Venice has a new 5-star hotel, the Hotel Gabrielli
After conservative restoration work, the Starhotels Group opened the 66-room hotel housed in a 19th-century palace
by Enrico Netti
3' min read
3' min read
The first guests crossed the threshold of the Hotel Gabrielli in Venice this morning. This new 5-star hotel of the Starhotels Group offers splendid interiors that are the result of a long and meticulous conservative restoration that enhances the artistic-historical beauty of the 19th-century Venetian palazzo owned by the Perkhofer family for five generations. Today, Hotel Gabrielli offers an authentic, sophisticated stay experience deeply rooted in Venetian identity, where every detail and service reflects a discreet, contemporary luxury. "With Hotel Gabrielli we complete a vision we have had for Venice for some time: to offer our guests two complementary yet distinct experiences in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. After the Splendid Venice, behind St. Mark's Square, we are now bringing our excellence to the Riva degli Schiavoni," comments Elisabetta Fabri, president and CEO of Starhotels. "Today we are opening the doors of what we hope will become the new Venetian salon, a place where hospitality becomes the art of welcoming. Every guest here will not just be a visitor, but part of an exclusive community that shares the beauty of Venice from the lagoon's most privileged vantage point".
The renovation, led by designer Andrea Auletta, is inspired by the colours and materials of the Venetian tradition: Murano glass chandeliers, coffered ceilings and Istrian stone columns dialogue harmoniously with a distinctive and sophisticated design. The design enhances the palace's most iconic architectural elements, from the historic façade, with its elegant four-light windows - the symbol of the Hotel Gabrielli and protagonists of the signature suites overlooking San Giorgio Maggiore - to the monumental entrance staircase, and the beamed ceilings and original floors. Timeless spaces host the 66 rooms and suites, extending the original 105, where authentic masterpieces of Italian craftsmanship, recovered through the patronage project La Grande Bellezza - The Dream Factory, promoted by Starhotels to support and celebrate Italian "savoir-faire", find their ideal setting. More than 700 chandeliers and wall sconces made by master glassmakers from Murano have been entrusted to the care of local craftsmen for the restoration that has restored them to their original splendour. At the heart of the hotel is a precious surprise: a private garden of more than 600 square metres, the largest on the central island of Venice, enhanced in full respect of its historical and natural context. This exclusive space is an authentic haven of tranquillity, sheltered in the shade of centuries-old olive trees and indigenous plants..
Another oasis of relaxation is the exclusive spa, spread over an area of 100 square metres on the building's main floor, a sophisticated space with a treatment room for two people and a completely privatisable area. Here, guests can indulge in moments of pure wellbeing amidst a whirlpool bath, emotional shower, Turkish bath, sauna and a quiet relaxation area.
The culinary proposal is conceived as an essential part of the hospitality experience. It is led by Venetian executive chef Mirko Pistorello, with an international and starred background and a vision rooted in memory, seasonality and local raw materials. Here, he fully embraces the group's culinary philosophy, developing a cuisine based on the concept of the Venetian kilometre and its local excellence, transforming local ingredients into dishes that tell Venice with authenticity. The Felice al Gabrielli restaurant, opening onto an intimate and quiet inner courtyard, pays homage to Kafka's beloved Felice Bauer. With its à la carte offering, it presents signature dishes by chef Pistorello such as 'Risi e bisi' with Bassano asparagus and pea husk powder, or 'Millefoglie di gambero in Saor', a cultured reinterpretation of Venetian roots. The experience is completed by the K Lounge Bar, the convivial heart of the hotel, and the Terrazza Gabrielli on the sixth floor, a 150-square-metre panoramic space open to the city, the realm of bar manager Diego Filippone with his signature cocktails paired with lagoon cicchetti, a combination made unforgettable by the breathtaking view of the entire lagoon.
