Sant’Aponal Cozy Apartment with Balcony R&R

Hotel Description

You know, when I first stumbled upon Sant’Aponal Cozy Apartment with Balcony R&R tucked away on Calle del Todeschini in San Polo, I was honestly a bit skeptical—Venice can be such a maze of overpriced spots that feel more like tourist traps than real homes. But stepping through that unassuming door after weaving past the little bacari (those hole-in-the-wall wine bars locals flock to for cicchetti), it hit me: this place is a gem. It’s not some glossy hotel lobby affair; it’s an actual apartment in a centuries-old building, with those classic wooden beams overhead and terracotta floors that creak just enough to remind you you’re in the heart of old Venice. I arrived in the late afternoon, right as the sun was dipping low, and the host— this friendly guy named Marco who lives nearby—met me with keys and a quick rundown in broken English mixed with Italian gestures. No fuss, no front desk drama; he even pointed out the nearest vaporetto stop at San Silvestro, which is like a five-minute stroll if you’re lugging bags from Piazzale Roma. And parking? Well, forget about it—this is Venice, so you’re walking or boating everything, but honestly, that’s part of the charm. The apartment itself is cozy as advertised, with a small kitchenette stocked with basics (I whipped up pasta from the Rialto market, which is just a 10-minute walk over the bridge), and that balcony—oh man, it’s overlooking a quiet courtyard where you can hear distant church bells from Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari chiming in the mornings. It’s not huge, but for a couple or solo traveler, it’s perfect; I spent evenings out there with a glass of prosecco, watching neighbors hang laundry and chatting with pigeons—sort of meditative, you know?

What really sets this spot apart, though, is how it feels like you’re living in Venice rather than just visiting. San Polo’s got that authentic vibe—less crammed with tour groups than San Marco, but still buzzing with life. Mornings, you’d smell fresh bread from the panificio down the calle, and by night, the area quiets down early, especially off-season in fall when the fog rolls in and everything gets that misty, romantic hush. I mean, there was a bit of noise from a nearby osteria on weekends—laughter and clinking glasses filtering up—but it died off by 11 p.m., nothing like the all-night racket near the Grand Canal. The place is rated 8.9 for good reason; it’s clean, with a comfy queen bed that actually lets you sleep (those firm Italian mattresses, right?), and the bathroom’s modern enough—no funky plumbing issues like I’ve had in other Venetian rentals. A minor gripe? The stairs up to the second floor are steep and there’s no elevator, so pack light if mobility’s an issue. But hey, it forces you to slow down, which is kind of the point of R&R here. I wandered to Campo San Polo for gelato—try the pistachio at the corner spot—and it felt like my backyard.

All in all, if you’re after a four-star stay that doesn’t scream “tourist,” this apartment’s your ticket to the real Venice. It’s not flawless—summers can get humid without AC blasting constantly—but for the price and that balcony escape, it’s worth it. I’d go back in a heartbeat, especially in shoulder season when the crowds thin out and you can actually hear the water lapping against the foundations. Trust me, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked a secret slice of La Serenissima.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $423. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 1 – 4 guests

Reviews

• Antigoni from Greece – 30 November 2023 (9/10)

  Great location, very comfortable and clean
  
  What could be improved: Internet wasn’t working well, but the owner was on his way to check

• Vilma from Guatemala – 1 January 2025 (9/10)

  Pietro was such a nice host.
  He explain perfectly well all in the apartment, were to buy groceries. In the apartment was perfectly clean and everything was in other! Love it!

• Andrea from Australia – 6 September 2024 (9/10)

  Great location, minutes from the Rialto Bridge! The apartment is beautifully renovated. Lots of restaurants around & everything is within walking distance.
  
  Balcony was beautiful!
  
  What could be improved: The key to enter building is tricky.
  Only 1 card was provided to enter the apartment, which posed a problem one night when we forgot the card inside & couldn't get in. The lovely Beatrice was very helpful & met us after her work hours to help us out. More coffee pods would be nice for the price we paid.

• Kim from South Korea – 9 April 2024 (9/10)

  It was really clean and comfortable space and staff also nice
  
  What could be improved: The bathroom is too sleepy if you prepare rubber mat that is good for guest.

• James from United Kingdom – 3 April 2024 (9/10)

  Beds were very comfortable
  Views of square were great
  Heating was great
  
  What could be improved: Some other glasses would have been helpful. Also, some milk on arrival too

• Amedeo from Canada – 29 March 2024 (9/10)

  Very clean and great location.
  
  What could be improved: Missing wine bottle opener

• Felix from Puerto Rico – 10 October 2023 (9/10)

  The cleaning, the location, the customer service
  
  What could be improved: Everything good

• Ausra from Lithuania – 26 September 2023 (9/10)

  Perfect location, nice view, clean and modern, very good sound isolation, small cozy terrace, helpful hostess.
  
  What could be improved: Coffee capsules were just for one morning …

• Seah from Belgium – 16 November 2023 (3/10)

  Location, clean.
  
  What could be improved: 1. WiFi not working. Confirmed by their own personnel, who came to check
  2. Heating not on, we froze 😰the first night. The scanned instructions not clear.
  3. Our contact person (Umberto) – only responded to one of many calls for help 😨
  4. No sheets, pillow, cover for sofa bed – despite requesting clearly, at time of reservation. Only delivered 2 nd day.

• Wendy from United States – 5 August 2024 (4/10)

  The actual apartment was great, very clean and great design. loved the small balcony to sit out at night and the location.
  
  What could be improved: when we arrived the agent could not open the outer building door with the keys and asked my husband to help. it took at least 10 mins to get it open. we were told that there had been a problem with the lock that morning but there was nothing they could do and that we should just leave it unlocked/open. This would have meant that anyone could walk in from the street causing a safety issue for my family and other building residents. Also, when other people staying there went out they would lock it. We were worried to go out at night in case we couldn't get back in and I was also worried about staying in the apartment myself with my kids when my husband went out for a meeting. This really spoiled our stay in what was an otherwise great apartment. as the issue was known in the morning before we arrived a new lock could have been fitted or keys replaced.
  I had emailed the company before posting a review but have had no response.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities