Pros

  • Charming hotel in a 16th-century palazzo with a private dock on a canal
  • Three-minute walk to nearest vaporetto stop along the Grand Canal
  • Decadent interiors feature ornate Venetian-style decor full of antiques and oil paintings
  • Beautiful rooms are richly decorated and have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air-conditioning
  • Suites feature living areas and large bathrooms with both tubs and showers
  • Free buffet breakfast served in charming dining room or outdoor garden
  • Lovely courtyard garden is full of flowers and greenery; can be rented for events
  • Welcome bottle of prosecco upon arrival
  • Free Wi-Fi
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Cons

  • Far from the train station; boat transfer advised
  • Some bathrooms are small and fixtures can use an update
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Bottom Line

Occupying a former 16th-century residential palace on a canal (with a private dock), this charming upscale hotel features beautiful, decadently decorated interiors with definite wow factor. Its 13 guest rooms are full of ornate details like antiques, silk damask wallpaper, frescoes, and candelabras, and are equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms can be a bit small, however, and fixtures could use an update. A free buffet breakfast is served in an inviting dining room or, weather allowing, in a charming garden that feels like an oasis. The hotel is just a three-minute walk to a vaporetto stop, plus it's within walking distance of most attractions (but far from the train station). For something truly luxurious and with more features, check out the Westin Europa & Regina. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Palazzo Abadessa

Scene

Charming upscale hotel in a former palazzo with decadent decor

This charming upscale hotel is situated in a former 16th-century residential palace. Interiors here are a visual feast, they're decadent with lashings of rich color and gilt, chandeliers and candelabras, ornate Persian rugs, and stained-glass windows. Oil paintings adorn the walls, while furnishings are elegant antique pieces. In some of the common spaces, classical Venetian style is paired with an atmospheric rustic twist courtesy of old brick walls and exposed wooden ceiling beams. The opulence of interiors even extends outdoors to the hotel's pretty courtyard garden, which teems with lush greenery and crawls with vines shrouding the walls. It offers a lovely little oasis in which to relax with a morning coffee or after a day of sightseeing. With just 13 guest rooms, this is an intimate property with a peaceful and personable atmosphere that attracts leisure tourists, mainly couples on a romantic city trip.

See More Scene

Location

On a canal in the Cannaregio District, close to vaporetto stop and within walking distance of Piazza San Marco 

The hotel is situated on a canal in the Cannaregio District, with a private dock that allows for easy arrival/departure by boat or gondola. There are many other hotels in the immediate area, and the nearby Strada Nova (a minute's walk away) is lined with shops and dining options. The nearest vaporetto stop along the Grand Canal, Ca' D'Oro, is just a three-minute walk away. Piazza San Marco is a 15-minute walk away, where guests will also find Saint Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. The Rialto Bridge is a seven-minute walk, while popular museums like the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection are within a 20- to 25-minute walk. The Santa Lucia train station is around 15 minutes away by water bus or a 20-minute walk. Marco Polo Airport is about 50 minutes away by water bus.

See More Location

Rooms

Ornately decorated rooms have flat-screen TVs and minibars, but most bathrooms are small

Guest rooms, like the rest of the interiors here, feature classical Venetian style that's rich with patterns and elegant original antique furnishings. Many have rustic elements like exposed wooden ceiling beams that atmospherically pair with the fairly opulent decor, while others feature frescoed ceilings dating back to the 1500s. Walls are covered with decadently patterned silk wallpaper -- damask with a metallic sheen -- that complements the bedspreads and curtains. Persian-style area rugs sit on wooden or terrazzo floors. Decadent details include Murano glass lamps, ornate candelabras, and fresh orchids. Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs (but they're a bit small), minibars, electronic safes, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Suites add living areas on mezzanine floors. Views range from an interior courtyard to the garden to overlooking the canal. 

Bathrooms can be a bit small, but they're clean and some have charming details like candelabras that illuminate the mirrors. They're equipped with showers (though fixtures could use an update). Bidets, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and toiletries come standard. Junior Suite and Suite bathrooms are spacious and have both walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs. 

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Features

Free buffet breakfast, delightful garden, and a private dock

There's not much here in terms of features (typical for space-starved Venice), but a couple of extras add convenience and charm. A buffet breakfast is included in rates and is served in a beautiful dining room or in the hotel's charming garden (weather allowing). The garden, as well as other common areas, can be rented out for events. The hotel has a private dock, so guests can arrive and depart directly by boat. Guests receive a welcome bottle of of Italian sparkling wine upon arrival. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Palazzo Abadessa

Scene

Charming upscale hotel in a former palazzo with decadent decor

This charming upscale hotel is situated in a former 16th-century residential palace. Interiors here are a visual feast, they're decadent with lashings of rich color and gilt, chandeliers and candelabras, ornate Persian rugs, and stained-glass windows. Oil paintings adorn the walls, while furnishings are elegant antique pieces. In some of the common spaces, classical Venetian style is paired with an atmospheric rustic twist courtesy of old brick walls and exposed wooden ceiling beams. The opulence of interiors even extends outdoors to the hotel's pretty courtyard garden, which teems with lush greenery and crawls with vines shrouding the walls. It offers a lovely little oasis in which to relax with a morning coffee or after a day of sightseeing. With just 13 guest rooms, this is an intimate property with a peaceful and personable atmosphere that attracts leisure tourists, mainly couples on a romantic city trip.

See More Scene

Location

On a canal in the Cannaregio District, close to vaporetto stop and within walking distance of Piazza San Marco 

The hotel is situated on a canal in the Cannaregio District, with a private dock that allows for easy arrival/departure by boat or gondola. There are many other hotels in the immediate area, and the nearby Strada Nova (a minute's walk away) is lined with shops and dining options. The nearest vaporetto stop along the Grand Canal, Ca' D'Oro, is just a three-minute walk away. Piazza San Marco is a 15-minute walk away, where guests will also find Saint Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. The Rialto Bridge is a seven-minute walk, while popular museums like the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection are within a 20- to 25-minute walk. The Santa Lucia train station is around 15 minutes away by water bus or a 20-minute walk. Marco Polo Airport is about 50 minutes away by water bus.

See More Location

Rooms

Ornately decorated rooms have flat-screen TVs and minibars, but most bathrooms are small

Guest rooms, like the rest of the interiors here, feature classical Venetian style that's rich with patterns and elegant original antique furnishings. Many have rustic elements like exposed wooden ceiling beams that atmospherically pair with the fairly opulent decor, while others feature frescoed ceilings dating back to the 1500s. Walls are covered with decadently patterned silk wallpaper -- damask with a metallic sheen -- that complements the bedspreads and curtains. Persian-style area rugs sit on wooden or terrazzo floors. Decadent details include Murano glass lamps, ornate candelabras, and fresh orchids. Other standard amenities include flat-screen TVs (but they're a bit small), minibars, electronic safes, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Suites add living areas on mezzanine floors. Views range from an interior courtyard to the garden to overlooking the canal. 

Bathrooms can be a bit small, but they're clean and some have charming details like candelabras that illuminate the mirrors. They're equipped with showers (though fixtures could use an update). Bidets, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and toiletries come standard. Junior Suite and Suite bathrooms are spacious and have both walk-in showers and separate soaking tubs. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free buffet breakfast, delightful garden, and a private dock

There's not much here in terms of features (typical for space-starved Venice), but a couple of extras add convenience and charm. A buffet breakfast is included in rates and is served in a beautiful dining room or in the hotel's charming garden (weather allowing). The garden, as well as other common areas, can be rented out for events. The hotel has a private dock, so guests can arrive and depart directly by boat. Guests receive a welcome bottle of of Italian sparkling wine upon arrival. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.