Santa Croce Design Apartment R&R

Hotel Description

You know, when I first stumbled upon the Santa Croce Design Apartment R&R – tucked away at 515 Calle del Volto in Venice’s Santa Croce neighborhood – I was honestly relieved to escape the throngs around San Marco. I’d just hopped off the vaporetto at Ferrovia (that’s the Santa Lucia train station stop, for those not in the know), and it was a quick 10-minute wander through those winding, dimly lit calles that feel like stepping back centuries. No cars honking or tour groups blocking the way here – Santa Croce is more of a local haunt, with folks chatting in Venetian dialect outside tiny bacari bars. The building itself is one of those classic Venetian palazzos, all weathered brick and arched doorways, but step inside and it’s like – whoa – a total design overhaul. Think sleek Scandinavian vibes with exposed beams, plush velvet sofas, and those funky pendant lights that make you want to snap a photo for your Instagram (guilty as charged). I arrived in the late afternoon during shoulder season, October, when the air has that crisp, salty tang from the canals, and check-in was a breeze – the host met me right at the door with a spare key and a quick rundown on the Wi-Fi, no fuss or long lines like at those big hotels near Rialto.

What really sold me, though, was how it felt like a proper home base amid all the Venice chaos. The apartment’s got this open-plan layout – kitchenette with a Nespresso machine (lifesaver for morning caffeine fixes), a comfy king bed that actually lets you sleep through the night without creaking like some old creaky Venetian floors do, and a bathroom with rain shower that steams up the mirrors in the best way. I mean, it’s not massive, so if you’re traveling with kids or a big group, you might feel a bit squeezed – we had to Tetris our luggage under the bed – but for a couple or solo trip, it’s spot on. Noise-wise, it’s surprisingly quiet for Venice; Calle del Volto is off the beaten path, so you hear more distant church bells or the occasional splash of a gondola than blaring boat horns. We cooked a simple pasta dinner one night using stuff from the nearby Coop supermarket on Rio Terà San Leonardo – super handy, and way cheaper than eating out every meal. Oh, and the views from the window overlook a little courtyard with potted geraniums, which beats staring at a brick wall. Honestly, it’s the kind of place where you can unwind after a day dodging pigeons in Piazza San Marco; I even caught a quiet sunset glow filtering in, turning the whole space golden.

Look, if you’re after that authentic Venice experience without the tourist trap vibes, this spot in Santa Croce is a gem – especially if you time it for quieter months like fall or early spring, when the crowds thin out and you can actually hear yourself think. It’s not perfect; the stairs up to the apartment are narrow and steep (pack light!), and there’s no elevator, but that’s Venice for you. Still, with its 4-star polish and that 9-out-of-10 rating vibe, it left me feeling like I’d scored a secret insider’s pad. I’d go back in a heartbeat – maybe next time with friends, to split a bottle of Prosecco on that tiny balcony. If you’re planning a trip, snag it quick; places like this book up fast once word gets around.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $236. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 1 – 3 guests

Reviews

• Qian from China – 7 March 2025 (10/10)

  Everything is perfect except for the price, but it worths
  
  What could be improved: The “reception”, I have scheduled with the receptionist 3:40 pm, but finally she arrived around 4:20 pm, therefore I missed one activity on 5:00 pm, she explained one guest who scheduled with her 3:00 pm delayed, maybe it is not her fault, but it is not my fault. The messages with the host in booking is slow…

• Dzenana from United States – 19 February 2025 (10/10)

  Great location! Close to train & bus station and grocery store. The apartment was nicely furnished, clean and equipped with everything needed for a short stay (5 nights). This was my second time to stay there. I will be definitely back!
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Turki from Saudi Arabia – 2 October 2024 (8/10)

  New, very clean, big
  
  What could be improved: No reception, took 20 mins waiting outside to just check in.

• Shun-yu from Taiwan – 28 July 2024 (10/10)

  Location and spatial.
  
  What could be improved: Elevator is quite complicated.

• Nina from United States – 12 June 2024 (8/10)

  The apartment was very efficient and included all needed for the stay, including a washer and laundry soap. The apartment is large. The air conditioning worked well. It was exactly as pictured and presented. Location was good as it was close to the train station for dragging luggage (however it is in the neighborhood of the bus transit center, so not very scenic). Communication initially was very good. Once our host arrived, she was thorough walking us through all the keys (the apartment is behind several locked doors and on a secured floor via the elevator) and the apartment.
  
  What could be improved: The ONLY item of complaint was problems with the meet up to give us access to the apartment. Our host was late to meet us and did not respond to our attempts to communicate (both calls and Whatsapp texting until finally answering my 2nd call). We were waiting, along with several other parties, for access to our apartments. The host did finally arrive and explained that many guests arrived at the same time for various apartments. I understand that, but then communicate that. Communication via Whatsapp and Booking.com Messages was great until the day of arrival and then it stopped. That made us uncomfortable.

• Ivana from Croatia – 5 June 2024 (10/10)

  Property was amazing! Location is perfect – we came with a car and right across is big parking garage, also there is a bus boat station 1 min walk from the apartment and the city centre is close. Building is safe and apartmant was fully equipped – there is a washing machine, dishwasher, toster, coffee machine, iron… Everything was very clean and fresh, beds were comfy. I really recommend this property!

• Helen from United Kingdom – 23 December 2023 (10/10)

  It was my first time in Venice and I was travelling with a toddler. The location and security of the apartment was perfect for us. There was good communication from the host and also gave us helpful information.
  
  What could be improved: The only area of improvement would be to label the bunch of keys. It was a not a problem figuring out the keys though.

• Daren from United Kingdom – 12 December 2023 (10/10)

  The apartment is very modern with everything you'd expect to be included within a quality apartment. The location is perfect for access to Venice and convenience for arrival and departing the city (being adjacent to the main bus and train terminals). It had excellent heating, which was very welcome given how cold it is in Venice in December. Belinda met us to handover the keys and provided us with lots of information about the apartment and recommendations for a few restaurants in the city. She was really friendly and provided excellent support on our arrival. It's also very quiet at night time, but feels very safe.
  
  What could be improved: Within the apartment, nothing we didn't like. The building itself seems somewhat rundown from the outside, and there are lots of locked gates etc to access the building, but the apartment itself is very new and modern. Don't be put off by general appearance of the building.

• Petrit from Albania – 3 December 2023 (10/10)

  The location was close to the bus station and the train station. You can cook all meals if you want in the apartment using a well-equipped kitchen. You have to walk 30 min to go to Piazza San Marco, through alleys with shops and restaurants.

• Pres from United Kingdom – 6 November 2023 (9/10)

  Very well located, super clean, exceptionally comfortable beds, furnished kitchen and excellent smart tv and internet facilities. It was a wonderful stay.
  
  What could be improved: Very little! It was a fantastic place to stay, but if I’m being super picky, a few homely condiments for cooking might be nice. Milk, spices, olive oil!

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities