Hip and chic Philippe Starck-designed hotel
Stylish, airy, contemporary rooms with stocked minibars
Convenient, central location within walking distance to main attractions in Venice
Trendy open kitchen restaurant serving
modern Mediterranean dishes
Candlelit bar and roof terrace serving evening drinks
Free Wi-Fi throughout
On-site meeting room
Breakfast is not included in the room rate
Some rooms are on the small side, and many
have no view
As with many hotels in Venice, it can be difficult to find
Palazzina G (formerly Palazzina
Grassi), is a 25-room luxury hotel known for being the first hotel
in Italy to be designed by the renowned French designer Philippe Starck. It’s a
small and quiet property in a great location -- all the main tourist spots in
Venice are within walking distance, as are a good variety of shops and
restaurants. There’s a fashionable bar and restaurant on-site, and the decor throughout
is eclectic and hip. Rooms are chic and elegant, but for five-pearl
prices, they are small, with no tea- and coffee-making facilities, and many
have no view (though some have big balconies and some suites have Grand Canal views). Room rates are comparable with the Boscolo Venezia Autograph
Collection, which is further out of the historic center of Venice, but offers a
grander, more traditional style with the bonus of a spa.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Quirky, cool, and modern hotel
This design hotel attracts a trendy crowd
looking to avoid the traditional Venetian-style decor. Here, guests find
classic Philippe Starck-style, with an abundance of polished chrome and
mirrors, along with quirky sculptures, artwork, and furniture. The lobby has exposed
brick walls with a pair of sprawling chandelier-style wall lights mounted onto
huge mirrors. There's no traditional reception desk, so a member of staff
greets guests and then takes them to the bar or restaurant to run
through the check-in process. It's designed to be less formal but doesn't
always hit the mark as it can sometimes be difficult to find staff when you
need them. The restaurant has an eclectic style too -- there's cow hide,
leather, and wood, mixed with chrome and glass. Ancient-looking pillars line
either side of the room, and the low lighting and wooden ceiling create a warm
and intimate setting. Overall the atmosphere is polished and a touch romantic.
Location
A quiet position close to the historic heart of Venice
Hidden away down a small alley behind the
Palazzo Grassi contemporary art gallery, the hotel can be hard to find as there
isn't a great deal of obvious signage. On the other side, the property overlooks the
stunning Grand Canal. This is a quiet spot but is within a short walk of shops,
restaurants, and tourist attractions. St Marks Square, the Accademia art
gallery, Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Rialto Bridge, and Bridge of Sighs are all
within a 10- to 15-minute walk. Water taxis stop just around the corner from the
hotel.
Rooms
Stylish and contemporary rooms, but many lack views and space
Rooms are designed with clean, modern
lines, soft neutral color walls, contemporary cream leather armchairs, huge Art-Deco style mirrors on every wall, and simple white bed linens. Mirrored
surfaces extend to the window shutters and bedside tables -- even the TV is
set into a mirror. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, minibar, hairdryer, free newspapers, a safe, bathrobe,
and slippers. There are no tea- and coffee-making facilities though, and some of the
rooms are on the small side. There are five suites which face the Grand Canal
and have great views, but most of the Standard Rooms look out onto brick walls.
Bathrooms are modern and chic too, and feature the same huge beveled-edge
mirrors that dominate the bedrooms, along with more polished chrome fixtures and luxury toiletries.
Features
Bar, restaurant, and roof terrace for evening drinks
The on-site restaurant, PG's,
serves modern Mediterranean food at lunch and dinner in an intimate but buzzy
space. It operates an open kitchen so diners can watch their food being
prepared by the chefs. Breakfast is available too, but is not included in the
room rate. There’s a cozy bar and a smart roof terrace which has
comfortable chairs, huge potted trees, and a dark slate-tiled floor. It offers
great views over the rooftops and in the evening is candlelit and serves a
range of drinks -- specializing in Champagne, whiskey, and cognac. The hotel has a meeting room and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
