Hotel Bonvecchiati

The upscale Bonvecchiati Hotel is located in a historic palazzo, and has been operating as a hotel since 1790. Old upper-crust Venetian style is evident in the lobby and restaurant areas, with colorful Venetian glass chandeliers and sconces, pink and white checkerboard marble floors, white linen tablecloths, heavy drapes, high ceilings, oriental carpets, damask-covered sofas, and plenty of archways. There are large gold-leaf candelabras with sculptures of Moors standing throughout the common areas. The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxed. While the style is authentic to Venice, some guests may find the property dated and a touch stuffy. 

The Bonvecchiati Hotel is in a fantastic location, just three minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco and five minutes from the Rialto Bridge. The neighborhood and canals bustle with traffic and are filled with high-end shops and jewelers. The hotel has its own dock, providing easy access for water taxis to the Santa Lucia train station and major tourist sights. Most of the city’s major museums and attractions are within easy walking distance. Venice’s largest and most picturesque gondola station, Orseolo Basin, a photographer’s windfall, is close by. The airport is 40 minutes away via water taxi.

Rooms at the Bonvecchiati Hotel vary greatly in terms of size and style. Many are tiny, and could use refreshing; the antique furniture, upholstered headboards (that match the dramatic floor-length drapes), and genteel paint jobs appear plain and uninspired, interspersed with modern cabinetry that puts the decor in a gray area, neither period nor modern. Modern Deluxe and Modern Superior rooms are updated, fresher, more spacious, and appealing with crimson accents, though they lack a certain Venetian charm that the traditional rooms maintain. Book ahead for a canal view, but be aware of early morning noise as the city wakes. Hypoallergenic rooms are also available. Amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and free toiletries. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

The Bonvecchiati Hotel offers an American-style buffet breakfast (for a fee) at Ristorante La Terrazza, in its partner hotel next door. La Terrazza serves quality Venetian and traditional Italian cuisine in an upscale dining room or on its beautiful canal-side terrace, which is enclosed during the cooler months. The hotel’s bar is a quiet spot for a drink or an espresso, and serves light food all day. There is a gym with a steam room, sauna, and a hot tub with room for eight. In-room massages can be arranged by appointment. The Bonvecchiati has its own water landing for gondolas and water taxis. Wi-Fi is free throughout.