Londra Palace Venezia is a historic 52-room palazzo that, for more than a century, has been celebrated for its iconic 100-window facade that overlooks the San Marco Basin in Venice, Italy. Originally opened in 1853, the hotel reopened in March 2024 following an extensive renovation. A cherished staple of Venetian hospitality, Londra Palace Venezia features a contemporary aesthetic that honors the building’s architectural legacy, including immersive dining experiences, refined public spaces, and luxury amenities.
Designed by Studio Ruberti Cutillo, a Venetian-based firm, the hotel retains its historical authenticity, and following extensive research, debuts fresh interiors that celebrate both expressionism and modern Venetian aesthetics, giving new life to the iconic hotel. Inspired by the historic Veneto villas, Londra Palace Venezia’s new décor draws from quintessential Venetian silks, tactile velvets, and lavish brocades to create modernized renditions, updated with playful geometric prints and abstract figures. Fortuny chandeliers, and Rubelli textiles reflect the vibrant, artisanal spirit of a modern Venice, while acknowledging the ancestral craftsmanship & aesthetic of its past.
The property’s crown jewel is its top-floor Panoramic View Suite, which features a spacious private patio with views of the lagoon and city center. As part of its revitalization, it also includes two signature suites – the Suite Verne and Suite Borges, which pay tribute to French writer Jules Verne and poet & scholar Jorge Luis Borges. The hotel’s public spaces include a distinctive lounge with Murano chandeliers and d’antan mirrors set against rich velvet seating, providing a genial living room space for guests and locals alike.
“The recent renovation of the Londra Palace Venezia, as spearheaded by Studio Ruberti Cutillo, is a testament to the delicate balance between preserving the rich historical essence of Venice and embracing contemporary aesthetics and technologies. This transformative project highlights several key aspects that tether the hotel firmly to its Venetian roots while projecting it into the modern era. One of the most notable incorporations are the textiles and fabrics from historic Venetian weavers like Rubelli. Known for their intricate designs and high-quality materials, Rubelli textiles are a direct nod to Venice’s storied past in textile production. The project’s choice to use fabrics inspired by Vittorio Zecchin, a notable Venetian artist active during the Art Deco period, further entrenches the hotel in the local artistic heritage.” – Alain Bullo, General Manager of Londra Palace Venezia
The hotel’s culinary program is led by Executive Chef Daniele Galliazzo and includes LPV Bar, LPV Ristorante for lunch and evening dining, and the hotel’s private Altana rooftop terrace – the tallest in the city. Menu offerings applaud traditional Venetian flavors and techniques, fusing farming & market garden culture of the Veneto mainland with cultural fishing traditions of the former maritime republic.
LPV Ristorante features an expansive outdoor terrace with unparalleled views of the Riva degli Schiavoni with thoughtfully curated seasonal menus that reflect the pillars of Venice’s culinary traditions. The menu is broken into three distinctive themes: water, earth, and air. Water provides dishes made with locally sourced seafood, including highlights such as the Risotto di Gò — an old Venetian fishing community recipe using the “gò” or goby fish found in the lagoons (to which the chef adds a touch of fennel and licorice); or the Sea Bream Fillet, in a stew of mussels, tomatoes, and bottarga. Earth pulls from the mainland’s agrarian lifestyle focusing on meat, poultry, and game, which features delights such as Seared Beef Tenderloin (with simple and expertly prepared green beans and potatoes) and the Spaghetti with Veal Ragout and Black Truffle. Air breathes new life into vegetable-focused dishes inspired by local farmers, such as the Potato Millefoglie with thinly sliced potatoes and seitan. Sea bass tartare with glasswort, pink grapefruit, and basil.
LPV Bar evokes the intimate, convivial watering holes of old-world Venice with a beverage program crafted by Marino Lucchetti, providing jovial interpretations of classic cocktails including The Americano 4.1 made with four different Vermouths and four bitters, for a unique blend on a signature beverage. The Altana rooftop terrace encapsulates Venetian design traditions and is inspired by the unique wooden “Altana” structures located above Venice’s rooftops dating back to the 12th century. The space provides a private reprieve with views of the city, iconic lagoon, and Dolomites.
“The creation of the exclusive Salomè fabric for our LPV Restaurant showcases a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern design, making each space both luxurious and unique. The use of tactile velvets and lavish brocades in the hotel’s interiors evokes the opulence of Venice’s golden age. These materials, historically associated with Venetian nobility, bring a sense of warmth and luxury to the hotel’s rooms and public spaces. Their incorporation into the design scheme speaks to a deep appreciation for Venice’s textile legacy, updated for contemporary sensibilities. The strategic integration of Rubelli textiles throughout the hotel, not just as decorative elements but as part of the hotel’s identity, underscores a deep respect for Venetian artisanal traditions. This choice reflects a broader commitment to maintaining a tangible link to Venetian craftsmanship, ensuring that the essence of Venice is woven into the very fabric of the hotel. The renovation of Londra Palace Venezia by Studio Ruberti Cutillo expertly melds Venetian heritage with modern design principles. Through the thoughtful use of local textiles, materials, and artisanal techniques, the project honors the past while creating spaces that are vibrant, contemporary, and deeply rooted in the unique cultural landscape of Venice.” – Alain Bullo, General Manager of Londra Palace Venezia
Central to The Hospitality Experience ethos is its philanthropic foundation, The Place of Wonders – a project dedicated to the protection, sustainment, and promotion of centuries-old traditions of Italian creativity and artistic craftsmanship. Designed to keep these traditions alive, the property’s cultural programming allows guests, through a donation, to participate in exclusive on-site visits to artisanal practices that focus on various creative forms specific to the region including glass, upcycled textiles, and leather goods production, as well as weaving which takes place on 18th-century looms at Tessitura Bevilacqua, the last remaining workshop of its kind.
Londra Palace Venezia, in collaboration with General Manager Alain Bullo & Italian creative agency Venezia da Vivere, is also proud to introduce “Mano a Mano” (or “Hand to Hand”) – a collection of five objects created by five storied Venetian craftsmen. The principal of this collection is that artisan crafted everyday pieces (which also can be used ‘by hand’, i.e. worn or held) can also be viewed as utilitarian works of art. Each of the five limited-edition pieces will be on display throughout the property. In addition to the exhibition & artisanal site visits, The Place of Wonders at Londra Palace Venezia, in partnership with world-renowned glass bead artists Alessia Fuga & Marisa Convento, will also debut a new apprenticeship program that will grant four students the opportunity to learn this rarified art form from two leading Murano practitioners.
Historically, Venetian artisans were organized into guilds that were both legally recognized and monitored by the state. This apprenticeship system originated in the 13th century and has since been discontinued in the present day. 50% of Venetian artisans, customs of craftsmanship, and traditions have been lost in recent decades, making philanthropic foundations such as The Place of Wonders and work of the Babini family crucial to preservation efforts in Italy to safeguard the creation of quality products, traditional craftsmanship practices, and the continued stewardship of skills from one generation to the next.
Intrinsic to Londra Palace Venezia is its rich history since its construction in 1853 to its most recent redesign completed in 2024. Originally opened under the name The Hotel d’Angleterre and Pension, the property was created in response to a growing demand for accommodations in Venice once the city’s railroad linked the island to the mainland. After being purchased by the Babini family in 1938, the property continued to evolve with exterior restorations in the 1950s, interiors in the 1990s, and reducing the room count from 73 to a more spacious 52 – one room for each week of the year.
Londra Palace Venezia is part of The Hospitality Experience (a.k.a THE) – a new collection of luxury Italian properties owned and operated by the Babini Family that features three hotels in its current collection: Londra Palace Venezia (Venice), THE PLACE Firenze (Florence) and the upcoming Borgo Dei Conti resort (Umbria) set to debut Summer 2024. Since purchasing Londra Palace Venezia in 1938, the first in the portfolio, the family has focused on preserving historical assets with architectural heritage and cultural significance. Under the current leadership of CEO Carlo Babini, The Hospitality Experience was formed to unite these iconic addresses under one management group and offer unparalleled service to its guests.
