Splendid Venice – Starhotels Collezione

Rooms and decor

The 165 rooms mix soft pastels with dark velvet over oak floors — a look that reads upscale without feeling heavy. Each one gets the goose-feather Starbed that is Starhotels' signature, and reviewers come back to it again and again as the softest bed they have slept in, with more than a few saying they would rather stay put than head out sightseeing. Italian marble bathrooms come with Starbeauty bath products and an in-room espresso machine. The one thing to know is that standard rooms are not large — normal for a hotel in the heart of old Venice. If you want more room, upgrade to a Deluxe or Superior, some of which look out over the Venice rooftops from the window.

Food and amenities

The panoramic rooftop terrace is the highlight reviewers mention most — it looks over Venice's red-tile roofs and the Campanile of San Marco, and on a clear day you can pick out the lagoon in the distance. It is the right spot for a Venetian Spritz in the evening and for photos in the early morning before the city fills up. Breakfast gets good marks for quality and range, covering continental, Italian, and a hot buffet, and the ground-floor bar works well for an aperitivo before you head out for the evening.

Location and getting there

This is the strongest card Splendid Venice holds. From the door it is 5 minutes on foot to Piazza San Marco, 8 minutes to the Rialto Bridge, and about 15 minutes to the Gallerie dell'Accademia. The Rialto water-taxi dock is close by, so you can head straight out to Murano or Burano without waiting on a hotel boat. That makes it the most flexible base of the ten hotels on this list, especially if you like to wander the old town on foot morning and evening.

Things to know before booking

Standard rooms are smaller than expected, and at this price the tight floor space can sting — it comes with sitting in the middle of the old town. The better rooftop views also belong to the Superior and Deluxe rooms rather than the standards, which tend to face a narrow street. And some reviewers feel value for money slips a little if you book in high season instead of off-peak, so the timing of your trip matters here.

Our take

Splendid Venice is for travelers who want the best location and the freedom to walk to everything without thinking about boat schedules — couples who like roaming the old town, and anyone who values a base they can drop back to easily at any hour. At $251 to start, this address is well worth it.