Orient Express marks ‘new chapter’ with opening of Venice property

Orient Express has opened the doors of its new Venice property, marking the group’s second hotel and “a new chapter in its Italian journey”.

Orient Express Venezia is located inside the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, which has been reimagined into a hotel for the first time in almost six centuries.

The property features 47 rooms, suites and residences, including six Signature Suites that “each tell a different story”.

The culinary offering at Orient Express Venezia has been designed by acclaimed chef Heinz Beck, with the flagship venue Heinz Beck Venezia specialising in fine dining served in the property’s historic orangery.

La Casati, the all-day dining restaurant and private garden, serves traditional Venetian specialities and seasonal dishes, while Wagon Bar pays homage to the lounge cars of the original Orient Express trains.

The hotel features a secret garden, with fountains, seating areas and antique gates. Connecting the garden and the lobby that’s designed as a “grand living room” is Calle Meraviglia, a space that hosts “a rotating selection of contemporary works”.

Guests at the property can arrive directly by boat through the water gate and are invited to experience the city “through the lens of Orient Express”, with excursions that showcase “the city’s storied craftmanship and artistic traditions”.

The launch follows the opening of the group’s first hotel La Minerva in Rome and the debut of luxury train La Dolce Vita Orient Express, both of which were inaugurated last year.

Orient Express chief executive Gilda Perez-Alvarado said: “With Orient Express Venezia, we open a new chapter in the legacy of our brand, one that celebrates Venice as a global capital of culture, beauty, and imagination.

“Palazzo Donà Giovannelli has been revived with extraordinary craftsmanship and deep respect for its six centuries of history, becoming a place where the art of travel meets the soul of the city.

“This hotel embodies the essence of Orient Express: a constellation of rare experiences, each rooted in heritage yet reimagined for a new generation of discerning travellers. Venice now stands as a luminous cornerstone of our vision, bridging past and future, and inviting guests into a world of timeless elegance and discovery.”