What it is

A waterfront 19th-century grande dame with 52 sumptuous rooms, two locally beloved restaurants and a humming cocktail bar.

What it isn't

Venice-as-usual. Experiences offered for guests here are unforgettable, and range from behind the scenes tours of Murano glass workshops to kids mask-making workshops in a bona fide Carnival atelier.

What we think

Dropping jaws since 1853, this ultra-luxe hotel has hosted everyone from Tchaikovsky (who wrote his Fourth Symphony here) to novelist Jules Verne…so is it any wonder it’s still got its finger on the creative pulse? Guest rooms are nothing less than exquisite, adorned as they are in silks, rare woods, brocade, and marble. They begin at around 193 square feet for a Classic City View Room; to sprawl out like the pigeons in San Marco square, we recommend booking a Junior Suite Lagoon View with Terrace—at 258 square feet, it has a private balcony overlooking the gondolas bobbing by on the glimmering Venetian lagoon. Either way, expect pampering: amenities include Rivolta Camignani bed linens; Diptyque toiletries; an in-room Nespresso machine and tea kettle; marble-lined bathroom; individually controlled air conditioning and heating (phew!) and so much more.

You're here because

The hotel is a member of the coveted Relais & Châteaux association. Translation? It promises to be Perfection with a capital P.

The Moment

Noshing on spaghetti carbonara with cuttlefish and poppyseeds under the glittering Murano glass chandeliers of the hotel’s L.P.V. Ristorante, you feel like you’ve time traveled…until your waiter brings a Pink Lychee cocktail that is decidedly “now,” and the perfect accompaniment to dusk falling on the canals.

Restaurants & Bars

LPV Ristorante - Elegant dining room with Murano glass in the Hotel Londra Palace, showcasing Venetian classics

LPV Bistrot - Offers bistro-style dishes at lunchtime and more elaborate, refined cuisine in the evening

LPV Bar - Our snug and intimate hotel bar

Location

Just a couple blocks along the lagoon from Piazza San Marco—a.k.a. the beating heart of ancient Venice.