The Gritti Palace
Venice, Italy
A 15th-century Grand Canal palazzo with the best terrace in Venice.
Some Venice hotels are near the Grand Canal; the Gritti is on it, occupying a 15th-century palazzo once home to a doge. Every room is a jewel box of Venetian antiques, Rubelli silks and Murano glass, restored with the seriousness the setting deserves.
The terrace is the thing everyone remembers, a run of tables right at the water's edge, looking straight across to Santa Maria della Salute. It is one of the great places in Europe to nurse a drink and watch a city drift by.
The Verdict
The most romantic address on the Grand Canal, with a terrace worth the price on its own. For a special few nights in Venice, this is the one.
A Bellini on the canal-side terrace at golden hour, watching gondolas glide past the great dome of the Salute directly opposite.
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