why It’s My Favorite Hotel in Venice

Venice, beautifully.

Vacation begins with the feeling that I can stop keeping track of everything, the details have been triple-checked, the arrangements are in place, and if something goes sideways, someone else is there to handle it. In Venice, that meant an airport escort helping us move quickly through customs, a porter gathering our luggage, and a water taxi waiting to take us into the city. We settled in as the crisp morning air and a little mist drifted across the lagoon. I could exhale, look around, and enjoy watching my family arrive in Venice for the first time.

Then we arrived at Palazzo Venart. Our boat pulled up to the private dock on the Grand Canal, where sculptures, trees, and greenery welcomed us ashore. Infused water waited on the garden tables as the staff greeted us and gathered our bags. Everything felt quiet and intimate. We could simply look around and let ourselves arrive. I’ve stayed at five hotels in Venice, this one is my favorite.

Inside Palazzo Venart: A Palace With a Past

Palazzo Venart is straight-out-of-Bridgerton gorgeous.

Deep red walls, gilded mirrors, and a beautifully decorated ceiling surround the salon’s extraordinary blue-green painted piano. Even its arrival has a story: the hand-painted French court piano came by barge, through the gardens, and upstairs with help from antiques experts from the Fondazione La Fenice.

The thoughtfulness behind these spaces is something you notice and feel, the owners have attended to every detail. It shows.

Once known as Palazzo Bacchini delle Palme, this private Venetian palace hosted aristocrats gathering for music, dancing, and conversation. Following years of neglect, an extensive restoration brought it back to life. It opened as Palazzo Venart in 2016.

A Welcome That Feels Personal

Front Office Manager, Flavia showed us around with such affection and pride that she immediately felt like a sister welcoming me into her new home. She loves this place, and her pleasure in sharing it was contagious.

Both concierges - The Giacomo’s - were fantastic, too. The staff took our comfort personally, sending us with water when we would go out and checking throughout our stay that we had everything we needed. Afternoon coffee or cocktails, depending the mood was such a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of the more touristic areas we wanted to see. It provided a balance in our day that made the evenings even more enjoyable, we felt refreshed and ready for more.

Breakfast in the courtyard was peaceful, with a lovely fountain nearby. We even ate fruit directly from one of the trees. Our breakfast was made to order and absolutely delicious. It was included in our hotel rate through my Virtuoso amenities, a benefit I love extending to my clients.

Outside the back entrance, we stepped into a neighborhood where Venetians live their everyday lives. Here in Santa Croce, despite the Grand Canal setting, Palazzo Venart felt wonderfully secluded. For all its grandeur, it felt like a home.

Rooms, Suites, and Apartments: Finding Your Fit

The hotel has 17 rooms and suites, and the suites are absolutely honeymoon-worthy. The more standard rooms - and trust me, nothing here feels standard - are wonderful for a couples’ getaway, a pre- or post-cruise stay, or a Venetian chapter in a longer Italian itinerary.

The four neighboring Empress Theodora Apartments offer another option for families or friends traveling together. We stayed in an apartment and loved having that home base. There is no lift in the apartment building. The staff carried our luggage up and down, but the stairs deserve a conversation if mobility is a concern.

Matching accommodations to the travelers matters just as much as choosing a beautiful property.

Watercolor of the hotel courtyard with a handwritten note of welcome was a beautiful touch.

Venice Beyond the Photograph

Our first afternoon began with a private canal tour departing directly from the hotel dock. We enjoyed sunshine at the back of the boat while my in-laws sat comfortably in the shade inside, listening as our guide brought Venice to life.

At the Frari church, Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin stopped me in my tracks. There is an interesting video of the four-year conservation campaign, basically saving the painting from not only dust and smoke, but insects and the required treatments to remediate. All of this obscured it’s original colors requiring fascinating science to restore. I tried photographing it from different angles and in different light. Nothing captured what I could see with my own eyes. The richness of the blue simply would not translate. Some things you have to stand in front of.

We also returned to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The last time Steve and I visited, scaffolding surrounded Tintoretto’s enormous Crucifixion. Its restoration was completed in 2025 and it was really cool to see two parts of the process and compare.

Tintoretto’s connection to the Scuola is a great story - in 1564, competing artists were asked to submit drawings for a ceiling decoration. Tintoretto said he needed more time to work on his sketches and wanted to work overnight but then surprised everyone by having his finished painting completely installed on the ceiling instead! When the organizers objected, he offered it as a gift. They accepted, and the painting stayed. Stories like that are why I value a knowledgeable guide. You look up at a beautiful ceiling and suddenly see so much more.

Later, our aperitivo tour wound from Piazza San Marco across the Rialto Bridge and back toward the hotel, with delicious cicchetti and spritz along the way. I love planning food tours for arrival day. When everyone is tired and jet-lagged, having someone lead the way and introduce the food removes a whole layer of decision and fatigue. Finishing near your hotel makes the evening easier still. And leave room for evening strolls. The music, the liveliness, and people gathering over aperitivo are some of my favorite parts of Venice.

Listening to the stories of Tintoretto and his influence of the time

The Evening I’ll Never Forget

Our private evening visit to St. Mark’s Basilica became one of the most spectacular experiences of my traveling life. We entered in darkness. Slowly, the lights came on, and everything began to glow. It was silent.

We descended into the crypt, stood before St. Mark’s tomb, and viewed the Pala d’Oro with just our party. The beauty, history, and spiritual power of the place were overwhelming.

After experiencing Venice several ways, I favor an afternoon at the Doge’s Palace followed by an evening visit to St. Mark’s. In my experience, the morning brings a rush of cruise passengers visiting for the day. By around 2 or 3 p.m., those crowds often begin to thin, leaving a quieter afternoon to explore. Timing changes how you experience a place.

Spending Where It Matters to You

For some travelers, the highlight might be a Michelin-starred tasting menu. Others would happily handle their own luggage and walk to the boat dock, saving that money for something else.

For our family, my father-in-law’s upcoming hip replacement shaped several choices. Help with luggage, thoughtful transfers, and comfortable touring arrangements meant we could enjoy Venice together while keeping his needs in mind.

That is how I approach planning: understanding who is traveling, what excites them, and what will make the experience comfortable and rewarding. Where to spend - and where to save - is personal. My job is to help you make those decisions thoughtfully.

For us, Palazzo Venart brought it all together: a beautiful setting, a peaceful retreat, and people who cared that we enjoyed our stay.

If Venice is on your wish list, I’d love to help you decide where to spend, what to prioritize, and how to make the experience feel like yours. Start planning with Two Birds Travel.