San Clemente Palace Kempinski Review | Private Island Luxury in Venice
Why We Chose San Clemente Palace Kempinski
Having stayed in the heart of Venice on our previous visit, this time we were seeking something a little different — somewhere tranquil yet still close to the action. As always, I began by checking which Leading Hotels of the World properties were available, and the San Clemente Palace Kempinski quickly stood out. Situated on its own private island, just minutes from Piazza San Marco by complimentary boat, it offered the perfect blend of escape and accessibility.
Our stay was everything we hoped for — the best of both worlds. Mornings were spent wandering through Venice’s iconic sights, lunching at a local trattoria, before retreating to the hotel’s peaceful grounds and pool for the afternoon. Then, with ease, we’d head back into the city for dinner. It was a seamless balance of city buzz and serene luxury.
Hotel website: https://www.kempinski.com/en/venice/san-clemente-palace-kempinski/
Would I stay here again? Definitely - loved the option of being so near Venice (the city) yet with the opulence of widespread hotel grounds and a large outdoor pool and seating area. Lagoon views were just exceptional.
Book San Clemente Palace Kempinski with VIP Perks
If you're dreaming of a stay that combines Venetian elegance with island seclusion, I’d be delighted to help you book San Clemente Palace Kempinski through The Private Traveller. As a Fora Travel Advisor, I can offer you exclusive perks at no extra cost, ensuring your experience is as seamless and luxurious as possible.
🌟 VIP Benefits May Include:
🛏️ Room upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
🍳 Daily breakfast for two guests
💳 $100 USD hotel credit to use during your stay
🕰️ Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
📶 Complimentary premium Wi-Fi
🚤 Complimentary boat transfers from San Marco
Whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a cultural escape, or a multi-stop Italian itinerary, I’ll take care of all the details — so you can simply enjoy the experience.
📩 Ready to start planning? Submit your travel request or email me at dave.gillan@fora.travel to get started.
Location
The San Clemente Palace Kempinski is located on the private island of San Clemente, easily accessible from St. Mark’s Square/Piazza San Marco by the hotel’s private launch, running a service between the two points on a very regular service through the day and well into the evening. The hotel had arranged a transfer for us directly from the airport, so it was easy to get straight to the hotel and, wow, what a scenic route.
The last time we had used a water taxi (going to the fantastic Baglioni Hotel Luna - read the review here) we just walked from the airport terminal building (along very long moving walkways) to the dock and the boat transferred us from there to the hotel. The transfer we had to the Kempinski involved a chauffeur-driven Mercedes limousine for part of the journey then the final part by water taxi to the hotel. This was repeated in reverse on our return to the airport - while the transfer was effected seamlessly (and the Mercedes car was incredible) I think on balance I preferred getting the boat straight from the airport, without the car involvement - it made it more unique somehow just having a walk then boat ride.
Photo Credit: San Clemente Palace, Kempinski website
Accommodation
In total the hotel has 196 rooms and suites, there was a whole arrange of different types from Superior to Deluxe and Grand Deluxe; the Deluxe and Grand Deluxe both with Lagoon or Island View options. There were also quite a number of Suite options, from a one-bedroom Junior Suite (garden or Lagoon view) to another dozen or so choices, all varying in size and number of bedrooms.
Having booked through Leading Hotels of the World we had received an upgrade to a Grand Deluxe with a view across to the lagoon - such an incredible room with two windows overlooking one of the landing docks of the island and the outdoor (indoor seating possible too depending on weather) Acquerello Restaurant.
The island is steeped in history as are the majestic buildings; our spacious and grand bedroom was no different. High ceilings were adorned with a large chandelier and ornate drapes, there was an extra large (and super comfortable) king size bed, occasional seating with a work desk and an opulent marble lined bathroom. As well as a soaking tub there was a separate shower stall and large vanity unit (only one sink though) and WC/bidet. There was plenty of cupboard space in the room and it was very well appointed with bathroom toiletries, mineral water, complimentary (soft drinks) mini bar and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout. We also got the most amazing welcome gift with wine, chocolates, mineral water and fruit.
Photo Credit: San Clemente Palace, Kempinski website
Food & Drink
We had breakfast each morning in the Insieme Restaurant, this was served on weekdays from 7am - 10:30am and then 7:30am - 11am. This sumptuous buffet was included within our rate from LHW.com - being there in August the weather was just glorious so we were able to sit out in the walled courtyard each day. Inside the building was a massive selection of Continental and American Breakfast, there were also additional items to order from an à la carte menu including the hotel speciality of eggs Benedict, just amazing!
We had lunch by the pool (La Dolce Restaurant) which is open from 11am to 11:30pm daily, we also enjoyed a casual dinner one evening too. Food and service was great; there was also a pool bar for drinks throughout the day. Fantastic choice throughout the hotel - we had drinks too in the dramatic Clemente Bar inside the hotel itself for a different evening experience.
Facilities & Service
As well as having the large (21.5m) heated outdoor swimming pool (not currently in operation for the rest of 2020 due to Covid-19) there was an indoor fitness centre too. The pool was great for a dip and relaxation after a morning in Venice’s bustling city streets, with cabanas round the outside for sunshade; not to mention the adjacent pool bar for a cocktail and snacks. I didn’t actually use the fitness room when we were there, but it was a decent size and well-equipped with Technogym treadmills, step machines, bicycles and various weights. The hotel also had a full tennis court on the island, with equipment available too, and a picturesque ‘Pitch and Put’ for golfers (of which I am not) with the most incredible scenic view of the Venetian lagoon. I’m also not much of a jogger, but there was a jogging path around the island (about 1.5km) for those that are.
ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):
Very minor, but as above we tended to prefer the airport transfer not involving any car journey.
Another minor one but something I do particularly like - twin sinks.
ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:
The combination of having a resort feel but within sight (and easy access to) the hustle and bustle of Venice itself was a fantastic combination.
Loved the history of the ancient hotel building.
Kempinski standards throughout were amazing.
Useful website links:
Hotels
Kempinski San Clemente Palace https://www.kempinski.com/en/venice/san-clemente-palace-kempinski/
Baglioni Hotel Luna https://www.baglionihotels.com/branches/baglioni-hotel-luna-venice/
Baglioni Hotel Luna review by ThePrivateTraveller https://theprivatetraveller.com/blog/hotel-review/baglioni-luna-venice
Leading Hotels of the World https://www.lhw.com
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
Final Thoughts on San Clemente Palace Kempinski, Venice
If you're looking for a unique way to experience Venice — one that balances the charm of the city with the calm of a secluded retreat — San Clemente Palace Kempinski is the perfect choice. From the moment you board the hotel’s complimentary boat to its private island, it feels like you're entering a serene escape, all while staying just minutes from St. Mark’s Square. The combination of spacious grounds, elegant rooms, and effortless city access made our stay truly special.
If this has inspired you to plan your own Venetian getaway, I’d love to help curate your perfect itinerary — complete with VIP perks, seamless transfers, and tailored experiences through The Private Traveller.
📩 Start your journey by submitting a travel request or contacting me at dave.gillan@fora.travel.
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👇 Have you stayed at San Clemente Palace or experienced another Venetian gem? I'd love to hear your thoughts — comment below and let me know which destination or hotel you'd like me to review next!
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