In the heart of Venice, the Bellini offers guests the perfect encapsulation of the City of Water. The 100-room hotel overlooks the Grand Canal and imposing Scalzi bridge and is housed in a beautiful 19th-century palazzo full of Venetian antiques, natural wood floors, gilt-framed mirrors and paintings, shining marble bathrooms, frescoed ceilings and Murano-glass chandeliers. For those who prefer a more stripped-back approach, however, the Corso wing is an exercise in minimalism with pure white rooms offering respite from the busy city outside. The roof terrace offers views over the glittering canals and overlooks the ancient Scalzi church next door. The church is home to a famous herb garden, the fragrance of which occasionally drifts up onto the hotel's terrace or through its windows. As well as being the perfect location for exploring the city, the hotel has extraordinarily friendly staff members, who are also some of the best guides to Venice. They'll guide you to an interesting restaurant, an authentic bar, a hidden treasure or a picturesque corner, to make sure each stay is different from the last.
