Originally opened in 1853, Londra Palace Venezia recently reopened, following an extensive renovation led by Studio Ruberti Cutillo. We stepped inside for a closer look…
Londra Palace Venezia is a historic 52-room palazzo that, for more than a century, has been celebrated for its iconic 100-window façade that overlooks the San Marco Basin in Venice, Italy. A cherished staple of Venetian hospitality, the hotel now features a contemporary aesthetic that honours the building’s architectural legacy, including immersive dining experiences, refined public spaces, and luxury amenities.
Image credit: Londra Palace Venezia
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.
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 and aesthetic of its past.
Image credit: Londra Palace Venezia
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 centre. 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,” said Alain Bullo, General Manager of Londra Palace Venezia. “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”.
Image credit: 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 flavours 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; Earth pulls from the mainland’s agrarian lifestyle focusing on meat, poultry, and game ; Air breathes new life into vegetable-focused dishes inspired by local farmers.
LPV Bar evokes the intimate, convivial watering holes of old-world Venice with a beverage programme crafted by Marino Lucchetti, providing jovial interpretations of classic cocktails. 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.
Image credit: Londra Palace Venezia
“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,” continued Bullo. “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”.
Image credit: Londra Palace Venezia
Londra Palace Venezia is part of The Hospitality Experience (THE) – a new collection of luxury Italian properties owned and operated by the Babini Family that features three hotels in its current collection. Central to brand 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 rarefied art form from two leading Murano practitioners.
Main image credit: Londra Palace Venezia
