If postmodern experimental art isn’t what you’re after in classical Venice, have faith. Venice Venice Hotel makes the collaboration feel completely inevitable.
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There are cities that never change. Museum cities. Their identity, like their history, set in stone. Venice, for example. We don’t go there to be surprised, but to admire its canals and the unique architecture of its world-famous palaces. But then, when we are surprised, we’re thankful. Maybe even a little bit relieved. When we come across something anachronistic yet tastefully arranged, a different part of our spirit is awakened.
Palazzo Ca’ da Mosto is one of Venice’s oldest palaces. Today it’s home to the Venice Venice Hotel, one of the city’s most modern experiments. “There is a lack of novelty in Venice. The owners wanted to create something different,” emphasizes Blerina Pilkati, a manager at the hotel. Thus, they invented a new aesthetic they dubbed the “Postvenetian” style. A contemporary style that reawakens the avant-garde spirit of Venice. “According to them, this avant-garde spirit has always been an integral part of Venetian life.”
“Them” are Francesca Rinaldo and Alessandro Gallo, founders of the fashion brand Golden Goose and visionaries behind Venice Venice. They decided to break with the norms by creating a design that contrasted with the classicism of its structure. They would’ve struggled to find a better place in which to do it.
Palazzo Ca’ da Mosto epitomizes the Venetian style — forged over centuries, blending Byzantine, Islamic, Gothic, and Renaissance influences, reflecting the city’s strategic position as an ancient commercial and cultural crossroads between East and West. This 800-year-old building ticks all the boxes: a location on the Grand Canal, a Byzantine-style façade adorned with columns, arches, and carved details, and a cosmopolitan history. Overlooking the Rialto Bridge and the ancient markets, this was Venice’s first warehouse before becoming the private residence of Alvise Cadamosto, the Venetian aristocrat and explorer who discovered Cape Verde.
All that, and then in the 17th century it became a hotel. The most renowned hotel of its time and the first licensed hotel in Europe, actually. Leaders, tsars, artists, poets, writers, and aristocrats such as John Ruskin, Voltaire, and Emperor Joseph II all settled here. The building was abandoned in the 19th century and remained uninhabited for decades. Which brings us to the 2010s. Rinaldo and Gallo embarked on a complex six-year restoration that required raising the entire structure, which was gradually sinking into the canal. They also purchased the adjacent palazzo and connected the two. But it’s the decor that generates the discussions.
Evoking the Venice Biennale more than the traditional Rococo style, the owners opted for highly contemporary furniture and artwork from a variety of movements. Aside from the works they selected from their private collection, they designed each piece themselves and had it manufactured locally. This ongoing dialogue between the Venice of the past and the Venice of the future is evident not only in its name — Venice Venice — but throughout the entire property, starting with the most surprising space, the cocktail bar, dubbed the Venice Bitter Club: “It’s the soul of the project,” emphasizes Blerina Pilkati. “You can really feel the contrast between the original elements like the terrazzo floors and the wooden ceiling and new, disruptive elements like the tapestry.
The tapestry is the largest ever produced by a single machine, crafted by an area textile manufacturer that produces rare fabrics for famous fashion brands. Venice M’Art, a concept store-café-cocktail bar-restaurant whose use evolves throughout the day, also embodies this avant-garde spirit, as do the rooms. In addition to boasting high ceilings and exceptional views, they are all unique: “Each room recounts a special moment, a dollop of the history of avant-garde art.”
There’s a famous John Lennon quote from his early days as a Beatle: “Avant-garde is French for bullshit.” Eventually he saw things differently. It would’ve happened a lot sooner if he’d had a chance to stay at Venice Venice.
Scroll down for a full FAQ about The Venice Venice Hotel.
Nuts & Bolts
A bite-sized breakdown of your most frequently asked questions about The Venice Venice Hotel.
Who comes here?
Art enthusiasts, design aficionados and fashion-forward travelers. The Venice Venice Hotel attracts an international clientele drawn to its unique blend of history and avant-garde vision and who want to experience Venice from a fresh perspective.
When’s the best time to visit?
Every season reveals a different facet of the hotel. In winter, guests can enjoy the city’s tranquility. Rooms facing the Grand Canal become observation points for Venice at its most poetic with the lagoon’s legendary fog diffuses light in a soft, almost mystical way. Spring is perfect for long afternoons on the Grand Canal terrace where aperitivi blend into dinner. Summer evenings on the roof terrace offer panoramic views stretching from terracotta rooftops to the distant Dolomites and a unique setting for private dining. Fall brings Venice’s most dramatic light and color-rich palette reflected in the Grand Canal. The hotel’s cultural pulse beats year-round with a calendar of live performances on the Grand Canal terrace, at The Venice Bitter Club and at The Venice M’Art Gallery with exhibitions and artisanal markets.
What else is there to do in the area?
The hotel’s privileged position places guests at the crossroads between Rialto’s historic commercial center, the monumental grandeur of St. Mark’s Square just a short walk away, and Cannaregio’s authentic residential neighborhood — and also the “real Venice,” such as the Fondamenta della Misericordia, cherished by locals. The hotel also provides an ideal base for experiencing the city’s renowned cultural events — the Art and Architecture Biennales, Venice Film Festival, the historic Regatta Storica boat parade, and the magical Festa del Redentore with its floating stages and midnight fireworks.
Best room for a solo traveler? A couple? A family?
Solo travelers should consider Room 25 (Veni Etiam Loft), a New York-style loft where one can experience Venice through the lens of master photographer Renato D’Agostin’s camera, provided for guest use. For couples, Room 72 offers a romantic retreat with a private terrace overlooking the Grand Canal, while the Dream Different suite features its own private heated pool. Families will appreciate Room 21, inspired by the story of the founder’s Golden Goose origins, offering ample space while maintaining the artistic integrity that defines the property.
What’s a design feature I would miss if you didn’t tell me about it?
Don’t miss the seemingly simple “Venice Candle” fixtures throughout the property. What appears to be a candle suspended in an iron frame is actually a sophisticated design project by the hotel’s Erose brand, reimagining an evocative element from the past with contemporary innovation. Continues below
Anything to say about sustainability, equality, and community?
The Venice Venice Hotel has deep connections with local artisans and suppliers, many of whom are highlighted through photographic portraits displayed at Venice M’Art, by celebrating traditional Venetian craftsmanship while reimagining techniques for contemporary contexts.
Are there some standout amenities you’d recommend?
The Felix Anima spa redefines the wellness experience through immersive art. It features Victoria Zidaru’s site-specific installation of embroidered textile structures infused with hundreds of medicinal herbs, creating a multi-sensory environment for bespoke massage treatments and personalized wellness rituals.
The Venice Bitter Club, with its retro-futuristic bar, ancient coffered ceiling, and immersive Postvenetian tapestry composition by artist Francesco Simeti, offers guests the perfect place to enjoy cocktails with stunning views over the Grand Canal. Expanding into the hotel’s first noble floor, the space is also host to curated evenings with live music performances, vinyl soundscapes, and DJs.
Without further ado, what’s there to eat?
The hotel’s ground floor restaurant stretches from the courtyard through the revitalized sottoportego gallery and onto the Grand Canal terrace offering Rialto views and international classics as well as Italian specialties such as eggplant parmigiana, fresh egg pasta with truffle and biancoperla polenta. In the evening, the restaurant Francy’s, an intimate affair featuring exposed brick and Byzantine arches, serves a more elaborate version of the all-day menu.
Tell me about Tablet Plus?
At the time of publishing, Venice Venice offers Tablet Plus member privileges, including a room upgrade at check-in (upon availability), guaranteed late check-out, a welcome treat in your room on arrival, and a 20EUR credit for incidentals.
The final word?
Even when you think you know your classics, you’re never safe from surprises. The Venice Venice Hotel is one of those hotels that invites you to reinterpret the past with fresh eyes.
Book The Venice Venice Hotel on Tablet Hotels.
