Inside Aman Venice: A Noble Palazzo Reimagined for Modern Luxury
Few cities capture the imagination quite like Venice, a floating masterpiece built across 118 islands, where gilded palazzos rise from winding canals and every turn reveals a new work of art. Listed entirely as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city feels like a dream. And at its elegant heart, overlooking the Grand Canal, sits one of Venice’s most exclusive stays: Aman Venice.
Housed inside the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli, once the noble residence of the Arrivabene family, this 24-suite hotel offers a rare luxury in Venice: space, serenity, and two private gardens where guests can hear only the quiet sound of water lapping at the stone walls.
Most guests arrive by private boat directly to the palazzo’s own landing - a cinematic moment that sets the tone for what’s to come. Inside, soaring ceilings, grand frescoes, and original architectural details blend seamlessly with Aman’s signature minimalist design. It feels less like a hotel and more like stepping into the private home of someone impossibly well connected.
Grand Canal Views & Frescoed Suites
Almost every room at Aman Venice overlooks the water, and each suite is a study in Venetian refinement. Painted ceilings, carved fireplaces and original works by masters such as Tiepolo and Sansovino sit alongside contemporary furnishings, a quiet dialogue between centuries of craftsmanship.
No two rooms are alike, but all offer Aman’s signature understated luxury: deep-soaking marble tubs, elegant textiles, and a feeling of being both transported and entirely at ease.
Dining in the Palazzo
At the piano nobile, the grandest floor of any Venetian palace, guests step into what was once a gilded ballroom, now reimagined as an elegant lounge with a balcony overlooking the Grand Canal.
The Yellow Dining Room, home to Aman’s signature restaurant Arva, serves elevated Italian cuisine beneath a frescoed ceiling painted by Cesare Rotta. The adjoining bar opens onto the Canal Garden — the perfect place to watch the sun set as gondolas drift by.
For special occasions, private dining is available in the Blue Room, the Palazzo Kitchen, or outdoors in the garden, an experience almost no other Venetian palace hotel can offer.
Private Spaces & Hidden Corners
A sweeping staircase leads to the palazzo’s upper levels, where guests discover:
A serene Library lined with antique books from Count Arrivabene’s personal collection
A dedicated Games Room and Meeting Room
A quiet Salon with views of the rooftops and waterways
A discreet roof terrace where Venice unfolds in every direction, and on clear days, even the Alps appear on the horizon
Wellness Above the Water
On the third floor, the Aman Spa feels like a secret sanctuary, three treatment rooms, each with its own dressing area and bathroom, plus a private staircase for discreet access. A small gym overlooks Venice’s skyline, offering perhaps the world’s most poetic workout setting.
Experiences Beyond the Palazzo
Aman Venice’s location is ideal for exploring Venice’s icons, from St. Mark’s Basilica to the Accademia Galleries - yet the hotel specializes in private, insider access. Whether it’s a guided tour of hidden artisan ateliers, an after-hours museum visit, or a private boat to Murano, the hotel’s concierge team creates experiences most visitors will never know exist.
TBS Tip: For the ultimate Aman Venice experience, book a Grand Canal Suite and arrange a private dinner in the palazzo’s garden, lanterns glowing, gondolas passing, and not another hotel guest in sight. It doesn’t get more Venetian than that.
Final Thoughts
Aman Venice isn’t just a place to stay, it is Venice distilled into a single address: history, artistry, intimacy, and quiet grandeur all under one frescoed roof. For travelers seeking the most refined way to experience the Floating City, this is it.