ANDREA Venice FLAT Mezzanine Floor

Hotel Description

I remember stepping off the vaporetto at Ferrovia – that’s the stop right by Santa Lucia train station – and thinking, okay, Venice, let’s see if you live up to the hype without drowning me in tourists right away. The ANDREA Venice FLAT on Mezzanine Floor is tucked into Cannaregio at Cannaregio 181, along Lista di Spagna, which is basically this bustling little artery that funnels you from the station toward the Grand Canal. It’s not one of those postcard-perfect spots with gondolas gliding by your window, but honestly, that’s part of its charm – you’re in a real neighborhood, where locals are grabbing their morning espresso at hole-in-the-wall bars rather than posing for selfies. I dragged my suitcase over the uneven cobblestones (watch your ankles, by the way – Venice pavement is no joke), and check-in was a breeze; the host met me at the door with keys and a quick rundown in broken English, which felt more personal than some sterile hotel lobby. The building itself is one of those classic Venetian piles, all weathered brick and narrow stairwells that creak a bit underfoot – I mean, it’s on the mezzanine, so you’re up a flight but not too high, which is nice if you’re hauling groceries from the nearby Coop supermarket on Strada Nova.

Inside, the flat surprised me – it’s got that 4-star polish without feeling overly fussy, you know? Spacious for Venice standards, with high ceilings that echo a little when you laugh, and these big windows letting in the salty canal air mixed with faint whiffs of baking bread from the panificio downstairs. The kitchenette was a lifesaver; I whipped up pasta with fresh clams from the Rialto market (just a 15-minute walk away, if you dodge the crowds on Rio Terà San Leonardo). Beds were comfy, firm enough to sink into after a day of wandering, and the bathroom had one of those rain showers that actually works – though the hot water took a second to kick in, which is par for the course in these old buildings. Oh, and noise-wise, Lista di Spagna gets lively in the evenings with folks heading to dinner spots like Osteria Mocenigo (try the cicchetti – little Venetian tapas, basically), but it quiets down by 11 p.m., especially off-season in fall when the summer hordes thin out. I appreciated the air conditioning, too – Venice humidity in July? Brutal without it. One minor gripe: the Wi-Fi dipped in and out, but hey, you’re in Italy; unplug and people-watch from the balcony instead.

All in all, if you’re after an authentic slice of Venetian life without the San Marco price tag, this place nails it. It’s rated an 8 for good reason – solid value, especially for groups or families who want space to spread out. I stayed a week last October, and it felt like a home base for exploring the Jewish Ghetto (five minutes away, with those haunting synagogues) or hopping a boat to Murano. Sure, it’s not luxurious in that glossy brochure way, but it’s real, and that’s what sticks with you. Book it if you want to wake up to church bells and the hum of vaporettos, not tour buses – just pack light, because those bridges will test you.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $132. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 1 – 2 guests

Reviews

• Judi from United States – 28 May 2023 (9/10)

  Loved the location ! Comfortable bed and nice kitchen area .
  
  What could be improved: Only one pillow each and a couple of other small things but immediately, Andrea brought more pillows and helped us with a couple of things . She also spent time with us and sent a list of restaurants to try .

• Gina from United States – 10 October 2024 (8/10)

  Apartment has what you need for a comfortable stay including comfy (soft) bed, shower with good hot water, reliable wifi, big towels, washing machine with drying rack (in the far right closet), ample closet space, a nice couch to sit on and a mostly well equipped kitchen with coffee, sugar, salt/pepper, and balsamic vinegar. . Communication from host was excellent, and included exact walking and check in instructions with pictures. Walk from the train station takes about 6 minutes with flat terrain. Both fans and air-con are provided. She allowed early check in which was great. While there is noise from the restaurant out the back during business hours, it didn't bother us.
  
  What could be improved: The smell of damp in the bedroom wasn't so bad, but caused allergies to flare up in that room whenever we spent time in there. Opening the window helped this, but also allowed the mosquitos to come in. Needs olive oil and an egg spatula. .

• Joakim from Germany – 9 July 2024 (8/10)

  Location is amazing. Nice and quiet.
  
  What could be improved: Bed a bit to soft and some humidity in the flat (I’m guess this is all over Venice)

• Mario from United Kingdom – 11 May 2024 (9/10)

  The location was perfect and very accessible to the train and bus stations.
  
  What could be improved: The property was ideal.

• David from Australia – 14 April 2024 (9/10)

  Great location, not far from the train station. Nice to have a separate bedroom and living area. The host (Andrea) was always available via WhatsApp to address any issues.
  
  What could be improved: Shower is a bit small and there was no toaster.

• Rhonda from Canada – 28 October 2023 (8/10)

  Andrea gave us great directions how to get to her place from the train station and access the keys. Location was perfect for us with our tours and just for walking around Venice. A/C was welcomed
  
  What could be improved: Shower was tricky as the doors were flimsy

• Christopher from Canada – 11 September 2023 (8/10)

  Location in proximity to the train station

• Mark from United Kingdom – 7 September 2023 (8/10)

  The location was perfect. No bridges to cross from the station and exactly in the area of Venice we wanted to stay. The north part of the city off the main route is lovely and relaxed and has some excellent restaurants. It is more of a local area and this property was in a wonderful position to reach everywhere.
  
  What could be improved: The views out of the window are of a courtyard next door but this wasn't something we would be bothered with. If you want a view, pay a lot more. we were hardly in the property so the view wasn't a problem. The value and location was perfect for what we wanted.

• Josephine from Australia – 4 September 2023 (9/10)

  Close to train station and Andrea was lovely

• Karan from Netherlands – 25 June 2022 (8/10)

  The flat is well maintained and spacious. The location is quite nice and close to possible public transport. The host had facilitated our request of early check in that was very helpful.
  
  What could be improved: It was a bit difficult to reach out to host as she was not available on calls however available on whatsapp messages.
  Basic facilities such as hand wash, showergel etc was not available.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities