Glamorous Getaway: The St. Regis Venice

30 Jul 2020
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6 min read
With enviable views across the Grand Canal and located within moments of the city’s most iconic landmarks, The St. Regis Venice has stood in its privileged position for over a century, welcoming a host of illustrious guests over the years. After a brief closure, the renowned hotel has re-opened its doors, inviting travelers to once again soak up the majesty of the famed Floating City while enjoying the characteristic St. Regis luxuries. 

Comprised of a unique collection of five 18th and 19th century palazzi, The St. Regis Venice offers 130 guestrooms and 39 suites, many of which boast private terraces or Juliet balconies with sweeping views across Venice’s most iconic landmarks. A coveted jewel nestled in the heart of the legendary City of Canals, the hotel’s spacious and secluded garden distinguishes the already beguiling venue, making it a lifestyle destination where guests and locals alike can enjoy remarkable views of the Grand Canal while savoring in the most delectable gastronomic delights courtesy of Gio’s Restaurant, The St. Regis Bar, and Arts Bar.

Steeped in the charm of its fabled history, the stories of merchants, royalty, artists and explorers who once inhabited the buildings are echoed in every facet of the hotel’s timeless semblance. Molded by the beloved Italian city’s rich artistic and cultural legacy, the hotel embodies a truly majestic character. With an avant-garde vision and progressive design, The St. Regis Venice stylishly combines its historic provenance as the best address in the city, with striking, modern interiors and an allure cultivated by discerning luminaries.

Following an extensive two-year renovation prior to its opening in October last year, the hotel, which exhibits the most expansive water-frontage in the city, re-emerged with a prodigious aesthetic. Led by London-based design studio Sagrada, the hotel’s interior exudes restrained opulence and a deep savoir-faire that seamlessly blends the past with the present. In the public areas, new marble floor patterns have been combined with the original ones to create striking walkways while Venetian styling gracefully rounds-out the spaces. Tailored fabrics and custom, handcrafted furnishings inspired by the gentle curves of gondolas, the patterns of the Doge’s Palace, the pavements of St. George’s churchyard and the water flow of the canal are present throughout, while in the the Arts Bar, Carlo Scarpa, one of Venice’s greatest artists and architects, is honored through thoughtful décor.

Rooms and Suites

Every room and suite in the hotel reflects Venice’s contemporary spirit while immersing its guests in the destination’s captivating beauty. The meticulously-appointed suites include a two-bedroom, art-inspired Presidential Suite with views onto the Grand Canal and a three-bedroom Penthouse Suite with a wraparound furnished terrace that flaunts extraordinary vistas across La Serenissima’s skyline from three distinct vantage points.

The five Roof Garden Suites marvelously combine garden-inspired interiors with uninterrupted views and in-vogue accents, while their furnished terraces offer a quiet retreat to soak up the dazzling landscape. Set against twilight tones, the Venetian Suites overflow with modern design details influenced by the city’s cultured past. As an homage to the Venetian masterpieces of former guest and Impressionist painter Claude Monet, the Monet Suites feature a characteristic colour palette that mirrors the interplay of light and reflections and their transformation from dusk to dawn on the waters of the Grand Canal below. The rest of the suites and guestrooms boast picturesque views of the hotel’s private Italianate garden or the romantic city’s stunning rooftops and traditional calle.

As a hallmark of the St. Regis experience, all guests have access to the signature St. Regis Butler service. Honoured to maintain a long-standing tradition of making guests feel at home, the St. Regis Butler is poised to provide an ever-present, yet unobtrusive, service attending to guests’ every need.

In addition to The St. Regis Butler service, the hotel offers superlative services such as Les Clefs D’Or Concierge; 24-hour private dining, a private dock for water taxis; complete business services, including translation and secretarial services; dry cleaning; and turn-down service, among others. Each room and suite also features a spacious and inviting layout with flawless furnishings and art-inspired décor; state-of-the-art technology; complimentary wifi; signature St. Regis king-size beds and marble-clad bathrooms with luxurious amenities.

The Location

Built in a traditional architectural style, enveloped in stone and embellished with columned balconies, the hotel glistens on the banks of the glowing Grand Canal. With a private pontoon to welcome guests, every visitor is made to feel like royalty and family simultaneously. At the rear of the hotel is Calle XXII Marzo, a notable street lined with elite boutiques and contemporary art galleries, and access to Grand Teatro La Fenice, the city’s temple of opera. With Piazza San Marco just four minutes’ walk from the hotel, guests have easy access to all of Venice’s most-loved treasures. Additionally, the hotel is only 17.3 km from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE); 43 km from Treviso Antonio Canova Airport (TSF) and 2km from Venice Santa Lucia Train Station, making transfer to The St. Regis Venice an effortless affair.

The hotel also offers one-of-a-kind bespoke Venetian experiences for guests to enjoy. Designed in collaboration with IF UNIQUE ART EXPERIENCES and dedicated to the vanguardist character of Venice throughout its long history, guests can choose from a wide selection of urban adventures that showcase the city’s distinctive personality. From visiting to the latest addition of Glasstress and admiring the world of glass art to learning about A Brief History of Venetian Fashion and taking a private tour of ten chapels on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, there is an activity for every interest.

The Spa

Bringing the outdoors inside by playing with water and light motifs, the luxurious Spa Suites invite guests to wholly revel in the city’s most extraordinary views, offering an engrossing, enriching journey with moments of relaxed pleasure and sensory revitalization. The specially curated treatments have been conceived for an other-worldly wellbeing experience and incorporate local ingredients lauded for their healing benefits. Each therapy is focused on providing guests with the ultimate pampering session according to their preferences.

The Garden

One of The St. Regis Venice’s most cherished areas is the private, Italianate garden that overlooks the Grand Canal. Designed to showcase Venice’s more modern side, the flawlessly landscaped garden is complemented by geometric patterning, curlicue topiary, rose planting and fluid pathways. As the social heart of the hotel, it was envisioned as a refined space for local tastemakers and guests to mingle and unwind. The immaculate décor, lush greenery and discreet seating provides the perfect setting to sample the signature Bloody Mary, order from the Spritz trolley and enjoy some al fresco dining.

Dining

Quintessentially Italian at its core, Gio’s Restaurant brings new life to Italy’s gastronomic classics, enhancing the dining experience and taking guests on an elevated journey of destination-specific dishes. With a sprinkling of pizzazz, simple yet iconic dishes are perfected at the table and flavorings are personalized to meet the diner’s desires. Executive Chef Nadia Frisina, who hails from the beautiful island of Sicily and boasts many years of experience at world-class hotels and restaurants, brings her love and prowess for the culinary arts to every plate using local, fresh and seasonal ingredients.

The intimate Arts Bar has a sophisticated, jazzy ambiance that sets the mood and takes guests on a sensory journey from evening until early morning. The menu boasts an inventive selection of artistic classic cocktails with a disruptive twist that are prepared with care and served with flair. Inspired by masterpieces by vanguard artists like Della Francesca, Tintoretto, Banksy, Yayoi Kusama and Jeff Koons, the cultured cocktails are complemented perfectly by the décor that showcases the hotel’s impeccable character steeped in the building’s enduring lore. The modern, elegant interior spills out onto a sophisticated outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the Grand Canal and its monument-lined banks. In the evenings, pre-dinner drinks and bubbly are introduced by a sabrage ritual and accompanied by a selection of home-made appetizers; and as the night unfolds, Bar Manager Facundo Gallegos and his barmen play gracious host, taking mixology to new heights.

The St. Regis Bar invites guests to revel in laid-back indulgence. Nestled between the Grand Canal and the Italianate Garden, guests can enjoy a lip-smacking selection of ombré pink-orange cocktails that mirror Venice’s vibrant shades at sunset. The refreshing drinks, which are a twist on iconic cocktail classics, take inspiration from local botanicals in the garden and the seasonal selection of Spritz from the bespoke Spritz trolley.

Art

Inspired by Venice’s artistic heritage, the hotel showcases an eclectic collection of specially curated artwork and sculptures that transport today’s luxury travelers back to ancient Venice. Paying homage to the hotel’s tradition of welcoming celebrated artists, The St. Regis Venice hosts an international artist-in-residence programme that invites creatives to create unique pieces inspired by the hotel and its alluring locale.

The hotel’s first resident artist was Olivier Masmonteil from Paris, who was commissioned to create original artworks for the Grand Salon and the Monet Suites. The Venetian tradition of glassmaking also lives on at The St. Regis Venice, celebrated through a partnership with Glasstress. This unique partnership marries contemporary art and historical glass blowing techniques, inviting world class artists of various disciplines to collaborate with Murano Maestros to create one-of-a-kind glass works of art.

Social Events, Weddings, & Meetings

Expressing the cultural curiosity of Venice at every corner, the hotel is the idyllic setting for celebratory gatherings and formal functions. With various areas available to choose from, each one can easily be transformed to your dream destination, hosting a select number of guests and supported by an extensive menu of inspirational cuisine. For crafted occasions, the Library is the ideal venue with its urbane atmosphere, well-appointed lounge and adjacent John Jacob Astor Boardroom. The Canaletto Room and ballroom embody the contemporary spirit of a Venetian palazzo, and will bring truly momentous celebrations to life against their impressive backdrops. For unforgettable moments complemented by breath-taking views, the secluded garden and private terraces are the foolproof choice.

For more information or to book, please visit The St. Regis Venice’s website or Instagram page.

 

 

Beyond Magazine fashion video at The St. Regis Venice, courtesy Beyond Magazine