Ca’ Marinella

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Ca’ Marinella kind of by accident last spring, right after hopping off the vaporetto at San Zaccaria – that’s the stop that’s practically in the shadow of St. Mark’s, but without all the pigeon chaos. It’s tucked away in the Castello district, on this quiet little calle off Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where you can actually hear locals chatting in Venetian dialect over their morning espresso instead of just tour groups snapping selfies. Honestly, arriving there felt like slipping into a hidden pocket of Venice – no cars honking (well, there are no cars at all, which is a blessing and a curse if you’re lugging bags from the train station). The building itself is this charming old palazzo with faded frescoes on the facade, and check-in was a breeze; the front desk guy – Marco, I think? – handed over the key with a genuine smile and a tip about avoiding the crowds by wandering east toward the Arsenale in the evenings. It’s not flashy, mind you – three stars means no infinity pool or anything – but that authenticity hits you right away, like the faint salty tang of the lagoon mixing with the smell of fresh bread from the bakery next door.

Stepping inside my room, I was surprised by how cozy it felt, even if the space is on the compact side (typical Venice, I mean, these old buildings weren’t built for king-sized beds). The wooden beams overhead and the creaky floorboards added this lived-in vibe – sort of like staying in a friend’s historic apartment rather than a sterile hotel. I had a view over a narrow canal, nothing grand like the Grand Canal, but watching gondolas glide by at dusk with that golden light reflecting off the water? Magical. Breakfast was simple but spot-on: croissants that were flaky and warm, strong coffee, and those little jams that taste homemade – served in a sunny courtyard where you can linger without feeling rushed. Oh, and the Wi-Fi actually worked reliably, which isn’t always a given in these older spots. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night compared to the bustle around Rialto or San Marco; the only sounds were distant church bells and maybe a cat meowing – though if you’re a light sleeper, pack earplugs for the occasional early-morning delivery boat. One minor gripe: the bathroom was a tad tight, with that classic European shower that floods if you’re not careful, but hey, it adds to the adventure.

All in all, if you’re the type who wants to experience Venice like a local – dodging the high-season hordes in July and August, when Castello stays relatively sane – Ca’ Marinella is a gem. It’s got that 8.5 rating for a reason: solid value, warm staff, and a location that’s perfect for exploring underrated spots like the Libreria Acqua Alta bookstore just a short walk away, or grabbing cicchetti at a bacaro on Via Garibaldi. I left feeling like I’d uncovered a secret, you know? Not for those seeking luxury spas or room service at midnight, but if you’re after an authentic slice of La Serenissima without breaking the bank, book it – just remember to wear comfy shoes for all that wandering.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $182. Double or Twin Room with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for 1 – 1 guests
• Estimated price from: $209. Deluxe Double or Twin Room with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for 1 – 1 guests
• Estimated price from: $261. Standard Triple Room with 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for 1 – 1 guests
• Estimated price from: $300. Standard Family Room with 2 × 1 large double bed and 2 sofa beds for 1 – 1 guests

Reviews

• Martin from Canada – 11 February 2025 (9/10)

  Lovely staff & great location

• Debbie from United Kingdom – 18 March 2025 (9/10)

  Spotlessly clean , lovely room .
  Breakfast very good

• Eliza from Greece – 24 February 2025 (9/10)

  Clean and comfortable rooms, fabulous breakfast, helpful staff. Highly recommended.

• Yuliia from Germany – 17 February 2025 (9/10)

  All was good
  Thank you
  
  What could be improved: Breakfast was perfect, but lunch box which you prepared for us was bad, one apple and just bread with bacon without butter… what will eat people who don’t eat bacon?) that’s all for price of breakfast? You must change it… thanks

• Christos from Greece – 15 February 2025 (9/10)

  Location, amenities, breakfast! Everything was perfect and on top of that, upon arrival, we were upgraded to a fantastic suite! The staff was also extra polite and helpful, especially the ladies in the breakfast room.

• Katy from United Kingdom – 1 February 2025 (8/10)

  The breakfast was lovely! Great choice of savoury and sweet. The breakfast staff were amazing! So friendly! Very clean rooms and a comfy bed. The location is excellent.

• Linda from Germany – 4 January 2025 (8/10)

  I stayed here on Christmas and i almost cancelled because i read the reviews after i had booked . I never been scared about a stay like i was ,However, on arrival, turned out well . Yes it's true the ca' marinella is a part of the santa marina, after checking in they help you with luggage to the annex . Just out turn left , and in like 2 minutes you are at the annex . Clean , modern,mini fridge, good heating , and all the staff were very friendly. Breakfast was ok , only because there's an option to order extra eggs and bacon or pancakes ,loved that.best part about this hotel is the location literally walking distance to Rialto bridge , san marco and the libreria acqua alta a stone throw away 😊 . I hope future travellers with awful /better experience can upload real pics ( as i did) instead of plain reviews got me soo confused .
  
  What could be improved: I book my rooms for content ,that means the view is quite important and i got nothing of the view i expected of the canal like in pics. Also My room was alittle squeezy to my liking but not a big deal so long as it wasn't the room with blocked window all is well .
  When housekeeping cleaned i did view different room type so i bet it depends with your luck .

• Theleefamily from United Kingdom – 1 January 2025 (8/10)

  Lovely room. Everything we needed.
  Great breakfast in the hotel across the square, where you also check in. Really close to major venice attractions.
  
  What could be improved: Very steep staircase. If you have mobility issues it might not be ideal. Difficult to find first few times, but that's venice. The place is a maze

• Willy from Netherlands – 28 December 2024 (8/10)

  Spacious: I had a double bed room in one room and an adjacent small room with single bed at The entrance. We could do exercise with smart TV in both room and entrance room.
  Heating: work Good
  Bathroom: Lovely
  Overall: Comfortable and clean.
  
  What could be improved: View: Not great to look at dirty room top and wall of others houses.
  Bathroom: Shower was small for a tall person like me. However, this is a particular situation and does take away the fact that bathroom was great with big shower pump added with changing lighting colors.
  No lift. But this was ok for me but not my gf. However, it kept us fit…
  I expected a double large matrass ,not a 2xsingle matrass put together. I had to always push them to keep them together.

• Henri from Greece – 6 December 2024 (9/10)

  it was close to the most important sights. the room was big and the sheets were clean and bed was comfortable. the buffet was nice too.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities