Novecento by Angela Moore

The Novecento is a gem: a proper boutique hotel in Venice, and as such something of a rarity. Hidden on a narrow, canal-bound street off a silent square, it’s just a few minutes bridge-hopping walk away from Piazza San Marco. It has stylish, hand-picked décor, combining Art Deco, Morocco and a hint of the Orient to great effect in nine rooms and two generous living rooms. It’s lavish and romantic, but not over the top, and it offers a sophisticated alternative Venetian norm of chintzy palazzo conversions.

The Novecento, like its sister hotel, the Hotel Flora, is owned by the Romanelli family and run by son Gioele. Gioele and his manager, the fantastically able and well-informed Marisa, head an excellent staff. They offer smiling advice and information on every aspect of your stay in Venice – at breakfast, you can hear guests talking approvingly about last night’s recommendations for dinner.

Considering it has just nine rooms, the Novecento offers a great deal of space in which to relax. You can have breakfast in the small courtyard garden or, in chilly weather, in the downstairs drawing room, where there is a small changing exhibition of art. An honesty bar is set out here in the evening. On the first floor, a Moroccan-style sitting room offers rugs, sofas and low tables: it’s quiet and deeply comfortable.

Breakfasts are among the best in Venice (the croissants, fresh-baked, are worth the room rate alone, as is the decadent coffee.)

No room is ‘best’ at the Novecento; they’re all different, but all gorgeous. Honeymooners might like Room 8, which has a very seductive four-poster bed, draped in soft white fabric. Room 1 is probably the smallest room, but only by a fraction.

Things to look out for are the very low beds in Room 6 and Room 1, which are dramatic and chic but not for the creaky of limb, and the lack of decent in-bed reading lighting.

Bathrooms are excellent – big, by Venetian standards, and glamorous: some have double-headed showers, most have Philippe Starck fittings.

The details really add up, here: the Fortuny fabrics on the walls, excellent bespoke Etro toiletries, the top-notch linens. This is a hotel made with love.