Aman Venice

When I run through the best hotels I've stayed at by city — Dubai, Paris, Barcelona, all Mandarin Orientals — for Venice, Aman is my unqualified number one.

I've had excellent stays across the luxury spectrum in Europe, but Venice is where Aman's formula of historic architecture plus radical calm most completely pays off. There's simply nothing comparable in the city for guests who want to feel like they're living inside Venetian history rather than visiting it as a tourist.

We chose the garden for our anniversary lunch and it was faultless — crisp linen, perfectly chilled Ruinart, and a waiter who shared the history of the property between courses.

Diego's attentiveness and knowledge made what could have been just a nice meal into a genuinely memorable afternoon. The food was impeccable and the garden setting — which must be one of Venice's most tranquil spaces — made it feel entirely removed from the city outside. One of our best lunches ever, full stop.

My mid-category room had a palatial bathroom and a sense of drama I haven't encountered at any other hotel — but I do think they could have chosen better contemporary furniture to complement the historic bones.

The hotel creates this incredible theatrical effect the moment you walk in — something about the scale of the palazzo and the layering of old and new. I was genuinely blown away by how much the bathroom alone surpassed what I've had at comparable properties. It's highly underrated in luxury travel conversations, though the contemporary furnishing choices are a missed opportunity at this price point.

The variance between room categories is significant enough that it can make or break the stay — we were told we'd have garden views and ended up in what felt like a partly subterranean room next to the public restrooms, and at €1,600 a night even on a discount, it wasn't worth it.

Each time we tried the hotel bar we were told there was no room, despite being paying guests — that kind of thing stings when you're spending this kind of money. The stunning suite you see in the videos is real, but so are the compromised entry rooms. I can see how the property earns rapturous reviews from guests in the right rooms; we just weren't in one of them.

A beautifully renovated palazzo right on the Grand Canal — housekeeping was impeccable, the concierge professional, and the boat drivers genuinely warm.

Our room was very comfortable and everything about the physical hotel felt cared for. One thing I'd note: this review covers only the hotel itself, not the restaurant Arva, which is a separate experience worth seeking out independently. The overall impression is of a team that takes genuine pride in the property.

Even just coming for dinner rather than staying, the level of exclusivity and refined elegance was immediately apparent — this genuinely feels like a seven-star experience.

From the moment we arrived as dining guests, every member of staff was gracious, attentive, and welcoming in a way that felt entirely natural rather than performed. The interiors are breathtaking — like stepping into a private Venetian palace where every detail has been preserved and elevated. The restaurant setting alone would justify the visit, and the cuisine matched the atmosphere.

I paid expecting Grand Canal and garden views and got a basement room next to the public restrooms — it's a beautifully restored palace, but the pricing doesn't match a compromised room assignment.

Breakfast had gaps that surprised me — no fresh bread, requests for basic items like tuna or watermelon in summer went unfulfilled when every café in Venice had them. The property itself is stunning and I understand why people love it, but the experience is very sensitive to which room you get and how attentive your particular team is that day.

I'd been dreaming of this property for years and was even planning to hold our wedding here — but the spa was, without exaggeration, the single worst massage experience across 58 luxury hotels I've stayed at.

The therapist finished nearly 30 minutes early and wore latex gloves throughout the treatment without any prior notice — a deal-breaker at this price point regardless of the reason given. What really shocked me was the spa manager's response: she told me I was 'lucky' never to have experienced gloves before, as though that were standard practice. The dinner staff were genuinely phenomenal and some team members were exceptional, but the spa leadership's indifference is not something I've encountered at any other Aman.