Hilton Molino Stucky Venice review

I feel like it’s probably shocking to see a Hilton Molino Stucky Venice review on here. My mom and I stayed here in 2010 and I loved it. Tom and I stayed at the Hilton in 2016, and it was good… and, you haven’t heard about it since then despite our many trips to Venice. One, we’re typically Marriott or Hyatt people when we stay at chain hotels. Two, we’ve been pretty set in our ways when it comes to Venice hotels since 2017. It’s not to say I wouldn’t try other hotels on the Grand Canal (hi St. Regis Venice). However, our Venice hotels have been pretty predictable.

Enter my friend Becca. She and her husband were planning an Italy trip in December, and she asked what I thought about Venice. I told her that our dates would likely overlap and to book it. They booked the Hilton Molino Stucky, and Tom decided that we should also book it. Staying at the same hotel made it easy to meet up, hang out, and spend more time with each other. It also had the added benefit of letting us check out the latest renovation of the Hilton Venice. It didn’t disappoint. In fact, Tom loved it so much that he’s already planning to stay there again and again. Let’s get to it, shall we?

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Booking the Hilton Venice

We have Hilton gold status through our AmEx Platinum, so booking direct was a no brainer for us. We booked a standard advance purchase member rate for a basic king room. Standard gold benefits from Hilton include free breakfast and the property honored that, too. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such an extensive hotel breakfast. We’ll talk about that later though!

We were both surprised and delighted to see that the Hilton upgraded us to an king executive room with a view. This meant that not only did we have a beautiful view of the lagoon, but we also had access to the executive lounge. Since we were staying over Christmas, it was a HUGE and much appreciated benefit.

The last time we stayed at the Hilton Molino Stucky (2016), I had Diamond status. I didn’t notice any difference between that stay and this one, except that everything about the hotel has gotten better.

Getting to the Hilton Molino Stucky

We spent two nights at the Hyatt Murano before heading to the Hilton. And, since we were going to be in Venice for an entire week, we purchased a 7-day vaporetto pass. This meant that all we had to do was board the 4.2 vaporetto that runs directly from Murano to Giudecca island. Easy. It took a little over an hour, but we enjoyed seeing the whole lagoon on the ride over.

If you are coming from Venezia Santa Lucia, you can take the 4.1 vaporetto from the train station to Giudecca and walk to the Hilton. It will take about 30 minutes, and it is the most cost effective option. You can also book a water taxi, which may be faster but costs quite a bit more. While the Hilton does offer a boat shuttle from San Marco and Zattere, I still think a vaporetto pass is handy and gives you the most flexibility. Otherwise, every time you board a water bus, you’re going to pay 9.50 euro!

If you’re coming from Venice’s Marco Polo airport (VCE), you can take the Alilaguna (blue line). This water bus runs from the airport to Giudecca. (You can’t pick up the vaporetto at the airport.) It will cost you 8 euro for a one-way ticket and 15 euro for a round trip ticket.

Hilton Molino Stucky Arrival

One of the things to know about the Hilton Molino Stucky is that it is a large hotel. It is housed in a converted flour mill, so there are multiple sets of elevators, different wings, and you can definitely get your steps in here. When you arrive at the Hilton, you walk straight in under the flags, pass the bellhop and concierge, and then arrive at the check-in desks.

This is a conference style hotel, and, at times, it hosts a number of conferences and groups. We were fortunate that we arrived when they weren’t too busy, but with so many rooms, it could be very busy and you might be waiting. Luckily, there are plenty of chairs in lobby. Take a deep breath and take it all it all in. If you want to try and avoid a wait, avoid check-out (11:00am) and check-in (3:00pm).

We found the check-in process to be very efficient. They provided us with a schedule of Hilton shuttle boat schedule, which costs 15 euro per person, whether you use it or not.

King Executive Room with View – Room 403

The thing that struck me most about the new rooms at the Hilton Venice is how elevated they felt compared to the last time I stayed there. I really wish I had photos of the pre-renovation for this review, because it’s hard to appreciate how thoughtful the design choices are.

The nautical theme of our room provided a nod to Venetian history as a trading superpower while other details were a nod to the hotel’s historical significance as a flour mill. Clean lines, high ceilings, and mirrors made the room feel airy. I loved being able to open the windows and enjoy the changing skies. Venice is truly magical in that way.

The fabrics, bedding, and towels are all high quality. The use of different textures offers a modern design, which is quite different than the traditional Venetian rooms at the Hotel Danieli. I did love that they kept the Murano glass chandeliers in the room, but they also added additional pin lights so that room never felt dark.

The Executive Room bathroom was quite large. The former bathtub has been replaced with a large walk-in shower. Though there was only a single sink, there was plenty of counter space for both of us to get ready and have everything out. Bath amenities were Crabtree and Evelyn. I would have loved to see an Italian brand like Etro (still love their bath salts!), but this was sufficient. The water pressure was fantastic, and we never had any issues with hot water. (If you know Tom, you know that these two elements are the most important in evaluating a hotel.)

The Executive Room had plenty of storage space between the closet and the dresser. We loved having a table and chairs for in room picnics, which is something we miss at the Hyatt Murano. This is a large room by European standards, and it is extremely well designed. We loved having a view of the Venetian skyline from our room.

It is important to note that this room isn’t a junior suite nor it is set up like an executive room at Hotel du Louvre with a separate sitting area and bedroom. It a single king room with plenty of space and executive lounge access. If you are looking for a suite-style room, this isn’t it.

For two people who were in Venice almost exclusively for vacation, it was perfect.

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Spa

Look, let’s be clear. You don’t come to Venice, Italy for a spa. However, if you come to Venice and you want a spa, I can’t say enough good things about my experience at the eforea Spa at the Hilton.

I booked a massage with Guileta, and it mind-blowingly good. It was so good that I booked one every single day for the rest of our stay in Venice. I’d book this hotel again to have a massage with her. If you’ve been reading awhile, you know I suffer from chronic pain and have had multiple surgeries with zero relief. Guileta did an AMAZING job of getting into the joint and releasing some of the tension. The spa pricing is very, very, very fair. It’s beyond fair.

There is a sauna, jacuzzi, and wellness area available, but it does cost up to 40 euro per person/day (with a discount if you book a treatment). We skipped it because Tom loves to be out in Venice, and I just wanted massages. While Palazzo Veneziano offers rooms with both jacuzzi tubs and saunas, this is the hotel that we’ve stayed at in Venice that has an on-site spa.

Note: The spa and its facilities were completely closed on Christmas (understandably), so if you are hoping to use the spa on holidays, I would check with the hotel before booking so you aren’t disappointed.

Dining at the Venice Hilton

Generally speaking, we aren’t hotel restaurant people unless it’s a true luxury experience like Le George in Paris or Il Palagio in Florence. I was intrigued by the beautiful dining spaces of Bacaromi and Aromi, and we did consider making reservations there for Christmas Day. Ultimately, we decided to just have a picnic in our room after sleeping late and taking long walks around Venice, which is a bit of a tradition for us. We loved the panettone they left in our room as a Christmas surprise.

Breakfast at the Hilton

Despite all the status we have at hotels, we rarely take advantage of breakfast. We generally practice intermittent fasting (especially when we travel), so breakfast doesn’t fit into our schedule. However, we were staying at the Hilton with friends, and they told us breakfast is an experience. Breakfast at the Hilton Venice is truly an experience.

First of all, can we please talk about the waiter who roused all of us with his renditions of Christmas carols? Is it possible to be unhappy when you have a waiter doing everything he can to bring the holiday cheer? (I think not.) That was, in my opinion, the best part of breakfast at the Hilton. (Apparently St. Nicholas made an appearance on Christmas Day, but we slept through that due to attending mass at the Basilica San Marco on Christmas Eve.)

The astonishing thing about breakfast at the Hilton was the sheer amount of choices. The spread essentially covers an entire dining room and features everything from hot items (eggs, sausages, bacon, and more), to fruits, vegetables, yogurts, and granolas, to charcuterie and cheese, to pastries (French and Italian), to a chocolate fountain. I haven’t seen a breakfast buffet like that since the Four Seasons Dallas hosted holiday brunches. There is literally something for everyone at breakfast. I can firmly say that if they don’t have it, you don’t need it.

If you are a breakfast person or if you are wanting to stretch your travel budget, the Hilton Venice can help you do that because it is a very filling and extensive breakfast.

The Executive Lounge at the Hilton in Venice

One of the things that we remembered enjoying on our last trip to the Hilton Venice was the executive lounge. It did not disappoint this year either. It is located on the ground floor of the hotel and essentially surrounds the Rialto Restaurant and Bar. This means the executive lounge has the best view as tables surround the windows.

The executive lounge offers a few small breakfast items, perfect to grab and go if you don’t want to have a full breakfast. Water, soft drinks, and small snacks are available throughout the day. And, in the evenings, they offer a fantastic apertivo spread that changes daily, as well as complimentary beer, prosecco, wine, and spritz. We had to be very careful not to disrupt our appetites at the lounge. (In my experience both airport and hotel executive lounges abroad are far better than their counterparts at home.)

Both Tom and I enjoyed how quiet the lounge was during the day, and we used it to get work done when we didn’t want to stay in our room. I found it very enjoyable to write with a view.

Skyline Rooftop Bar in Venice

On our final night with our friends in Venice, we decided to enjoy a nightcap at the Skyline bar. It was an interesting vibe in the fact that the music was pretty varied (though very loud). The bar was pretty empty when we were there, and the city skyline is pretty dark in the evenings. They offer a great selection of cocktails and mocktails, so I would suggest starting your evening with apertivo here to truly enjoy the view and the ambiance.

The Hilton also offers a rooftop pool, but it is closed from October to summer, so if you’re planning to visit Venice in the winter, don’t plan on being able to swim at the Hilton.

A Few Final Thoughts about Visiting Venice

If this is your first time visiting Venice, you might want to consider staying on the “main” islands of Venice to have that experience. We stayed at the JW Marriott on my husband’s first trip to Venice (and our honeymoon), and it was a completely different vibe than staying on the main islands of Venice. Staying closer to the city of Venice makes it easy to get out early and stay out late. However, the vaporetto pass makes it just as easy to do that from the Hilton Molino Stucky. too. Wherever you choose to stay, I would encourage to stay in an existing hotel, rather than rent an AirBnB. If you haven’t seen the news, the demand for short term rentals has driven up the cost of real estate in Venice. It’s driving the locals out of the city. When locals leave, so too does culture, authentic dining experiences, and significant traditions. I hate seeing cities become shells of their former selves. Venice is definitely on the precipice of doing exactly that because of over-tourism that doesn’t support infastructure.

I would also encourage you to skip the day trip to Venice. Come and stay a few nights in Venice. It’s downright magical and bewitching in the early and late hours of the day. One of the most beautiful sunsets I ever saw when I studied abroad was walking on the backside of the Salute church in late September. Engage with local guides when you come to visit. I love Lucrezia with Secret Venice Tours and Igor for customized tours of Venice. Both of those guides shared so much beyond the surface of Venice with us, and I would hate for anyone to come for a day, experience the crowds, and say that Venice isn’t a place worth going.

Why Visit Venice?

Venice is one of the few places left in the world where I feel like you can see it exactly as it was planned. Every structure in Venice was deliberately placed and has been maintained for hundreds of years. There is so much to see if there if you take time to take it slow. It’s why we keep returning. You have to peel back the layers of Venice like an onion.

A trip to Venice pairs beautifully with a few nights in Padua and Verona. Both are very different cities with their own hidden gems. (I’m still thinking about the Amarone risotto I had during our trip to Verona.) If you wanted a completely different vibe, I would spend a couple days at a wine resort in the Veneto at the end of your trip. I love Villa Cordevigo. Take it slow and enjoy the experience so that others in the future will be able to as well.