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Hotel Gabrielli Reimagined as Five-Star Venetian Landmark

Starhotels relaunches Hotel Gabrielli on Riva degli Schiavoni after a major restoration, blending historical elements with modern Venetian design.

Terry Clark

28 August 2025

A new phase begins for Venetian hospitality as Hotel Gabrielli reopens as a five-star property under the Starhotels Collezione brand. Located on the prominent Riva degli Schiavoni, the hotel’s extensive restoration reintroduces one of Venice’s historic buildings, dating back to the 14th century, with an interior reinterpreted for contemporary luxury.

Overlooking the San Marco lagoon and San Giorgio Maggiore Island, the hotel occupies a site just minutes from Piazza San Marco. Its façade, featuring signature Quadrifora windows, has been meticulously restored, and now frames several of the hotel’s most prominent suites. At the rear, a 600-square-metre private garden offers one of the city’s rare secluded green spaces, landscaped with magnolias, olive trees and antique marble elements.

Still owned by the Perkhofer family, custodians of the property since 1856, the hotel now comprises 66 rooms and suites, including a Presidential Suite with a private rooftop altana offering panoramic views across Venice. Design work, led by Milanese architect Andrea Auletta, maintained original elements such as Istrian stone columns, Murano chandeliers and coffered ceilings, while integrating modern materials and finishes throughout.

The restoration sits within Starhotels’ La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory initiative, a project supporting Italian artisanship and cultural heritage. Reflecting this commitment, chandeliers were rebuilt with local craftspeople and marble finishes were used throughout the interiors, including in the Venetian Spa, which features a private suite, multisensory shower, sauna, hammam and dual treatment room.

Elisabetta Fabri, President and CEO of Starhotels, commented:
“With Hotel Gabrielli, we complete a vision we have long held for Venice: to offer our guests two complementary yet distinct experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. After Splendid Venice, behind Piazza San Marco, we now bring our excellence to Riva degli Schiavoni. Today, we open the doors to what we aspire to become Venice’s new signature address. Here, guests won’t simply visit the city, they’ll experience it at its most luminous, from the lagoon’s most privileged vantage as part of an exclusive community.”

The hotel also places emphasis on regional cuisine. The culinary offering is led by Executive Chef Mirko Pistorello, aligning with the Km Veneto ethos that prioritises locally sourced ingredients. Felice al Gabrielli Restaurant, named in reference to Franz Kafka’s muse Felice Bauer, provides a quiet dining area connected to an internal courtyard designed as a winter garden. The K Lounge Bar offers a more relaxed atmosphere, using natural materials and warm tones to reflect the lagoon’s colours.

Rising above the property, Terrazza Gabrielli spans 150 square metres, offering unobstructed 360-degree views from the Lido to Punta della Dogana. The rooftop bar, defined by its terracotta tones and designed to match the façade, serves cocktails by Bar Manager Diego Filippone and small plates by Pistorello. Both the drinks and food are rooted in local tradition and presented with a contemporary approach.

The hotel officially joins The Leading Hotels of the World, and is now part of a portfolio that emphasises historic significance and elevated service. With this reopening, Starhotels builds on its presence in Venice, offering two properties that aim to reflect distinct aspects of the city’s hospitality identity.