Head-to-head · Venice
Two historic palazzi with very different personalities. Aman is 24 quiet rooms on the Grand Canal; the Danieli is a big, glamorous grand hotel on the Riva next to San Marco.
Toured both · October 2026
Twenty-four rooms, beautiful natural light, gardens on the canal and classic Aman service. One of the most beautiful Amans I have seen.
My Aman Venice review →
The showstopping Gothic lobby, a rooftop restaurant over the lagoon, St. Mark’s at your door and better odds of an upgrade.
My The Danieli review →
| Aman Venice | the Danieli | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | On the Grand Canal in San Polo, near the Rialto | On the Riva degli Schiavoni, next to the Doge’s Palace |
| Size | 24 rooms | About 120 rooms today, growing in 2027 |
| The rooms | Original frescoes and silk walls, with calm modern furniture | Understated and very classic |
| Pools | None | None |
| Spa | Small, three treatment suites | Open, new with the Four Seasons relaunch |
| Dining | Arva and a bar over the Canal Garden | Terrazza Danieli on the roof, plus the lobby bar |
| The feel | Quiet, private, personal | Lively, glamorous, see and be seen |
| Service | Personal; the GM, Licinio Garavaglia, is fantastic | Polished Four Seasons service, with better odds of an upgrade |
| Best for | Couples, privacy, a Venice and Dolomites trip | First-time visitors, Four Seasons loyalists |
Work with me and you get Fora perks, plus someone who knows these hotels personally and personalizes your stay: I arrange the boats, tables and transfers before you land. Same rate as booking direct.
I toured both on the same day in October 2026. The Danieli is a great option, and its lobby and rooftop are the stars. For me, Aman edges it for privacy.
Aman is the more personal hotel: 24 rooms, natural light, gardens on the canal and a general manager, Licinio Garavaglia, who will take great care of my clients. It also pairs beautifully with Aman Rosa Alpina in the Dolomites.
Choose the Danieli if you want to be at San Marco and in the middle of the action, or if Four Seasons recognition and upgrade odds matter to you.
Aman is about privacy. You arrive by boat into the palazzo, and the house is calm all day.
The Danieli puts all of Venice right outside the door, and its lobby is a great place to see and be seen.
At Aman, the restoration is understated: frescoes, silk walls and painted ceilings above simple modern furniture. Ask for the piano nobile.
The Danieli’s rooms are understated and classic. Book a lagoon view for San Giorgio Maggiore across the water.
A 24-room hotel knows your name. A bigger hotel has more rooms to upgrade you into.
Aman offers two nights at Aman Venice and three at Aman Rosa Alpina with transfers included, and I can add a helicopter.
For most couples, Aman: smaller, more private and more personal, on the Grand Canal. Choose the Danieli for a San Marco location, the famous lobby and the rooftop restaurant.
Neither has a pool. For a pool in Venice, look at Airelles Palladio on Giudecca.
Both are central. The Danieli is next to St. Mark’s; Aman is on the Grand Canal near the Rialto.
The Danieli, simply because it has many more rooms. Aman’s strength is personal service.
Tell me your dates and who is coming, and I will tell you which one fits and which room to ask for.
Aman Venice review → The Danieli review → Aman or Airelles → Aman Rosa Alpina review → My full Venice guide →