The Gritti Palace

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, occupies a 1475 palace directly on the Grand Canal in San Marco, facing Santa Maria della Salute. Its 82 rooms include the roughly 990 square foot Hemingway Suite. A former doge's residence and literary haunt, it offers the Club del Doge terrace and Gritti Spa. Open year-round.

"A 1475 doge's palace on the Grand Canal facing the Salute, with the celebrated Club del Doge terrace and the Hemingway Suite."

Aggregate 9.5/10 on our editorial scale (Room & Design, Service, Location). Independently scored; see our methodology. This is our opinion, not an aggregate of user reviews.

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from bookings at no cost to you. We never accept payment for placement. Facts verified against official sources and the 2026 Michelin Guide in July 2026.

What makes The Gritti Palace special?

The Gritti Palace's appeal is its address and history: a 1475 palace directly on the Grand Canal in San Marco, facing Santa Maria della Salute. It was the residence of Doge Andrea Gritti, and over the centuries became a longtime literary and celebrity haunt, with Hemingway among its noted guests. That heritage, combined with one of the most central Grand Canal positions in the city, defines the hotel. The 82 rooms and suites include the signature Hemingway Suite of roughly 990 square feet, with Grand Canal balconies. Dining is a highlight thanks to the Club del Doge Restaurant, whose celebrated Grand Canal terrace is among the best dining-view spots in Venice, supported by the Riva Lounge and Bar Longhi. Wellness comes through the Gritti Spa, which uses Sisley Paris treatments across two treatment suites, though there is no pool. The overall character leans historic and Venetian rather than sleekly modern, with a shabby-chic patina in places. For travelers who want a central San Marco Grand Canal address steeped in history and one of the city's finest terrace views, the Gritti delivers.

Which room should you book?

Book the Hemingway Suite if you want the Gritti Palace's signature room, but choose carefully across the 82 rooms and suites because size and outlook vary. The Hemingway Suite runs roughly 990 square feet with Grand Canal balconies, making it the standout for space and view. Beyond it, canal-facing rooms and suites deliver the celebrated Grand Canal outlook that draws guests to the hotel, while interior rooms are quieter and less expensive but lack the view. Be aware that rooms and bathrooms can run compact for the price, so if space matters, aim for a higher category or a suite and confirm dimensions before booking. Some interiors carry a shabby-chic, past-their-prime look rather than a fully modern finish, which suits the historic palace character but will not please everyone. For the full experience, a Grand Canal room with a balcony or the Hemingway Suite justifies the premium; for a more affordable stay in the building, an interior room trades the view for the address. Discuss specific rooms with the hotel, since categories differ noticeably here.

Where should you eat and drink?

Dining at the Gritti Palace centers on the Club del Doge Restaurant and its celebrated Grand Canal terrace, one of the best dining-view spots in Venice. The terrace sits directly on the water facing Santa Maria della Salute, and the setting is the main event, drawing guests for Venetian cuisine with an unmatched outlook. The Riva Lounge and Bar Longhi round out the options for lighter meals, aperitivo, and cocktails in historic surroundings. The hotel does not hold a Michelin star, so the appeal is the atmosphere and the view as much as the cooking. Be aware that the restaurant is pricey relative to the food, a common note from guests, so set expectations around the setting rather than a destination-kitchen meal. For a special-occasion lunch or dinner on the Grand Canal, the terrace is hard to beat in central Venice, and its location means you can pair it with the rest of San Marco on foot. Guests wanting more range will find abundant dining a short walk away in the surrounding streets.

What is the spa and pool like?

The Gritti Palace's wellness comes through the Gritti Spa, which offers Sisley Paris treatments across two treatment suites, but there is no swimming pool. The spa is intimate rather than expansive, in keeping with the historic palace, and the Sisley Paris partnership gives it a recognized treatment line for facials and body work. Two treatment suites mean capacity is limited, so booking ahead is wise, especially in busy periods. Guests looking to swim should note there is no pool here, which is typical of central Grand Canal palazzos where space is constrained; travelers who want a pool in Venice generally look to island resort properties instead. The wellness offering suits guests wanting a treatment or two during a city-focused stay rather than a spa-centric retreat. For the Gritti, the draw remains the location, history, and dining terrace, with the spa as a supporting amenity rather than a headline reason to book.

Where is The Gritti Palace, and how do you get there?

The Gritti Palace sits directly on the Grand Canal in San Marco, at Campo Santa Maria del Giglio 2467, facing Santa Maria della Salute, about a 5 to 7 minute walk from St Mark's Square. This is one of the most central luxury addresses in Venice, putting the main sights, shopping, and restaurants within easy walking distance. The Santa Maria del Giglio vaporetto stop on Line 1 is right at the doorstep, making public water transport exceptionally convenient for reaching Rialto, the islands, or the train station. Arriving from Marco Polo Airport, a water-taxi takes roughly 30 minutes to the hotel's canal entrance, where guests step from the boat into the palace. The combination of a doorstep vaporetto, a short walk to St Mark's, and a private canal entrance makes the Gritti one of the easier luxury hotels to reach and to use as a base. For travelers who want to be in the heart of San Marco on the Grand Canal, the position is close to ideal.

What do guests consistently say?

Guests consistently praise the Gritti Palace for its location, history, and the Club del Doge terrace. The central San Marco Grand Canal address, facing Santa Maria della Salute, is repeatedly called a highlight, with the short walk to St Mark's and the doorstep vaporetto making it easy to explore. The dining terrace draws strong reactions for its view, often described as one of the finest in Venice for a meal on the water. The 1475 palace's history and its literary associations, including Hemingway, appeal to guests who value staying somewhere with genuine character. The Hemingway Suite and canal-facing rooms earn particular admiration. Many visitors appreciate the shabby-chic, historic feel, though reactions to it vary. Service and the sense of occasion around the hotel also come up positively. The recurring theme is that the Gritti offers a quintessentially Venetian, centrally located stay with a standout terrace, which is exactly what draws guests seeking history and a Grand Canal address.

Honest cons: who should skip it?

Skip the Gritti Palace if you want spacious, fully modern rooms, because accommodations and bathrooms can run compact for the price and some interiors feel past their prime, with a shabby-chic look rather than a contemporary finish. Travelers expecting large, sleek rooms may find the historic character charming or dated depending on taste. Service can feel formal and transactional at times, which suits some guests and disappoints others hoping for warmth. The Club del Doge restaurant is pricey relative to the food, so the terrace view carries much of the cost, and diners focused on cuisine rather than setting may feel the value is off. There is no swimming pool, so anyone wanting to swim should look to island resort properties. Guests who prioritize modern design, generous room sizes, or a value-driven luxury stay may be happier elsewhere. Those who want a historic, central Grand Canal address with a celebrated dining terrace, and who accept the trade-offs of an old palace, are the right fit.