Hotel Ai Cavalieri di Venezia
Why We Like It
You don’t want to stay at a cookie-cutter place when in Venice, and Ai Cavalieri is anything but. All the rooms are unique and gorgeous and feel truly Venetian, plus it’s tucked into a quiet street near the water but still not far from all the things you came to Venice to see.
Fodor's Expert Review
Lovely and romantic, decked out with beamed ceilings, frescoes, and Murano glass chandeliers, Hotel Ai Cavalieri—set within a 16th-century palazzo—drips with Venetian charm. The hotel ups the cool factor with mixology-focused Bat Bar, where you can get a delicious cocktail after strolling the nearby canals, plus has an ultra-convenient though off-the-beaten-path location in the residential Castello neighborhood with easy access to the Rialto.
You Should Know By all means, take advantage of the hotel’s free water taxi to the island of Murano. Just know that you’ll be pressured to buy something at a glass factory there—though the products are so gorgeous, it will be hard not to—and you'll have to pay for your own ride back, though one-way tickets are fairly cheap.
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Room
Guest rooms are spacious and attractive, with antique furniture, terrazzo floors or rich carpets, and sumptuous patterned wall fabrics. Some junior suites and higher-level rooms have private terraces with rooftop or canal views.
Bathroom
Marble bathrooms are luxurious; most only have showers except some in the junior suite and above categories.
Lobby
You know you’re someplace special when you enter the striking lobby, with its beamed ceilings, marbled floors, and coolly elegant vibe.
Tip Because the hotel has its own dock, you can take a private water taxi all the way to and from the airport in an hour faster than the public ferry—which can be worth every penny.
Dining
There’s no in-house restaurant, but a complimentary buffet breakfast is served each morning.
Drinking
You’ll want to spend time in Bat Bar cocktail bar, which has some truly great alcoholic concoctions and a fun feel.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The Rialto vaporetto stops are about a 7-minute walk. Otherwise, your best bet is to use your own two feet to see all the sights, none of which are too far away.
Restaurants
The tasting menu of Venetian specialties at L’Osteria di Santa Marina (1-minute walk) comes highly recommended. Book far in advance to try popular Alle Testiere (2-minute walk), which specializes in the freshest seafood dishes and has a daily changing menu. Osteria Al Mascaron (2-minute walk) offers up delicious pasta and other straightforward Italian plates, served alongside a frequently rotating collection of Venetian and international art.
Bars
Zanzibar (2-minute walk) is a pleasant place to enjoy aperitivi with views of Santa Maria Formosa church. The wine bar Aciugheta (6-minute walk) specializes in cicchetti (bar snacks)—don’t miss the anchovy (aciugheta) minipizzas—paired with a large selection of local vinos.
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