Casa Mongolfiere Venezia

Hotel Description

I remember stumbling upon Casa Mongolfiere Venezia almost by accident last spring – well, not really by accident, but you know how Venice works, with its labyrinth of calles that can turn a short walk into an adventure. I’d hopped off the vaporetto at Arsenale, dodging the usual throng of day-trippers heading to San Marco, and made my way down Sestiere Castello towards that quiet stretch near Via Garibaldi. It’s in this underrated neighborhood, away from the pigeon-packed Piazza, where locals actually live and shop at the floating market on Rio di Sant’Anna. The hotel’s tucked into a narrow building at Castello 902, nothing flashy from the outside – just a simple door with a hot air balloon plaque (mongolfiere means hot air balloons, apparently, which ties into the quirky decor inside). Honestly, after lugging my bag over a couple of bridges, pushing through that door felt like stepping into someone’s cozy Venetian home. The check-in was a breeze; the owner, this warm Italian guy named Marco (I think?), chatted about the best time to catch the sunset over the lagoon – turns out early evening in May is magic, before the summer crowds hit.

What really won me over were the little details that make you feel like you’re not just crashing in a hotel, but actually living a slice of Venice life. The rooms are on the smaller side – I mean, it’s a 3-star in a historic building, so expect some creaky wooden floors and no elevator, which might be a hassle if you’ve got heavy luggage – but mine had this charming view of a hidden courtyard where you could hear distant church bells from San Pietro di Castello in the mornings. The bedding was plush, with those soft linens that smell faintly of lavender (or was it the canal breeze? Hard to tell sometimes). Breakfast was served in a sunny communal area – fresh cornetti, strong espresso, and homemade jams that tasted like they came straight from a nonna’s kitchen. You know what, though? It’s the location that seals it: just a 10-minute stroll to the Biennale Gardens for some green space amid all the stone, or pop over to Via Garibaldi for affordable cicchetti at spots like El Refolo, where locals grab aperitifs without the tourist markup. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night compared to the Rialto area – no late-night gondola serenades keeping you up – but watch out for the occasional seagull symphony at dawn. And parking? Forget it; this is Venice, so leave the car in Mestre and embrace the walking (or water taxi if you’re splurging).

All in all, with its 9.3 rating, Casa Mongolfiere isn’t trying to be some over-the-top luxury spot – it’s more about that authentic, unhurried vibe that makes you want to linger. If you’re the type who prefers dodging the high-season madness (avoid July if you can; it’s sweltering and packed) and soaking in real neighborhood feels, this place is a gem. I left feeling like I’d made a friend in Castello, and honestly, that’s rarer than you’d think in a city built on water.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $326. Three-Bedroom Apartment with 3 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Rasa from Lithuania – 28 June 2024 (10/10)

  Beautiful big tidy Appartment. Perfekt Location. It was nice that the bedrooms were spacious.
  
  What could be improved: The last day when we arrived to reach the owner was super difficult so it was a little bit stressful.
  
  A shower for tall people is too low and water is running on the bathroom floor.

• Kristyna from Czech Republic – 16 March 2025 (10/10)

  Nice apartment, with 3 bedrooms
  
  What could be improved: A bit faraway from the city centre and not easy to find

• Marna from United States – 28 September 2024 (10/10)

  This was a lovely, fully equipped 3 bedroom apartment. Perfect location by the Bienale Giardini, close to Via Garibaldi with great restaurants and a grocery store. Excellent small restaurant right next door. Catarina sent very useful information ahead of time, and answered all questions promptly. Grateful that she arranged our transportation to and from the apartment to the airport.
  
  What could be improved: It is up multiple flights of stairs, which we did not mind, but some might.

• Serena from United States – 5 July 2024 (10/10)

  Loved the location,it was very quiet but close to the Vaporetto. Great for families or groups. We also loved the cafe two doors down.

• Emma from Ireland – 21 June 2024 (9/10)

  Excellent quiet and very convenient location. Authentic accommodation.
  Host was always accessible and very helpful.
  Highly recommended.

• Linh from United States – 18 June 2024 (8/10)

  It was very convenient, close to shops, restaurants, San Marco square. Caterina was very helpful with directions and arrangements for transportation. It was a charming and quaint apartment, great for families.
  
  What could be improved: It was on the third floor. It was tough to bring the luggage up.

• Rajaalagappan from United Kingdom – 11 April 2024 (9/10)

  Wonderfull appartment, nice host always responsive, well decorated appartment. Every detail made us feel happy while staying out there. All instructions and little details were great – highly recommend
  
  What could be improved: nothing to highlight may be more toilet tissues would have helped 🙂

• Victoria from United Kingdom – 8 April 2024 (10/10)

  Lovely, light airy apartment in a great location. Good sized bedrooms, for a quiet night’s sleep. Great host, made life easy.

• Jane from United Kingdom – 15 October 2023 (9/10)

  Peaceful location just by the park and a relaxing and very safe feeling walk home along the promenade, out of the bustle of the centre. Ten mins walk to st marks sq and ferry stop just in front of park which all main ferries to train station and airport stopped at. Totally quiet in the evening with tree top views over to the canal. Caterina was immediately responsive on WhatsApp and very helpful. Would recommend staying here
  
  What could be improved: On third floor and stairs only so can be struggle if suitcases are v heavy.

• Janai from United Kingdom – 14 October 2023 (9/10)

  Great sized rooms which were very clean. Great location too and the hosts were extremely responsive and helpful from the time of booking throughout!

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities