10/10
Excellent place
Venice · head to head
The Gritti Palace vs Hotel Palazzina Grassi
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-10: Hotel Palazzina Grassi is $2,169 a night less. They are 479 metres apart.
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The honest take
Both sit within half a kilometre of each other near the Grand Canal, but they're different animals. The Gritti Palace at $3,004 a night is the historic grande dame with a spa and a 9.4 rating; Palazzina Grassi at $1,180 offers a Starck-designed interior, a bar, pet allowance and a higher guest rating of 9.5 from far more reviewers. Unless the spa and the Gritti's particular pedigree matter to you, Palazzina Grassi is the sharper booking on the numbers alone.
The look and the feel
The Gritti Palace
The Gritti Palace occupies a 15th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal, all damask, Murano glass and gilt mirrors, the kind of interior that has barely blinked since it hosted Hemingway and Churchill. The Club del Doge terrace sits right at the water's edge, gondolas sliding past while you eat. Rooms run to brocade headboards, parquet floors and heavy curtains, more museum than hotel in places, and the crowd matches it: older, moneyed, unhurried.
Guests who want the full historic Grand Canal hotel experience, with a spa and old-world formality, and don't mind paying for it.
Hotel Palazzina Grassi
Palazzina Grassi is Philippe Starck's first Italian hotel, and it shows: a Venetian palazzo interior stripped and reassembled with Murano chandeliers hung over dark lacquered surfaces, gilt-framed mirrors set against black walls, velvet in unexpected colours. It reads as a deliberate collision of old Venice and playful modern theatre rather than a straight restoration. The bar and terrace draw a younger, design-literate crowd, and the rooms feel more like a stage set than a heritage suite.
Design-minded travellers who want Starck's take on Venice, a proper bar scene, and can bring a pet, all for well under half the Gritti's rate.
At $1,180 Palazzina Grassi has no spa, which the Gritti offers as a full-service facility; everything else is a difference of era and atmosphere rather than a missing amenity.
Palazzina Grassi is the more surprising and characterful room to stand in, because Starck's black-lacquer, chandelier-and-velvet reinvention of a Venetian palazzo is a genuinely singular piece of design, whereas the Gritti is beautiful in the way you expect a grand hotel to be beautiful.
The numbers
| The Gritti Palace | Hotel Palazzina Grassi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $5,310 | $3,141 |
| Guest rating | 9.4/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Reviews | 102 | 364 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 3 | 4 |
| Distance apart | 479 m |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only The Gritti Palace has
- Fitness
Only Hotel Palazzina Grassi has
- Pet
- Bar
What guests actually say
The Gritti Palace
- excellent, attentive service
- superb rooms
- staff anticipate your needs
“One word - awesome. Staff are able to read your mind in terms of understanding your needs!”
Hotel Palazzina Grassi
- amazing breakfast
- friendly, attentive staff
- modern design and rooms
- very small rooms
- far from everything
“I love Hotel Palazzina Grassi. The best in Venice.”
The Gritti Palace's guests come away happier, praising consistently exceptional service and rooms with no recurring complaints, while Palazzina Grassi guests love the breakfast and design but note small rooms and an inconvenient location.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
The Gritti Palace
- Sestiere SuiteBreakfast Included$4,772
- Sestiere Suite(1 King Bed)Breakfast Included$4,772
- Sestiere SuiteBreakfast Included · free cancellation$4,901
Hotel Palazzina Grassi
- 09-Grand Canal SuiteRoom Only$3,141
- Grand, Canal, SuiteRoom Only$3,271
- Suite, Canal ViewRoom Only$3,281
In guests' own words
The Gritti Palace
10/10
Exceptional facilities and team! Thank you!
10/10
The Gritti Palace never ceases to astound. It is is a hotel like no other, where the service is of the highest quality
Hotel Palazzina Grassi
10/10
“I love Hotel Palazzina Grassi. The best in Venice.”
The staff were very nice and friendly. They really take care of you. Breakfast was amazing. The drinks were amazing. The design of the hotel was very cool. We loved the room. We left and already want to go back that’s how great it was.
10/10
“Amazing, unique place in perfect location- will definitely come back!”
Instant wow factor, great design, amazing customer service. Private boat dock was awesome
N/a
10/10
“Refer to the above, fantastic experience.”
The property is a boutique hotel but the rooms are very modern. Appointments in the rooms are excellent and the staff was tremendous. Very attentive and helpful from the time we checked in until we checked out. Breakfast was great. Highly recommend this property.
Nothing
About each
The Gritti Palace
Indulge at the Full-Service Spa Unwind with a rejuvenating massage at the on-site spa for a truly relaxing experience during your stay. Exquisite Dining Experience Experience authentic Italian cuisine at the renowned Club del Doge restaurant or opt for the convenience of 24-hour room service, ensuring your culinary desires are always met. Central Location &…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Hotel Palazzina Grassi
Luxury Design by Philippe Starck Experience the elegance and sophistication of the first Italian hotel designed by Philippe Starck. Palazzina Grassi offers a unique blend of modern luxury and Venetian charm, creating a truly unforgettable stay. Gourmet Dining Experience Indulge in a culinary journey at Palazzina The Restaurant and The Terrace. Enjoy…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
The Gritti Palace
- Elevator
- Conference space
- Golfing nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Multilingual staff
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Full-service spa
- Smoke-free property
- Wedding services
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free wired internet
- Turkish bath/Hammam
Hotel Palazzina Grassi
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Heating
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Safety deposit box
Where they are
Campo Santa Maria Del Giglio O Zobenigo, Venice, VE, 30124Ramo Grassi, 3247
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Rates are live for 2026-10-10, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons