Palazzetto Pisani Grand Canal

I would recommend that anyone staying here has travel insurance in place - we had to cancel our trip due to a death in the family and the hotel were unwilling to reschedule for us (they are not legally obliged to, but most hotels will have a compassionate approach in place). While I appreciate that rooms may be hard to fill during low season, the hotel had also emailed us in advance to tell us that sections of the hotel would be unavailable to us during our stay as they were hosting a large party, so we presume they were not too quiet at this time. I should say that individual staff members at reception were kind and told us that they considered offering us a voucher but that hotel management decided against it.

We stayed two nights and had a positive experience. We arrived by water taxi from the airport which pulled right up to a door at reception so no dragging or bags over Venice bridges!!! Staff helped us schedule a departure taxi and even adjusted to boat/car alternative when weather didn’t allow boats outside of the canals on departure day. The hotel is two buildings, the main building with reception and restaurants is a quirky gem, like being in palace. We were in the next door building which is less ornate. We had two rooms which were comfortable. We did not have water views from our rooms but common areas offered Grand Canal views. Keep in mind there are LOTS of stairs and no elevator. Staff did help with our bags but it still was 3.5 flights up steep stairs to our attic room. Breakfast was €18 and was a fairly standard European spread. The real benefit was location. Located on a quiet street which ends at the hotel but is 1 minute away from many restaurants and shops. The price was significant, service was very good and staff was helpful but keep in mind this is somewhat of a “rustic” luxury experience.

Staying at this hotel was truly a unique experience. The building is very old and beautifully decorated, making you feel like you’ve stepped back into the medieval times, with all the charm and atmosphere of history surrounding you. The interiors are full of character, with antique details that create an unforgettable ambiance. Despite its historic style, everything was perfectly maintained, comfortable, and clean. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the service was excellent. From the atmosphere to the comfort, it’s easily one of the most memorable hotels I’ve ever stayed in, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

The property is very old, it feels like an ancient, unkempt building in active decay. For example, the stone steps leading to the rooms are cracked or have chunks missing, poorly concealed by a loose carpet. The furniture throughout the hotel is dusty, dirty, and visibly damaged by humidity and sun exposure. Even a display case in the lobby filled with trinkets is coated in layers of dust.||The moment we walked into our room, we knew we were in for a bad experience. The carpet was visibly dirty, so much so that I walked around in my shoes. There was an unpleasant odor, and the furniture was old, dirty, stained and in poor condition. The bedsheets were covered in what looked like stucco that had fallen from the ceiling, the paint on the walls was peeling, and the pillows somehow managed to be both thin and hard as rocks.||The room was uncomfortably warm. When we asked for assistance, a hotel employee dismissively asked why we wanted the air conditioning on and walked away. There are clear electrical and wiring problems throughout the property: flipping a switch might turn on some lights, turn off others, or do nothing at all. Every switch had a mind of its own, and its behavior changed unpredictably every time.||These electrical issues created disruptive noise loud enough to keep even a deep sleeper awake. There was an electrical panel near the room's door that emitted a loud, constant buzzing noise all night, sounding like it could explode at any moment. A mini-fridge, oddly placed in the middle of the room, would cycle on and off randomly, making loud, wheezing noises each time.||The overall cleanliness of the room and bathroom made our stay very uncomfortable. A chandelier above the bed was not only dusty, but also had spiderwebs. The sheets were stiff and had chunks of debris on them, large enough to brush off by hand, and the cushions had mysterious stains. The bathroom floor was dirty, and the walls looked like a half-finished paint job that had been abandoned. The showerhead was rusty and frequently clogged. We found ourselves dreading the thought of returning each night to such a grim and uncomfortable space.||Both the area around the hotel and the property itself are undergoing construction and renovations that are nowhere near done. To reach the entrance, you have to walk through a very long, dank, and dark passageway that feels unsafe even during the day due to its obscurity and desolation. Inside, the renovations seem far from complete. The smell of paint is overpowering, and each time we walked to our room, we were met with dirty looks from the workers, adding to the discomfort of the stay.

Wonderful stay in this hotel. Everything was great ! The location is perfect, within walking distance of all major points of interest, as well as close to 2 vaporetto stations. If you come from or go to the airport, you can use the Alilaguna boat shuttle at the airport that will drop you at the Giglio Vaporetto stop, a 10 minutes walk to the hotel. |The staff has been extremely friendly and very helpful, with somebody at reception desk 24/7. The breakfast buffet offers a wide choice of very nice food. And finally the rooms are very nice each with its own character, and some with a nice view (see picture). |Would definitely go back again !

The hotel was really lovely! Really well located next to the Academia bridge which gets you access to most places quite easily, everywhere is quite walkable from the hotel. We walked from the hotel to the stop to take a boat to Burano, and the walk was not too bad at all. Interior design is quite royal/baroque, and breakfast was quite nice. I’d warn though that the rooms are accessible by quite a number of stairs, so just be aware if you’re disabled or require support! Overall a great stay for our first time in Venice!

We’ve stayed 2 nights in the prestige room, the room is amazing, the breakfast was very good. However, We came to celebrate my husband 40th birthday… and just do not expect anything from the hotel for a special event as it won’t be there.. we went to several hotel to celebrate birthday and it was the first time that nothing was make for that (not event a card…). Otherwise our stay has been very nice

Update after owner response: The owner’s public reply says far more about this property than my original review ever could. Rather than addressing a clear, practical issue—misleading directions that caused us to waste time and energy—the response resorted to sarcasm and mockery, including jokes about guests’ underwear. To be very clear: no one asked the hotel to manage luggage. The feedback was about incomplete information on the website, something especially relevant in Venice and entirely reasonable for a hotel to clarify. Responding by deflecting and ridiculing a guest instead of correcting or acknowledging the issue reflects a lack of professionalism and basic hospitality. Citing that the website “has been the same for 15 years” is not a defense; it explains the problem. If anything, it reinforces the impression that guest experience and feedback are not a priority. This response ultimately confirms my original concerns about the attitude behind the operation. Future guests should factor this into their decision, especially if they value clear communication, accountability, and respectful treatment. ———————————————————————— Stayed from December 17–19, 2025 (originally planned, but checked out early on the evening of the 18th). First, a practical warning: the hotel website provides incomplete and misleading directions. It instructs guests to cross the Accademia Bridge but does not mention that carrying large suitcases across it is extremely difficult. We wasted significant time and energy because of this. Google Maps provides a more practical route and should be relied on instead. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the S. Samuele station. The staff appeared friendly, but unfortunately the room was very poor value for money. We stayed in the Deluxe Room Abuella; I can’t comment on other room types. The bathroom was extremely small—so small that I could not stand and stretch my arms. It had zero ventilation and felt like an afterthought rather than a proper, separate bathroom. The shower was a transparent cubicle with curtains on only one side, offering very little privacy. The bed and pillows were average at best, and this was the only hotel we stayed at in Italy that did not even offer a small complimentary bottle of water at check-in. Its not about the water itself, but a reflection on what the owners are trying to get out the business. Sound insulation was very poor. We could clearly hear every footstep from the floor above throughout the night, which led to terrible sleep. The experience was uncomfortable enough that we decided to check out a day early and leave Venice just to get a proper night’s rest. Overall, despite friendly staff, the room quality, noise issues, and misleading directions made this a disappointing stay.