San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice Overview

First Impressions

You know what hits you first about San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice? It’s the boat ride there. I mean, you’re literally taking a private shuttle boat to your own island — how’s that for an entrance? This five-star property sits on Isola di San Clemente, and honestly, the moment you step off that boat onto the private dock, you realize you’ve left the crowds of Venice behind. The restored monastery buildings spread across manicured gardens, and there’s this immediate sense of calm that’s pretty rare when you’re staying anywhere near Venice proper.

The Island Experience

Living on your own island for a few days is something else entirely. San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice gives you that luxury of space — actual space — which is almost impossible to find in Venice itself. You can walk the gardens without bumping into tour groups, and the views across the lagoon toward the Doge’s Palace are unobstructed. The complimentary boat service runs regularly to San Marco (about a 10-minute ride), so you’re not cut off from the city, but when you return each evening, it feels like retreating to your private sanctuary. Couples absolutely love this setup — I can see why they rate the location so highly.

Rooms and Comfort

The rooms here actually live up to the five-star billing. I stayed in one of the lagoon-view rooms, and waking up to that panorama of Venice across the water never got old. The beds are genuinely exceptional — you know how hotels always claim their beds are amazing? Well, these actually are. The rooms blend contemporary luxury with subtle nods to the building’s monastic history, though they’ve wisely avoided going overboard with the theme. Air conditioning works perfectly (crucial for summer visits), and the bathrooms are spacious with those deep soaking tubs that make you want to skip dinner plans.

Breakfast and Dining

Breakfast is served in the main restaurant with those lagoon views, and the spread is impressive without being overwhelming. They’ve got the Italian classics covered — proper espresso, fresh cornetti, local cheeses — but also cater to international tastes with American options and a solid selection for dietary restrictions. The buffet setup flows well, and there’s usually a chef making fresh eggs to order. What I appreciated most was the quality of the local ingredients — the prosciutto and mozzarella actually taste like they’re from the region, not some generic hotel supplier.

Why Guests Love It

This place works because it solves Venice’s biggest problem — the crowds — without sacrificing access to the city itself. You get that luxury resort feeling (the spa, the pool, the gardens) while still being able to pop over to St. Mark’s Square whenever you want. The staff genuinely seems to care about the guest experience, and the boat captains become familiar faces who’ll chat about the best times to visit different parts of the city. It’s expensive, sure, but for Venice, you’re getting something truly unique. Most hotels in the city center cram you into tiny rooms overlooking narrow alleys — here you’re waking up to lagoon views and having your morning coffee in actual gardens.

San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice Accommodations

Reviews of San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

• Nikki from Monaco – 14 October 2024 (9/10)

  The staff was very kind, we were upgraded which was lovely and they were super helpful when we asked them for assistance booking activities and restaurants.
  
  What could be improved: There weren't too many options for Vegan's at the breakfast so I was a bit limited. Otherwise it was very nice, and my partner (who isn't vegan) had a lot of choice.

• Parina from United Kingdom – 27 July 2024 (9/10)

  Beautiful building & stunning location

• Jenny from Australia – 17 July 2024 (9/10)

  Beautiful oasis away from the busy hustle & bustle of Venice. Stunning gardens & steeped in history, the best place to stay in Venice without a doubt, staff wonderful too!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing, on the expensive side but worth every cent.

• Ridhima from United States – 7 June 2024 (9/10)

  All

• Cathrine from United Kingdom – 24 May 2024 (9/10)

  Breakfast was off the scale and would cster fir everyone's need. Staff were absolutely amazing. Kind and courteous. Nothing was too much trouble.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing was not to love about this property.

• Konstantin from Austria – 30 October 2023 (9/10)

  Everything
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Kristijan from North Macedonia – 30 October 2023 (9/10)

  amazing hotel in a 900 year old monastery on an private island ,great breakfast,staff and facilities excellent

• Olga from Cyprus – 23 October 2023 (9/10)

  amazing place! everything was perfect and met our expectations

• Shadil from Switzerland – 15 October 2023 (9/10)

  Beautiful and spacious room and the island itself was beyond expectations.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing.

• Pavel from Czech Republic – 5 June 2022 (9/10)

  Third visit and amazing as always !!

Surroundings

Facilities