Sartor Apartment with Canal View and Private Court

Hotel Description

I remember stepping off the vaporetto at Ca’ d’Oro – you know, that gorgeous Gothic palace stop along the Grand Canal – and weaving my way through the narrow calles of Cannaregio to find the Sartor Apartment. It’s tucked away at Cannaregio 2396, right in that quieter, more residential part of Venice where locals actually outnumber the tourists, at least outside of peak summer. Honestly, after lugging my suitcase over a couple of those little arched bridges, I was relieved to spot the private court entrance – it’s like your own hidden oasis, with these weathered stone walls and a splash of greenery that cuts out the usual canal-side bustle. No cars in Venice, obviously, so parking’s a non-issue, but if you’re coming from Santa Lucia station, it’s a solid 15-minute walk, or you can hop a water taxi if you’re feeling fancy (and have the euros to spare). Check-in was a breeze; the host met me right on time, handed over the keys with a quick rundown in broken English – well, more like enthusiastic Italian with gestures – and left me to settle in. The place smells faintly of old wood and that briny canal air, but in a charming way, not overpowering.

What really sold me on Sartor was that canal view from the windows – I mean, you’re literally overlooking a side rio, with gondolas gliding by now and then, and in the evenings, the water laps gently against the walls, creating this soothing soundtrack that drowns out any distant chatter from Strada Nova nearby. The apartment itself is spacious for Venice standards, with high ceilings and these creaky wooden floors that add to the authentic vibe (though watch your step if you’re a light sleeper; they do groan a bit). It’s got a full kitchen – perfect for whipping up pasta from the market at Rialto, which is just a 10-minute stroll away – and the private court means you can sip your morning espresso outside without feeling like you’re on display. I appreciated the little touches, like fresh linens and a surprisingly powerful shower (hot water on demand, thank goodness, after those humid August days). Noise-wise, it’s pretty peaceful here compared to the San Marco crowds; you might hear church bells from the Madonna dell’Orto nearby – Tintoretto’s church, if you’re into art history – but it’s more atmospheric than annoying. One minor gripe: no elevator, so those stairs could be a haul with heavy bags, especially if you’re not used to Venice’s up-and-down layout. But hey, it keeps things intimate, and the 4-star rating feels spot-on with the clean, comfy setup and that unbeatable 9.7 guest score.

All in all, if you’re after a slice of real Venetian life without the overpriced hotel sheen, Sartor is a gem – sort of like staying in a friend’s historic flat, but with privacy and views that make you linger. I’ve been to Venice a few times, and this spot in Cannaregio beats the tourist traps hands down; it’s close enough to the action – think easy walks to the Jewish Ghetto for those killer cicchetti bars or a quick vaporetto to the islands – but far from the madding crowds. Come in shoulder season, like April or October, when the canals aren’t sweltering and the court’s even more of a retreat. You’d be hard-pressed to find better value for a romantic getaway or a solo recharge; I left feeling like I’d uncovered a secret, and isn’t that what travel’s all about?

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $801. Three-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Kelly from Australia – 21 December 2022 (10/10)

  Very spacious. Great location

• Emma from Netherlands – 2 January 2024 (8/10)

  Excellent location, very clean and large apartment – plenty of room for six adults and a baby. The apartment is beautiful with top kitchen appliances and furnishings. The property managers were super responsive – when we told them the toaster didn’t work they replaced it straight away with a new toaster, and when the heating was malfunctioning they sent a technician straight away.
  
  What could be improved: We were very surprised that we were asked to pay an extra 30 euros to use a high chair(!). We’ve never been asked this before anywhere in Italy and we’ve lived here 2.5 years. For the amount we paid (over 3000 euros) we expected this to be included – the cot too. We were also told by the property managers the best way to get to the property from the station was vaporetto or water taxi – however it’s actually quicker to walk and much cheaper (free as opposed to 60 euros for six people!).

• Gonzalez from Spain – 5 May 2024 (10/10)

  Ha superado nuestras expectativas. Es un apartamento espectacular. Muy bonito y cómodo. Es enorme, incluso mucho mas grande de lo que se percibe en las fotos. La ubicacion también es excelente, se encuentra en una zona tranquila muy bonita y de moda a solo 15min andando del puente Rialto, etc.. A 2 minutos andando hay numerosos restaurantes, 2 supermercados etc. La cocina está muy bien equipada con muchísimo menaje, y en los baños también nos facilitaron pequeños amenities con jabón etc. similar a un hotel. El personal que nos recibió también fue muy amable y nos ayudó en todo lo que necesitamos, nos facilitaron 2 cunas para 2 bebés previamente (tienen un cargo adicional), y allí nos recomendaron restaurantes etc., e hicieron nuestra estancia muy agradable.
  
  What could be improved: Echamos de menos un microondas en la cocina pero no fue imprescindible.

• Isabelle from France – 17 October 2023 (9/10)

  emplacement extraordinaire,

• David from United Kingdom – 25 October 2024 (10/10)

• Andrea from Austria – 12 November 2024 (9/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities