Antica Venezia

The room was fine, and the hotel felt quite safe. There’s free coffee on the terrace at 8:30 in the morning. It’s on the building’s third floor and there’s no elevator. Finding the main entrance was tricky: Google Maps brought us there, but there was no hotel sign. We only noticed the tiny name plate the next morning, and it was turned slightly away, so it was hard to see.

For the fairly low price, the stay was acceptable, though it fell short of what I expected and I wouldn’t choose it again. I liked the convenient location and quiet surroundings. There are several drawbacks: staff are only there from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., leaving little help outside those hours. Wi-Fi was weak and unreliable, and the hot water was lukewarm at best.

Antica Venezia is a charming hotel on a quiet side street, only about three minutes from St Marks Square. The rooms are beautifully decorated, and the place has loads of character. Water pressure was decent, and the balcony was lovely, with views toward the square and free coffee served all day. Staff were friendly and very helpful, and they sent clear directions before we arrived. The uneven stairs and lack of a lift to the third and fourth floors mean it won’t suit anyone with mobility issues. I’ll stay here again when I’m back in Venice!

The only drawback for us was the external bathroom, which we knew about before booking and had no other option for at the time. Everything else more than made up for it. We had a memorable stay at Locanda Antica, especially thanks to the lovely receptionist, who kindly helped us with where to go, what to eat, and how to enjoy Venice like a local. She also gave us envelopes with an artistic ladybird design, a thoughtful personal touch that made both my son and me smile. Thank you!