HOTEL METROPOLE
Grand art nouveau charmer on the Venice waterfront
THIS CULT BOUTIQUE HOTEL overlooks the Venetian lagoon a mere gondola glide from St Mark’s Square. A kissing chair in the foyer is just a taste of the romance-laden interiors within The Metropole. Rich dark wood,
glittering art nouveau chandeliers, gilded mirrors, bronze cherubs, precious velvets, sensual silks, and original antiques grace every nook.
Built on the site of the church where Vivaldi once composed and performed, you can still walk in the great composer’s footsteps on The Metropole's old stone spiral staircase. Sip an aperitivo in the hotel's fetching Salone degli Specchi,
ensconced in plush red velvet with views of the Grand Canal glinting in antique mirrors and Murano glass.
You may well
rub shoulders with a galaxy of glitterati who have made The Met restaurant their home from home. Gifted young chef Corrado Fasolato cooks up a creative storm here with his innovative take on the traditional. Be daring: try sturgeon tartare or lobster ravioli with wasabi sauce. Nibble on pastries during the famous candlelit, incense-perfumed afternoon tea.
Hit the Spot
Centre stage on the waterfront, but not the crowds.
Bedtime
The Angels' suite is a fantasy of trompe l'oeil frescoes.
Be Savvy
It's moody, mellow and magical..
Be Smitten
A place for all the senses – the inspiration for Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Blissful Bar Zodiaco
Bedrooms come with crisp linen,
down pillows, soft silks, Etro toiletries and incense. All are different: ours had a mahogany four-poster and deep cerise wall coverings together with a mosaic-tiled bathroom with fab rainfall shower.
Bliss out amid the Bar Zodiaco’s
antique cushions, silks, and incense with a glass of prosecco. Or explore The Metropole's perfumed garden set around a fountain-splashed courtyard – magical by candlelight.
The Metropole was reviewed for Room for Romance by
Mairiona Cotter
Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.
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Dining in
The Met restaurant is the only hotel restaurant in Venice to boast a Michelin star and chef Corrado Fasolato's menu reflects this. Savour creative takes on traditional Venetian and Mediterranean dishes such as
squid and veal breast served in a crust with a citrus and fennel salad., and roast breast of fattened hen with a flan of Corso's cheese wrapped in bacon.
Dining out
Do Forni, just behind Piazza San Marco, serves traditional Venetian dishes, though if you fancy something different, why not try the excellent Tuscan restaurant in Venice, Fiaschetteria.
Where?
The Metropole's Met restaurant
What’s cooking?
Tradition meets innovation here, with dishes like shrimp kebab with goose escalopes and steamed bacon with whisked green apple.
Dress the part
Get your gladrags out – this is sleekest Venice
Top table?
A corner table for two
See & Do
Marvel at pigeon and tourist filled Piazza San Marco (get there early in the morning and you'll have it all to yourselves) and wander around the grand Doge's palace. Escape the bustle of Venice with a boat trip to Burano and Murano to see the glassblowers at work. Art abounds in Venice and enthusiasts should head for the Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim collections, while opera lovers should make a beeline for La Fenice.
Shop
If labels are your your thing Venice boasts them all, from Armani to Valentino. Venetian silk and velvet is in plentiful supply, as is the ubiquitous glass from the islands. Sample grocery shopping Italian style with a trip to the fruit and veg market on Rialto bridge, and the fish market just behind it.
After dark
Sip a cocktail in the Metropole's moodily dark Bar Zodiaco and head out into the canal-flanked backstreets of Venice. If the walking gets too much, there is always a gondola when you need one...
Dates
June
The Venice Biennale features everything from rock to high art
September
Rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty at the world famous Venice Film festival.
February
Here comes Carnevale. It may have seen better days, but don your mask and who knows who you might meet.
GETTING THERE
Location
Riva degli Schiavoni, 30122 Venice
Parking
Leave your car behind. If you must bring wheels to Venice, leave your car at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto.
Trains
Venezia Santa Lucia – 1.5 km
Taxis
EUR 65 by water taxi from the station or EUR 85 from the airport
Airport
Venice Marco Polo – 16km
Rooms and suites
67 rooms, 9 suites
Special features
Rooms range from ornate suites with period furniture and mosaic bathrooms to newer art deco style rooms with a lighter, more clean-cut appeal
Also…
There's a quiet and secluded courtyard where you can escape the summer tourist crowds.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
EUR 250 – 1,600
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
2pm
Check-out
11am
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast is served until 10:30am
Room service
Available mornings and evenings
Children
Welcome
Pets
Welcome
Air conditioning
Yes
Wedding license?
Yes. Up to 100 guests can be catered for.