Comfortable Venice Dining and Accommodation
“I will never forget experiencing Venice for the first time. It feels like you are transported to another time – the art, music, food and pure romance in the air is like no other place.”
~ Elizabeth Berkley
Venezia, commonly known as Venice, is not the biggest city in Italy. Nor is it the most bustling metropolis in the country. However, for a city that displays quaint, intimate and romantic moments it is actually quite huge.
Composed of many different islands, the main districts of Venice are known as Sestieri. These are comprised of San Polo, Santa Croce, San Marco, Dorsoduro, Cannergio and Castello.
These districts are filled with different landmarks, monuments, attractions and most importantly hotels and restaurants.
When planning a vacation bound for Venice, you have to plan everything ahead of time. Venezia has so many hotels and restaurants you might spend the better part of your day deciding where to stay or eat. Maximize your time in the beautiful city by creating an itinerary ahead of time. This article focuses on some of the choices for dining and accommodations.
Where to Stay in Venice
Most hotels in Venice are renovated from palaces; however, these do not mean airy rooms that most hotels offer. For American standards, the Venetian rooms are smaller in comparison. Even the best and most exclusive hotels share this characteristic as this is the standard. Since space is at a premium in Venice, small hotels may not even have lounge area or elevators because of preservation laws. With that said if you are narrowing down your list of hotels always get in touch with them and ask about their rooms especially the size to prevent any unwanted surprises.
Venice is the only pedestrian city in the world; this means there are no cars in the streets. Water buses and water taxis are the most common modes of transportation since the city is filled with canals. Most travellers have the misconception that the best and most ideal hotels can be found in Piazza San Marco.
However, travellers must also open up their options since there are a lot of great hotels away from San Marco, ones with fewer tourists are ideal. Here are some recommendations:
3749 Ponte Chiodo
Travellers who have stayed in this hotel have plenty of good things to say. For one they have great staffs that are attentive to the needs of their guest. The ambience is relaxing, warm and comfortable. With a private garden and a great view of the canals, the entire experience is wonderfully and authentically Venetian. The only deal breaker that some people might find is the absence of an elevator. This may be related to the preservation laws stated earlier.
Bauer Il Palazzo
Considered as one of the high end hotels in the city, you are in for a treat. The hotel has world class and high end services. With luxurious rooms and amenities it has pampering service fit for royalty. The only factors that may affect choosing this hotel is being in one of the busiest areas in the city not to mention the price tag that comes with a standard room. Wi-Fi is exclusive of standard room charges as well.
Ca’ Maria Adele
Venice is an image of intimate and romantic moments. This hotel offers just that with authentic Venetian and contemporary decor, staying here is truly an experience. With free Wi-Fi services, it is a great contender. However, individuals looking for spacious rooms might skip this one since it has smaller rooms even for Venice standards. There are also only a few options when it comes to good food nearby.
Ca’ Sagredo Hotel
This hotels boasts of its excellent location. With easy access to most restaurants, attractions and transportation it is a great choice. Even though the hotel exudes Venetian design, with the renovation it is also quite modern. On the other hand, for individuals or couples looking for a more intimate hotel, rooms can be considered opulent rather than intimate.
Hotel Danieli Venice
If you are looking for a place with history, the Hotel Danieli might be the one for you. They offer beautiful Venetian rooms that are well maintained, filled with history it opened its doors to some famous personalities, there are also rooms that have breathtaking views. For travellers looking for something more affordable, their rooms that do not have views have a lower price range. For foodies, however, the restaurant does not offer the same standard as the hotel. Since breakfast is not included, most travellers will find the rates to be expensive.
Where to Eat in Venice
When it comes to dining in Venice, the options go from pole to pole. There are high end restaurants where formal attire is requested while there are restaurants that are more casual. The food scene was once very traditional; however, as the years went by innovations have been made. There are already casual menus, dining rooms and dishes that still blend in the Venetian elements and decor but already offer a modern take.
Venetian restaurants are usually small with very limited seating that is why it is recommended to make reservations ahead of time. Mid and high end restaurants are usually the ones that offer a variety of dishes but still maintain authentic Venetian cuisines like Sarde in Saor as well as Fegato Alla Veneziana.
Here are some recommendations:
Caffe Florian
Due to the increased tourists in Venice, when locals want to go to a cafe instead of choosing cafes with the Piazza San Marco, they go somewhere less crowded. This usually means going to Caffe Florian. This is one of the oldest cafes in the city as observed in its 19th century decor. A great choice for history buffs since the cafe was the only one to serve women during the 18th century. With great drinks and snacks plus an unforgettable ambience it tops the list for an entertaining and tasty experience. The drinks are also affordable if you have them in the back.
El Refolo
Named after a play during the 20th century, this is a trendy place to meet and enjoy the company of friends. The place is best known for drinks and snacks than it is for their meals. The usual treats include pairing quality meat, cheese, vegetables with a great wine selection.
Casin dei Nobili
When locals say they want to go out for pizza, there is a big chance that they will be going to the Casin dei Nobili. This is an affordable pizzeria utilizing old world cooking. Experience the open, wood fire ovens baking pizza. When paired with pasta and fish dishes the experience is truly unforgettable. The relaxed and casual ambience makes it a perfect place to enjoy a meal with family and friends.
La Trattoria Ai Tosi
Getting out of tourist-oriented restaurants and finding basic local dishes can be challenging in Venezia. Luckily, there is La Trattoria Ai Tosi which offers a warm atmosphere and a variety of dishes at an affordable price. They have a fixed price lunch menu especially made for local workers on their lunch break. There are plenty of options like the baccalà mantecato “sanwicini”, classic frittura mista, traditional bigoli in salsa and great tasting pizza.
Cap off your day of site seeing in Venice with tasty food and comfortable accommodations, consider these options.
