St. Regis Venice: A Classic Marriott Bonvoy Property with Artistic Design
by Krish Patel
Venice is known for its breathtaking architecture, numerous canals, and endless collection of boats and gondolas. Found in the heart of the city near several attractions is the St. Regis Venice, a classic hotel that blends artistic design with luxurious accommodations. With a gorgeous interior design and splendid rooms, the St. Regis is truly a fabulous Venetian hotel.
St. Regis Venice Location
The waterside entrance of the hotel can be found on the right end of the Grand Canal, where you can arrive via water taxi. Venice’s famous landmarks along the Grand Canal are easy to reach via boat or foot from the St. Regis. For example, only a six-minute walk away is the iconic St. Mark’s Square. The property’s balcony provides a breathtaking view of the Santa Maria Basilica, along with a slew of other Renaissance works of architecture.
St. Regis Venice Lobby, Vibe, and Amenities
Arriving at the St. Regis feels very special and exciting. Your boat will pull up to a wooden dock backed by a picturesque Venetian building, where you’ll then be escorted out of the boat and into the lobby a team of friendly staff.
The lobby feels very clean and elegant, boasting high-end furniture and swanky marble flooring. There are dedicated desks for the receptionist and concierge, both of whom provided me with a friendly welcome.
St. Regis Venice has a partnership with Berengo Studios, which sources contemporary artwork from various artists. Most notable among the hotel’s works is a glass chandelier titled “White Glass” and designed by Ai Weiwei. It’s absolutely gorgeous and one of the most photogenic glass sculptures I’ve seen. The hotel feels like a luxurious property combined with a sophisticated art museum that showcases several eye-catching abstract pieces.
Several amenities are situated within this historic luxury hotel that dates back to 1895. Notably, guests can enjoy a pampering experience at the Valmont Spa, which has a specialized team that can create personalized treatments. There’s also a small gym complete with cozy wooden flooring, which has useful workout equipment whether you prefer cardio or weight lifting. I found the gym to be functional for my morning workouts before heading to breakfast and then going on to explore the city’s canals, historic streets, and magnificent Renaissance buildings.
The Rooms at St. Regis Venice
St. Regis Venice offers 169 rooms and suites spread across several former Venetian palaces. The room types range from entry-level Deluxe rooms to spacious suites that overlook the Grand Canal. For my stay, I was booked into a Deluxe room, which was still very impressive for the standards of a luxury hotel.
From the moment I stepped in, I could easily tell how colorful the room was. It felt ornate with vivid artwork, a well-furnished lounge area, soft gray carpeting, and two twin beds topped with a plush white mattress and collection of pillows. Adjacent to both beds is a wooden night stand complete with a hanging reading lamp, controls for the room lighting, and charging outlets.
In the room is also a TV, minibar, and small dining table meant for room service. The minibar is stocked with assorted snacks and cold drinks and feels decorative thanks to the facial sculpture placed atop the counter.
The bathroom felt clean and came provided with skincare essentials from Aqua di Parma. Inside, I found a spacious bathtub and shower complete with a striped marble wall and shelf for soap.
Food and Drink at St. Regis Venice
You’ll find three on-site dining establishments that are accessible to visitors, including Gio's restaurant and two different bars. Gio’s is where a breakfast buffet is offered daily and doubles as a Venetian seafood restaurant for dinner. I was not super impressed by the breakfast buffet, which was less extensive than what I was hoping for. However, there was a decent choice of various fruits, pastries, and cold cuts.
Within Gio’s is the St. Regis Bar, serving as the property’s flagship bar. Outside is a sun-drenched patio offering views of the Grand Canal and serves as a space to eat lunch. St. Regis Bar offers a generous menu of light dishes if you’re hungry but not craving a heavy meal.
Lastly, the Arts Bar is a trendy cocktail bar that serves various cocktails inspired by well-known works of art. It offers indoor and outdoor seating and is absolutely worth a visit. The bar environment feels super colorful, boasting a wide range of familiar textures that look visually appealing. Each of the drinks Arts Bar serves is carefully poured into a glass designed by the iconic Berengo Studios in Murano.
Booking the St. Regis Venice
Hotels in Venice are typically quite expensive, with the St. Regis being a perfect example of that. Rates at the hotel start at $965 during off-peak days and sometimes exceed $1,500 during peak travel times such as the summer months. If you book using a card such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card, you can earn points on your hotel purchase.
If you want to book this property using points, award prices frequently range between 60,000 and 100,000 Bonvoy points per night.
Overall Thoughts
The St. Regis Venice is such a fantastic hotel in the heart of the city and offers thoughtfully-designed rooms with a visually appealing atmosphere in mind. Basically, the entire hotel is an art museum, since every corner of the property just feels very colorful and playful. Additionally, its location along the Grand Canal provides easy access to several of Venice’s tourist attractions. After all, this is such a magical city built entirely on water, and having a luxurious and artsy hotel such as the St. Regis situated on the lagoon is quite crazy.