Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio

The Residenza Cannaregio is set in a 17th century former monastery that is now part of the Eurostars hotel chain. The hotel doesn’t have the traditional Venetian decor that many would hope to find, and instead has a blue and orange color scheme throughout, marble floors, modern leather sofas, and contemporary artwork on the walls. The lobby also has large potted plants, floor lamps, and computer stations for guests to use. The exposed brick and dark wood ceiling beams add a rustic feel and a hint of the building’s history, but aside from that, the decor lacks character. Some areas like the breakfast room and bar are also quite dark. Overall the atmosphere is peaceful and modern, if lacking in a final polish.

As the name suggests, the hotel is in the Cannaregio neighborhood, on the northern tip of Venice. It's a quiet, residential area and overlooks the Madonna dell'Orto canal. There are plenty of authentic Venetian restaurants and bars in this scenic neighborhood, and the ancient Sant' Alvise church and the art-filled Church of Madonna dell'Orto are within a 10-minute walk. The Wagner Museum is just five-minutes away on foot. Ferries to the nearby Murano island, famous for its glass-blowing factories, leave every 20 minutes and take under half an hour. The nearest ferry stop from the hotel is Madonna dell'Orto which is a 10-minute walk. It's around a 25-minute walk into the bustling center of Venice to see the sights such as St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Bridge of Sighs.  

Rooms are a good size and have a deep blue and orange color scheme with modern style and dark wood furniture. In many places though, furniture is showing signs of wear and tear. As in the hotel’s public areas, there are some charming features of the original building on show, such as dark wood beamed ceilings and some exposed brick walls. The ceilings in some are low and sloping though, and at times can feel dark and restrictive. Many rooms have nice views -- either of the garden or the canal towards San Alvise. Each room has free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, a safe, desk, hairdryer, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a desk. Bathrooms are plain and simple with cream tiles; some have a shower stall, while others have a shower/tub combo.

The hotel has retained one of the building’s charming original features for guests to use -- a “porta d'acqua.” This is a doorway leading directly onto the canal, so those arriving by water taxi or gondola can arrive in style. The monastery’s cloister has also been transformed into a lovely courtyard with a pretty garden. There’s a large well in the center of the space and plenty of benches for guests to use. Breakfast is served in the charming breakfast room or in the garden during warmer weather and consists of omelets, bacon, cereal, croissant, and pastries (not included in the standard room rate). There’s no restaurant here but there is a bar that serves a range of wines, beers, and spirits. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi throughout and a meeting room for business travelers.