Where Stars Stay and How Hotels Shape the Experience

As Venice enters its cinematic momentfro m August 27 to September 6, 2025 the glamour extends beyond the red carpet. The city’s grand hotels become silent characters in this unfolding festival narrative, offering sanctuary, spectacle, and scene-stealing moments to the world’s most recognized talents.

Luxury Anchors of the Lido: Hotel Excelsior

On the Lido, Hotel Excelsior stands as the official harbor of festival energy. As one of the only five star properties on the island, it anchors the glamour with its historic Moorish façade and storied legacy. Its private dock welcomes water taxis carrying the likes of Julia Roberts, Emma Stone, and Dwayne Johnson.

Inside, grand salons echo with voices of directors and icons, while the Blue Bar hums with understated celebrity moments. This year, Hotel Excelsior even rolled out a festival package including luxury rooms, breakfast, and private cabana rentals transforming a stay into an immersive chapter of cinematic history.

Hotel Cipriani, Giudecca Island

Just across the lagoon, the Hotel Cipriani offers a quieter, cocooned retreat. Accessible only by launch, it attracts high profile guests seeking tranquility away from the frenzy. Its Michelin starred Oro restaurant, lush gardens, sprawling pool, and discreet boat service provide a rare blend of serenity and prestige.

Stories from Gritti Palace

Amid the festival’s glitz, the Gritti Palace transforms into a cinematic enclave. This year, Cartier and A Rabbit’s Foothosted a dinner here overlooking the lagoon, attended by Jacob Elordi, Sofia Coppola, Gemma Chan, and more. That evening, the hotel rooftop turned into an open-air nightclub, infused with champagne, conversation, and sweeping views of Santa Maria della Salute.

The amfAR Gala on San Clemente Island

The true crossover of cinema, hospitality, and activism occurred at the amfAR Gala at Arsenale di Venezia. A-list stars like Halsey, Sofia Carson, and Sacha Baron Cohen gathered for a plush dinner and live auction, raising millions for AIDS research. The evening’s exclusivity extended to a secret afterparty on San Clemente Island a private world linked to Venice by water.

What This Reveals About Festival Hospitality

Hotels as Narrative Anchors

These iconic properties aren’t mere backdrops. They shape the festival’s narrative. Excelsior hosts the tangible pulse; Cipriani offers quiet grounding; Gritti merges cinematic elegance with social spectacle; while San Clemente becomes the festival’s secret fifth act.

Luxury Defined by Emotion, Not Flash

Service here favors subtlety. Every gesture from discreet boat transfers to curated dinners supports a guest’s narrative without overshadowing it.

Places That Perform as Much as the Films Do

These hotels craft experiences in parallel to premieres. One evening, they host celebrity interviews; the next, they cradle a crimson-jacketed actor stepping back into the hotel’s serene courtyard.