Editor’s Review – San Clemente Palace Kempinski
As part of the Kempinski Hotel Group, the San Clemente Palace Kempinski is a stunning 5-star hotel situated in a unique location in Venice, Italy and a proud member of “The Leading Hotels of the World”. The Kempinski group is world renowned for their 75 5-star luxury hotels and residences spread throughout 30 countries around the world.
The Hotel San Clemente Palace Kempinski is located on a private island due south of Venice. It is beautifully secluded and tranquil and can only be reached by the hotels complimentary boat service or water taxi, which is only a 10 minute trip across the Venetian Lagoon from Piazza San Marco. The former monastery is a spectacular building comprising of 128 rooms and 62 suites. In addition there are three restaurants and an indoor and outdoor bar. For those looking to stay active during their stay, the hotel has a state-of-the-art fitness room and spa, outdoor heated pool, pitch and putt golf, a jogging path around the island and asphalt tennis courts. The rest of the island consists of beautiful gardens and courtyards and a 12th Century church, so plenty of quiet space to get away from the crowds of the cities many tourist attractions.
On arrival to Saint Marks we took the complimentary boat service over to San Clemente Island. Having disembarked, we were greeted at the jetty by the impeccably dressed staff who took our luggage, allowing us to walk through the manicured gardens towards the imposing terracotta-coloured hotel before us. The reception is situated just off of a marble-floored entrance hall, with magnificent high-ceilings and beautiful carved-stone doorways. The reception staff were very welcoming and ensured a smooth check-in and a detailed description of the available amenities and restaurants.
We were shown to our room by one of the “Ladies in Red” – Kempinski’s brand ambassadors, up a stunning stone staircase, with iron-work balusters and carved newels. The wide corridors are palatial; grand, high ceilings, beautifully decorated with lavish furniture and paintings. Our room was a Junior Suite with Lagoon view. In keeping with the rest of the hotel, the décor was exquisite. Marbled floors, patterned wallpaper and neutral paintwork, was complemented by heavy velvet, ceiling to floor drapes. There was a work area in the corner with ornate desk and chair, and a sitting area with sofa and glass coffee table. The bathroom was tiled with Italian marble; the floor, walls and vanity unit. There was a marble clad bath and separate rainforest shower with a selection of own-brand toiletries. The room also had climate control, tea and coffee facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, literature about the city and led television. The view over the lagoon was spectacular, with the city and dome of St Marks Basilica and the Bell tower in the Piazza, clearly visible in the distance.
Following an extremely peaceful and comfortable night’s sleep, we headed down to the Hotels’ Insieme Restaurant for breakfast. The Restaurant was, once again, a visually beautiful room, with patterned marble floor, tapestries on the walls and large windows – flooding the room with natural sunlight. Down the centre of the room was a substantial buffet, covering all possible preferences. There was Italian-sourced fresh fruit and juices, yoghurts, pastries, cold meats, cheeses and fish. The resourceful waiting staff were on hand to deal with any requests, including bringing speciality coffee and teas, or providing freshly-cooked hot orders from the kitchen. The food was delicious in all aspects, beautifully cooked and wonderfully fresh.
After indulging ourselves at breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll around the gardens and the historical church. You can easily lose yourself for a couple of hours, taking time to fully appreciate the beauty of the island and the views across the lagoon to the city.
Venice is a stunning city, with so much more to it than the canals and gondolas. In a similar vein, The San Clemente Palace Kempinski is so much more than a hotel, it is an attraction in its own right. The staff and brand ambassadors are attentive and welcoming, the gardens and buildings are wonderful and the amenities and first-rate. When you consider 5 star luxury stays in this most unique of cities, the San Clemente Palace Kempinski should be high on any list.
