Orient Express Venezia announces the appointment of internationally acclaimed chef Heinz Beck to oversee the hotel’s entire gastronomic offering.
A leading figure in European fine dining with Three Michelin stars, and the Beck and Maltese Consulting Team will curate and sign all culinary experiences within the historic Venetian Palazzo. This collaboration entrusts Beck with shaping a distinctive culinary concept across the hotel from its signature fine-dining restaurant to its reception spaces and more relaxed venues. Drawing inspiration from the Venetian lagoon and the surrounding territory, his cuisine reflects the principles that define his internationally celebrated approach: technical precision, clarity of flavor, and a constant pursuit of balance and lightness. Heinz Beck’s vision will be carried out by Pasquale Rivetti, Chef in Residence.This gastronomic vision is expressed within the architectural setting conceived by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, who has led the complete renovation of Orient Express Venezia since 2018. Housed in one of Venice’s legendary palaces, the spaces reawaken the historical legacy of the Palazzo while introducing a contemporary sensibility, with poetic precision and a strong cultural connection to the Serenissima’s artistry.
Heinz Beck Venezia: the gastronomic restaurant
A dining room of twenty seats, Heinz Beck Venezia serves as the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant. The chef’s approach reflects the philosophy that established his reputation: a cuisine centered on balance, combining flavor, lightness, and nutritional awareness. Ingredients drawn from the Venetian lagoon and the wider Mediterranean basin form its foundation. Amberjack with ash buttermilk, fresh peas, and salted lemon, or red prawn served with carrots and lagoon seaweed, highlight local products through precise contemporary technique and a refined interpretation of Italian culinary tradition.Set within the Palazzo’s former Orangerie, the dining room designed by Aline Asmar d’Amman is illuminated by sculpted glass forms inspired by underwater life, casting fluid reflections across the space, a detail imagined after her conversations with Heinz Beck about the edible flowers of the lagoon.Heinz Beck Venezia operates exclusively during dinner service.
La Casati: Venice in Its Everyday Rhythm
Complementing the gastronomic restaurant, La Casati offers a more relaxed interpretation of Venetian dining while maintaining the same culinary method.
Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant celebrates the local flavors of the city through seasonal ingredients and recipes rooted in Venetian tradition.
Designed with surfaces adorned by living textures and crafted materials, La Casati’s spaces are permeated with a sense of theater, inspired by the legendary eccentric Italian aristocrat, a muse to architect Aline Asmar d’Amman. During the summer months, a secluded 300-square-meter garden opens to guests, extending the experience outdoors and offering a rare green retreat in the heart of Venice.
Wagon Bar: An Echo of the Golden Age of Travel
The wagon bar evokes the golden age of travel, in an ode to the original Orient Express railcar lounges, reinterpreted with codes of Art Deco. The Wagon Bar is open until late evening, and offers a selection of light savory dishes during the day, followed by classic and signature cocktails. Intimate in scale, the space combines references to the heritage and codes of Orient Express.
Salone Vittoria: the Art of Entertaining
Once the iconic ballroom of Venetian nobility, Salone Vittoria, located on the magnificent noble floor, continues to host the social life of the Palazzo. Spectacular breakfast is served beneath the historical 18th century chandeliers, while gala dinners and private celebrations unfold within its historic interiors.
For each occasion, menus are curated by Chef Heinz Beck and Beck and Maltese Consulting team, reflecting the traditions of Venetian hospitality through attentive service and carefully composed dining experiences.
With the arrival of Heinz Beck, Orient Express Venezia places gastronomy at the center of the guest experience. Conceived across the entire Palazzo, the culinary offering brings together fine dining, informal moments, and special gatherings within a unique and cohesive vision.The partnership reflects an approach in which cuisine, art of hospitality, and the historic character of the palace combine to create a distinctly Venetian journey - interpreted through contemporary craftsmanship.