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Experiencing Venice’s Piazza San Marco at night–when the lights are reflected in the slick stones and the incessant daytime chatter gives way to soft echoes across the lagoon–is but one of the joys of a stay at Violino d’Oro. Just a two-minute walk from the famed, gilded square (or four if you stop for a bellini at Harry’s Bar), this elegant boutique hotel offers the hospitality and service of old-school luxury with a sense of fun and merriment that feels like a breath of fresh air. 

Sara Maestrelli and her family, behind the luxury hospitality group Collezione Em, had been searching for over six years to find a place for their Venetian guests, when they stumbled upon three small adjacent hotels in 2019. The family transformed these hotels’ 60 rooms into 32 larger ones, charming and bright with heavenly, plush pillows and mattresses. Some of the suites boast private terraces, while others look out onto the Rio S. Moisè, where you can see the Furlane-clad gondoliers slicing through its waters like butter. 

The space was the perfect canvas for a home away from home on the lagoon, and canvas it was, for Sara was able to design a five-star hotel that’s rooted in the cultural heritage and artistic sensibilities of La Serenissima. (This philosophy is also a hallmark of their Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence and Villa Roma Imperiale in Forte Dei Marmi.) 

Violino d’Oro feels like the “Venetian palazzo of an art collector who loves antique markets as much as the Biennale,” Sara tells us, adding that the hotel’s design pays homage to the excellence of Italian craftsmanship, especially those of artists and artisans that continue to work in the City of Bridges. 

This dedication is certainly evident in the 100% Rubelli fabrics, from traditional brocades to the quirky collaboration with Luke Edward Hall, and 1958 Poliedri chandeliers by Venini, a glittering tribute to 20th-century art in Murano. The original hand-laid Terrazzo flooring was installed by one of the last Venetian families still practicing the art, while portraits from the 17th and 18th centuries mix with contemporary works by Emilio Isgro. Ginori plates complement colorful glass vases by Elena and Margherita Micheluzzi, two sisters who continue their family’s tradition of hand-blown glass. Custom murals by Assia Pallavicino–of tendrily forests–round out the picture. (Sara and the Violino D’Oro team can also organize visits to the studios and workshops of these artisans across Venice.) And it’s all constructed with sustainability in mind: you won’t find any single-use plastics on the property, and everything was built with natural materials made to last. 

It’s an aesthetic, and commitment to Italianità, that carries over to the restaurant and bar, where Venetian Spritzes are served in custom glasses by Berengo Studio or Venier. The intimate restaurant, Il Piccolo, serves seasonal, local plates with a creative twist by Chef Stefano Santo in a nine-tabled space on Corte Barozzi, while Il Piccolo Bar serves cicchetti–with vegan options, very rare in these parts!–and cocktails by award-winning mixologist Francesco Adragna. Try the Doge’s Fizz, a bright take on the gin fizz, with grapefruit, ginger, and bergamot. 

“In a city so complicated (yet magical) to navigate, you will want to stay at its heart,” Sara says. We would say that Violino d’Oro is at the heart, not just geographically but culturally too. 

A few segreti (secrets) from Sara and the Maestrelli family:

Da Schiavi – In the Dorsoduro area, this a compulsory cicchetti stop during aperitivo time. 

Da Fiore – Another bacaro that’s a must, this understated spot can be found on a side street of the lovely Campo Santo Stefano. 

Harry’s Bar – It might be a cliché, but it’s definitely iconic. My favorite dish is the carpaccio.