Venice’s most exclusive address?

Gondolas drift past, but Aman Venice is here to stay at Palazzo Papadopoli

05 Apr 2025

Step off the water taxi and you drift into a scene reminiscent of a Veronese canvas, rising from the Grand Canal, Palazzo Papadopoli stands tall with its soaring ceilings, carved cornices, and frescoed ballrooms. The scent of aged leather, beeswax and Venetian spices lingers in the air, caught in the silk-draped walls of the 16th century Palazzo and later home to the noble Papadopoli family. Today, as you step in its gilded doors open to Aman Venice where all its Venetian splendour is preserved, aging beautifully with time and lingering like a last sip of Amarone.

Aman Venice balances the palazzo’s rich history with modern ease, picture sweeping marble staircases, supple marble underfoot, Murano chandeliers overhead and Tiepolo frescoes on the walls. Silk drapes shift with the canal breeze and the scent of polished wood lingers in the air, the twenty four rooms and suites wrap you in Venetian splendour, Jean-Michel Gathy’s modern restraint softens the opulence.

Aman Venice balances the palazzo’s rich history with modern ease, picture sweeping marble staircases, supple marble underfoot, Murano chandeliers overhead and Tiepolo frescoes on the walls.

In the Alcova Tiepolo Suite you could sleep beneath painted cherubs, at the Grand Canal Suite enjoy Venetian vistas of gondolas drifting past the lagoon blue waters. Some lined in hand painted chinoiserie, some with carved out fireplaces and others framed in silk lined walls– many of the rooms enjoy postcard views of the Canal.
At one of the best luxury hotels in Venice, the day unfolds at a slower pace here, dictated by the bells of Basilica di Santa At Arva, breakfast is unmistakably Italian crisp cicchetti, risottos laced with Adriatic seafood, Chef Matteo’s take on Venetian flavours. Indulge in a fresco brunch at the canal-side garden, where Turkish eggs, berry-laden pancakes with Chantilly cream and buttery Lobster Benedict land on the table with the gentle gurgle of the Grand Canal.

The Bar inspired by Lord Byron tucked inside the Red Room is perhaps also one of the best places in the city. Mixologist Antonio Ferrara crafts cocktails inspired by the palazzo, sip on the Indomabile a gilded Martini infused with fennel and mint, a tribute to the defiant spirit of Countess Maria Maddalena Aldobrandini Papadopoli. The Palazzo Kitchen Table offers a chef-led deep dive into Venetian cuisine, starting your dining experience with a trip to the Rialto market and ending with a satiny risotto.

Beyond the indulgence, Aman Venice is more than just the best hotels in Venice, it is also a gateway to the hidden corners and landmarks of the city. Early risers can slip into the Doge’s Palace before the crowds or take a private gondola ride through quiet back canals to the Piazza San Marco.

How to get there: Take a train from Milan Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia (3 hours 25 minutes) or Venice Mestre (2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes), with approximately 50 trains running daily. From Venice Santa Lucia, Aman Venice is accessible via a public water bus, water taxi or a short walk.

Approx price per night: Staring from €1870 (about INR1,76,754.27)

Where to book: Visit website to book