Ca’ del Megio

Hotel Description

I remember stumbling upon Ca’ del Megio after a sweaty walk from the Santa Lucia train station – you know, that initial Venice haze where you’re dodging tourists with roller bags on those uneven pavements. It’s tucked away on Calle del Forno in Santa Croce, which is honestly one of the more low-key neighborhoods, not swarming like San Marco but still close enough to everything. I mean, it’s just a quick stroll over the Scalzi Bridge to get to the Grand Canal, and from there, you’re basically at the vaporetto stop for zipping to Rialto or even the islands. The building itself is this charming old palazzo – think exposed wooden beams and those classic Venetian shutters that creak a bit when you open them to let in the morning light. Check-in was a breeze; the owner, this chatty local guy named Marco (or was it Matteo? Anyway, super friendly), handed over the keys with a map scribbled with his favorite bacari spots nearby – like that tiny place on Rio Terà San Leonardo where you can grab cicchetti and ombre for cheap. No elevator, though, which might be a drag if you’re hauling heavy luggage up the narrow stairs, but hey, it’s Venice, what do you expect?

What really won me over was how the place feels lived-in, not some sterile chain hotel. My room overlooked a quiet little canal – nothing grand like the Grand Canal views you pay a fortune for elsewhere, but peaceful, with the occasional gondola gliding by and that faint, briny smell of the water mixing with espresso from the courtyard below. The beds are comfy, sort of plush without being over-the-top, and the bathroom had those nice rain showers that actually have decent pressure (a rarity in older spots around here). Breakfast is simple but spot-on – fresh cornetti, yogurt, and cappuccino served in this sunny communal area where you can chat with other guests or just people-watch the neighbors hanging laundry. It’s a four-star spot with an 8.5 rating that feels earned; well-maintained but not pretentious. Oh, and if you’re there in summer, it stays surprisingly cool inside those thick stone walls, though the neighborhood can get a tad noisy in the evenings from folks spilling out of nearby osterie – nothing too bad, just lively. I wandered to the Frari church one morning, which is like a 10-minute walk, and grabbed dinner at a no-frills trattoria on Campo Santa Margherita, feeling like I was in real Venice, not the postcard version.

Honestly, if you’re after that authentic vibe without the crowds crushing you at every turn, Ca’ del Megio is a solid pick. It’s not perfect – the Wi-Fi can be spotty in the back rooms, and finding it the first time means navigating those twisty calli (pro tip: use the latitude 45.440856 and longitude 12.329445 on your phone to avoid getting turned around). But you wake up to church bells and the hum of market boats, and it’s way more affordable than those flashy spots near Piazza San Marco. I left thinking, yeah, this is the kind of place that makes you want to extend your stay – maybe skip the day trip to Murano and just linger with a book by the window. If Venice is on your list, give it a shot; it’s got that quiet magic that sticks with you long after the ferry ride back to the mainland.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $174. Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed for 1 – 2 guests

Reviews

• Madelaina from Latvia – 20 January 2025 (9/10)

  Excellent location, very comfortable bed and overall nice place.
  
  What could be improved: We liked everything.

• Jeremy from Canada – 25 October 2024 (7/10)

  Location was great!
  
  What could be improved: No tea towels for dishes. No hand towels. The description of the unit was not correct. Aka. No fireplace. Etc.

• Sven from Switzerland – 15 June 2024 (8/10)

  Very nice apartment in authentic building and in a vibrant neighbourhood with good restaurants and bakery within short walking distance. Host was very helpful.
  
  What could be improved: The kitchen is not really equipped for cooking. The parking information are not correct. You have to take care of parking arrangements yourself.

• Aoife from Ireland – 23 April 2024 (9/10)

  I like it how clean an nice it was

• Subashini from India – 26 January 2024 (7/10)

  We can walk to most of the places as it in the heart of the city.
  
  What could be improved: Knife and kettle could have been a good addition.
  The room was a bit cold for us and unable to change the temperature.

• Gierszynska from United Kingdom – 15 July 2023 (9/10)

  What could be improved: Everything was great apart of air conditioner not working properly and stopped working the last night. Not ideal in the heatwave.
  Otherwise everything else is what we’ve needed.

• Letizia from Italy – 20 February 2023 (8/10)

  It is a very nice apartment, the position is good.
  
  What could be improved: Bad cleaning.

• Frederick from United States – 2 June 2024 (8/10)

  I was sent info to get into unit that I could not open, but someone came at midnight to let me in. Good location. Close to a waterbus stop.
  
  What could be improved: Door was very finicky and sometimes took a multiple tries to open door. Emailed asking how to turn on a/c but never got answer. Bugs came in when I opened up window due to no screens.

• Philip from United Kingdom – 31 October 2023 (9/10)

  Really is an ideal location. Great WiFi, the host is very helpful and the bed was really comfy.
  
  What could be improved: Some street noise but I think that's the same everywhere in Venice

• Abel from United Kingdom – 27 October 2023 (8/10)

  Well equipped apartment, nice location. The host was great, he provided maps with useful information and told us a lot about the city when we got there. Also, he was accessible via WhatsApp in case we needed anything.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment has thin walls so it was very noisy all night because of the surrounding flats and the streets.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities