Soon after Aman’s quintessentially Venetian baroque palazzo on the Grand Canal opened its pristine 5-star doors, we were stepping from our 'motoscafi' onto its private pier, following in the footsteps of George Clooney, who married Amal Alamuddin here in 2014. Nine years later, Jeff Bezos chose Aman Venice for his wedding to Lauren Sanchez, but Aman Venice remains much more than a glittering wedding venue.
While still, essentially, a private palazzo, Aman Venice retains its aristocrat-in-residence feel, but adds Aman trademarks of a seriously luxurious 5-star hotel. That aside, the original building dates back to the 16th century and was bought by the Papadopoli family almost 200 years ago. It remains their home, maintaining private apartments of the top floor.
The palace is immaculately restored. Literally down to the last finishing touches of gilt in the far corners, where most eyes don’t see. The main building fronts directly onto the Grand Canal where the only way to arrive is by motoscafi, those beautiful wooden water taxis, built nearby. Nearly all Venetian palazzo were built for such an entrance, but it feels particularly apt here.
Magnificent entrance
After a welcome glass of something seasonal with bubbles, you are led across the pinky white marble floor, up the grand staircase and into the piano nobile. The reception salons are truly resplendent with silk walls on paneling, original wall hangings, Murano chandeliers, grand old mirrors and soaring ceilings adorned with 18th century Tiepolo frescos. From the Grand Salon you can step out onto the main balcony, sipping your exotic cocktail, while marveling at the timeless scenes unfolding on Venice’s bustling aorta. This is a mesmerising vista and one which never ceases to engage.
This sets the scene for the rest of your stay in a palazzo that is, once again, as opulent as it was in the 16th -18th Centuries. This sweep of splendour throws you back in time, yet its comforts are timeless.
We stayed a few months after George Clooney put Aman Venice on the map. It was during Carnevale, when Aman can arrange costumes and book tickets for all the most exclusive masked balls. The sight of costumed guests enjoying pre-prandials in the Grand Salon before departing by water taxi was something to behold.
To be frank, when we first stayed we were disappointed by the restaurant, but, having returned several times since, sometimes just dropping n for lunch, that is no longer the case, with Aman's dining concept, Arva, brough to life by executive chef Matteo Panfilio and creative consultant Davide Oldani. We lunched on the freshest crab and beautiful, aromatic white truffle tagliolini and drank an Italian grenache which perfectly complemented the decadent pasta. Matteo talks of providing 'inventive Italian cooking techniques, using simple, locally sourced ingredients'. In Venice this means direct from the Rialto market, which has to be a good thing! Arva is definitely worth a visit even if you are staying elsewhere...
Suite excess's
All the suites and rooms at Aman Venice are generously proportioned and beautifully appointed with bathrooms often the same size as the bedrooms. Many feature works by some of Italy's greatest artists, including Sansavino and Tiepolo, counterpointed by contemporary furnishings. If your budget can stretch, then it’s well worth upgrading to a suite, as they are some of the grandest, the most exclusive, and certainly the most stylish 5-star suites in Venice.
It was hard to fault our Palazzo Stanza suite with views over the garden to the Grand Canal. Its blend of contemporary detail with original architectural features was Aman-perfect. The signature Grand Canal and Alcova Tiepolo Suites are, literally, out-of-this-world-dreamy. The perfect Venetian honeymoon hideaways.
You don't need to be a Clooney or a Bezos to stay at Aman Venice, but you'll need a budget of at least €2,000 per night and if you can justify that you'll find Aman Venice a serene, aesthetic masterpiece and the ideal place to enjoy Venice at its most romantic.