Hotel Cipriani

Giuseppe Cipriani — the man who invented the Bellini cocktail at Harry's Bar — opened this hotel in 1958 on the tip of Giudecca island, a five-minute boat ride from St. Mark's but a world away from its crowds. The decision to build across the lagoon rather than on the main island was considered mad at the time; today it's the hotel's greatest asset. The gardens, the Olympic-sized saltwater pool, and the views back across the water to San Marco are all quietly spectacular. Hemingway was a regular at Cipriani's establishments, naturally. 96 rooms, Michelin-starred Oro restaurant, and a private launch service that makes arriving at the hotel feel like a scene from a film.