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My Review

I stayed at 12 Venice hotels over 16 nights to find the best places to stay in Venice, and I have to say that Carnival Palace in Cannaregio is in my top few. This incredibly stylish hotel was designed in ode to the annual Venice Carnival, and you can see that in its details and furnishings; the wallpaper, the plush velvet furniture, the color-changing party light above the bathtub.

From the first moment my mom and I walked in the door, we were made to feel welcome and like valued guests. We were greeted with big smiles, the porter brought our bags up to the room, and when we entered the room, there was a bubbly bottle of prosecco waiting for us on the desk.

Watch My YouTube Video Review of My Stay at Carnival Palace:

Watch my video for more of my thoughts on the hotel, or keep scrolling for my written review.

And the room. I LOVED my Suite with Canal View. Upon entering, the bathroom was immediately to the right of the hallway. Then, at the end of the hallway was a gorgeous sitting room with not one, but two black chaise loungers. Further into the suite was the bedroom, which had sliding doors to close it off from the sitting room, and a four-poster bed that was oh-so comfortable.

The room was nice and bright, and at the front of the suite, by the bed, were two large windows with the most picturesque view of the Cannaregio Canal. I sat here and watched the sunset, and I think it’s one of the prettiest spots in Venice. Then, in the sitting room was another large window looking out into a quiet alley. The best of both worlds.

Speaking of the neighborhood, I stayed in every neighborhood in Venice, and Cannaregio is my #1 favorite. Nowhere in Venice is totally devoid of tourists, but this neighborhood truly felt more local than the rest. Think mom and pop shops, locally-priced restaurants, and a much slower pace of life than the rest of Venice. Plus, I loved exploring Ghetto Ebraico, which wasn’t far from the hotel.

And I haven’t even dished about the food, yet. The breakfast was a standard buffet-style breakfast, with à la carte coffee options. The selection was wonderful with fruits, pastries, meats, hot options, yogurts, and cereals. There was a lot of seating, too, so despite it being a busy morning, we didn’t have to wait for a spot.

Then there was The Mask American Bar, the on-site bar. When I went down for a drink, I was the only patron in the place, but that didn’t make for a boring time. I had a great conversation with the bartender, who was focused on making my Negroni exactly the way I wanted it. Multiple gin options and kinds of Campari had me a little overwhelmed in making the right choice, but she was a fantastic mixologist.

Overall, I think this hotel would be a fantastic place for a couple or group of friends who want a wonderfully designed space that excels in all the ways that matter.

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Pros & Cons

About the Location

Carnival Palace is located in the Venetian district of Cannaregio. This neighborhood doesn’t have many of the main sites, but I think it’s a fantastic place to stay, regardless. It’s away from the tourist hustle and bustle, so you get more local prices, mom and pop shops, and a more “authentic” Venice experience.

But that’s not to say it’s miles away from the sites. It’s about a half hour walk from Carnival Palace to Piazza San Marco, or you can just take the vaporetto (water bus). The Tre Archi vaporetto stop is a stone’s throw from the hotel, so getting around from here is a breeze. 

Speaking of sites in the area, I really enjoyed exploring Ghetto Ebraico, the old Jewish Ghetto. The museum here will teach you about Jewish people in Venice through the centuries.