This new Venetian hotel has had a revamp and we’re all for it.

Since 1908, the Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido has been one of Europe’s most storied addresses: the only hotel in Venice with a private beach, its unmistakable Moorish silhouette rising above the Adriatic on the island of the Lido. Winston Churchill slept here. So did John Steinbeck. The arrival by boat across the lagoon, towards those iconic domes and arches, has been a ritual for generations of distinguished guests and remains, by any measure, one of the more theatrical hotel entrances in Italy.

For the 2026 season, the Excelsior is revealing the most significant transformation it has undertaken in years. A selection of rooms and suites has been completely reimagined: softer Mediterranean palettes, artisanal details, a considered balance between tradition and contemporary design, with many rooms looking directly out over the Adriatic or the Venetian lagoon. The Palm Court, once the hotel’s communal lobby, has been fully restored and returns to its original purpose as the social and cultural heart of the property, its walls now lined with archival images of the actors, directors, royals and cultural figures who have passed through over more than a century.

The most significant new arrival, which is set to open later in the season, is Amù Venice, a signature terrace restaurant, pool bar and beach club with 299 cabanas, joining the hotel’s beloved Blue Bar. Amù has built its reputation along two of Europe’s most iconic coastlines, on the rooftop of the Fairmont Monte Carlo and at the Gran Marbella Resort on the Costa del Sol, and its arrival on the Lido feels entirely natural: a Riviera spirit and a menu that weaves Mediterranean roots with the rich gastronomic traditions of the Veneto, served with a direct view of the Adriatic.

Discover the Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido