Cipriani, Venice - Hotel Review

You don’t need to be a movie star to stay at the Cipriani but there’s a fair chance you’ll see one if you’re a guest there. This landmark Venetian property on central Giudecca Island has been the go-to address for Hollywood’s – and the world’s – celebrities since it opened in 1958 but its star power shines brightest during the annual Venice Film Festival in late summer. Founded by Giuseppe Cipriani, creator of Harry’s Bar, the Cipriani’s 96 rooms, storied restaurants and bar, and Olympic-sized lagoon-side pool are a serene sanctuary safely removed from the city’s madding crowds.

Where is Cipriani?

On the eastern tip of Giudecca Island, the hotel is five minutes by private (and complimentary) launch to St Mark’s Square; from the airport it’s half an hour by water taxi or catch the public Alilaguna taxi boat to St Mark’s Square then the hotel shuttle; and 20 minutes from Santa Lucia railway station (free transfers for passengers on the Orient Express).

Room types

There are 96 rooms and suites in a medley of configurations, all furnished with Venetian finesse and garden or lagoon views. Expect marble or parquet flooring, art and antiques and a sophisticated standard of living befitting one of the city’s best hotels. Guests staying in the historic Palazzo Vendramin annex have butlers at beck and call; the superlative Palazzo Suite has a plunge pool and private jetty for discreet comings and goings.

Restaurants and bars

The Michelin-starred Oro, with captivating views of the Lido and San Giorgio Island, is the hotel’s most coveted booking, followed closely by a seat at Cip’s Club, its cantilevered terrace looking across to St Mark’s Square. Waterfront Il Porticciolo is the spot for fresh seafood. New executive chef Riccardo Canella, fresh from a seven-year stint as Rene Redzepi’s sous at Noma in Copenhagen, devises all menus. The Gabbiano Bar, helmed for the past 44 years by barman Walter Bolzonella, is a legend on its own. Try the Buonanotte cocktail he concocted with good friend George Clooney.

Travel for work

The Cipriani is built for pleasure rather than business but when work’s unavoidable, conference spaces include a brace of ballrooms and the Granaries of the Republic, two interconnected, restored 19th-century buildings with views towards St Mark’s. Latest comms and AV equipment are available.

Spa and gym

The petite garden spa offers treatments for every whim, from jetlag revivers to rejuvenating rituals for 50-plus women. Besides the small gym and sauna, the hotel’s standout fitness facility is its Olympic-sized pool for lagoon-side laps. Those craving privacy can rent a marquee set back in the immaculate gardens.

What you need to know

The hotel has a private marina, in case you prefer to arrive aboard your own superyacht.

SEE ALSO: A Look Back At How Venice Has Changed Over the Past Year