Baglioni Hotel Luna Venice Review | Iconic Luxury Stay by St. Mark’s Square

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Overview

As I mention in nearly every review, my first stop when searching for a luxury hotel is always the Leading Hotels of the World. During this particular trip to Venice, there were a few standout options: Baglioni Hotel Luna, the San Clemente Palace Kempinski, and the Bauer Palazzo – a property I had actually stayed at more than 20 years ago, long before travel blogs were even a thing!

Since our stay, Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel has been added to LHW’s Venice portfolio, and it’s firmly on my list for a future visit. With its rich culture, timeless beauty, and cinematic canals, Venice is always a good idea – and I know we’ll be back to explore more of what this magical city has to offer.

As always, I booked through The Private Traveller via my Fora Travel affiliation, which unlocked exclusive perks including a room upgrade, daily breakfast, $100 hotel credit, early check-in and late check-out – all at no extra cost. If you’re planning your own Venetian escape, I’d be delighted to help you book with these added VIP benefits.

And for those wondering – yes, my love for Venice is very much inspired by the Commissario Guido Brunetti novels by Donna Leon, which bring the city to life in their own wonderfully atmospheric way.

Hotel website: https://www.baglionihotels.com/branches/baglioni-hotel-luna-venice/

Would I stay here again?   In a heartbeat. We went back to Venice after this trip and wanted a different experience, staying at another LHW property on an island in the lagoon (Kempinski San Clemente Palace). This was wonderful too and a nice change, but the Baglioni Luna is so well positioned for a short city stay that I would definitely return.

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Why Book Your Venice Hotel with The Private Traveller

Venice is a city that deserves to be experienced in style – whether you're gliding along the canals, soaking up centuries of culture, or unwinding in one of the city’s grand hotels. When you book through The Private Traveller using my Fora Travel affiliation, you’ll gain access to exclusive VIP perks that add real value to your stay – all at no extra cost.

Depending on the hotel, these Virtuoso benefits can include:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

• Daily breakfast for two guests

• $100 USD hotel credit to spend on dining or spa services

• Early check-in & late check-out, subject to availability

• Complimentary Wi-Fi

• Tailored hotel recommendations across the LHW portfolio and beyond

Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of Baglioni Hotel Luna, the resort-style setting of San Clemente Palace Kempinski, or the charm of Palazzo Venart, I’ll help you find the perfect match for your Venetian escape.

📩 To begin planning, email me at dave.gillan@fora.travel or visit theprivatetraveller.com to submit your travel request.

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Location

The location here is just exceptional - we got a direct water taxi from the airport right to the hotel doorstep (this transfer option isn’t cheap, but it’s an amazing way to arrive into Venice). The Baglioni Hotel Luna is apparently the oldest hotel in Venice, being housed in a 12th-Century Palazzo. Stepping out from the hotel you can be in St. Mark’s Square literally within seconds. It’s so easy to get around on foot (or there are nearby water bus stops) and you are never short of things to go and see in this magical city. One of the great things we did this time was to visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection - this personal collection is displayed in her former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Grand Canal. It was so easy to get here, less than a mile from the hotel and about a 15 minute walk.

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Accommodation

We had booked a Junior Suite with a king-size bed, with Leading Hotels of the World giving a complimentary room upgrade (which I think offered us a much better view) and free breakfast. There are 68 rooms in all, with a further 36 suites; but the hotel has a very intimate feel and you wouldn’t think that it was as big as this. 

The suite was ornately decorated and supremely well appointed with antique furniture. There was a separate seating area with windows overlooking the hotel entrance towards the lagoon in one direction and St. Mark’s to the other; through into a separate bedroom area (although the two spaces could not be divided). Off the bedroom there was a luxurious marble bathroom with twin sinks (a personal favourite). The suite and bathroom were spotlessly clean, had two large TV’s and a huge king-size bed.

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Food & Drink

Being so close to a fabulous choice of restaurants, cafés and bars just a stone’s throw from the hotel, other than breakfast we didn’t eat within the hotel. Breakfast was served in the utterly jaw-dropping Marco Polo Ballroom each morning, where 18th-Century frescoes adorn the walls, under the ornate ceilings from which multiple crystal-glass chandeliers hang.

As well as breakfast being served in one of the hotel’s event venues Marco Polo (the largest), there were also another two smaller event spaces, Arazzo and Murano. The hotel had a fine dining restaurant (Canova) serving both lunch and dinner daily and Caffe Baglioni looking out onto the side canal and across to the Royal Gardens in St. Mark’s Square. This is open daily as well, from late morning through to the early hours.

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Facilities & Service

To welcome us there was a bottle of chilled champagne on ice and an array of macarons. With everything you could possibly need within a short walk of the property, we didn’t have a need for anything the hotel did not provide, like a swimming pool or gym. 

We had contacted the hotel in advance to help with us airport transfers and some local restaurant reservations, everything worked out perfectly.

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ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):

• It was such a wonderful stay, the only thing that I picked up on my TripAdvisor review at the time was that there were a couple of issues needing addressed in the bathroom (the shower head was beginning to become loose and a ceiling light had fallen out of the ceiling).

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

• Location, location, location - step outside and in seconds you’re in St, Mark’s Square

• An amazing welcome, being dropped off right at the hotel door (they have a small landing deck on the side canal).

• Breakfasts - not only an amazing buffet arrangement but served in the most incredible room.

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Useful website links:

• Hotels

  • Baglioni Hotel Luna https://www.baglionihotels.com/branches/baglioni-hotel-luna-venice/

  • Leading Hotels of the World https://www.lhw.com

  • Kempinski San Clemente Palace https://www.kempinski.com/en/venice/san-clemente-palace-kempinski/

  • Bauer Palazzo https://www.bauervenezia.com/

  • Palazzo Venant Luxury Hotel https://www.palazzovenart.com/en/

  • TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com

• Restaurants

  • La Zucca http://www.lazucca.it/en

  • Ristorante Quadri https://www.alajmo.it

• Sightseeing/Other

  • The Peggy Guggenheim Collection https://www.guggenheim-venice.it/en/the-museum/

  • Donna Leon https://groveatlantic.com/author/donna-leon/

  • British Airways http://britishairways.com

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Final Thoughts on Venice

Venice is a destination that never loses its magic – whether it’s your first visit or your fifth. From the grand palazzos to the quiet charm of the back canals, there’s something endlessly enchanting about this floating city. Our stay was a perfect blend of history, elegance, and effortless comfort – a reminder of why Venice continues to inspire travellers and artists alike.

If you’re planning your own escape to Venice, I’d love to help craft your perfect itinerary and secure the best luxury hotel to suit your style. Booking through The Private Traveller gives you access to exclusive VIP perks, including room upgrades, daily breakfast, hotel credits, and more – all at no extra cost.

📩 Ready to begin? Email dave.gillan@fora.travel or visit theprivatetraveller.com to start planning your next Venetian escape.

Have a favourite hotel in Venice? Or a hidden gem you’d recommend? I’d love to hear about it – drop a comment and let me know where I should review next.

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