Venice – Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace review: is it worth it?

Looking for the best hotel in Venice that’s central, quiet, and full of charm? I’ve been there—scrolling through endless options, trying to avoid the tourist traps.

My boyfriend and I stayed at Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace during Carnival 2025, hoping for a romantic weekend that didn’t involve fighting crowds or spending hours on vaporettos. It was amazing! It turned out to be the perfect mix of comfort, atmosphere, and location.

Here’s what our stay was like—and all the pros and cons of staying there—so you can decide if it’s the right spot for you too! ☺️

My experience at Nani Mocenigo Palace 

We last went to Venice right in the middle of Carnival 2025, and I knew we’d need a peaceful base to escape the peak season crowds. I was hoping to find a hotel that felt romantic and relaxing, somewhere we could enjoy the city without constantly navigating chaos.

Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace turned out to be the perfect choice.

From the moment we checked in, everything felt smooth and easy. The location made it simple to get around without relying too much on public transport, which is a huge plus during high season. You really don’t want to waste precious time queuing for the vaporetto, we only had to use it to reach Murano and Burano. Everywhere else, we walked. St. Mark’s Square for example was just a 20-minute walk away.

The vibe at the hotel was super calm, which honestly surprised me given the time of year. Evenings were quiet, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and it felt like a real escape from the busy streets around the most touristy spots.

The staff was amazing, always kind and helpful, and the breakfast was one of the best we’ve had in Venice—more on that later!

After a few so-so hotel stays in Venice over the years, this one finally got everything right for me and I couldn’t recommend it more!

Let’s jump into the details of our stay and all the pros and cons so you can decide if it could be a great option for you too.

Pros 

Great location 

Dorsoduro is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Venice. It’s more local, less touristy, but still super central.

You can basically walk everywhere. For example, St. Mark’s Square is just a 20-minute walk, which means you’re close enough to explore but far enough to escape the chaos. During peak season, that absolutely matters because crowds in Venice can be very intense.

If you do need public transport though, there are two vaporetto stops just a couple of minutes away, which is especially helpful if you’re coming from the station with luggage.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection is about 450 meters from the hotel and Ponte dell’Accademia is also 2 minutes walking distance, perfect if you want to catch the sunrise at my favorite spot in Venice without setting your alarm terribly early.

And if you’re arriving by water taxi, you can be dropped off right at the entrance—it’s on a canal!

So overall, Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace felt central but calm, which is exactly what I look for when I travel. You’ll be near all the main sights, but at the end of the day, you can come back to a quiet, relaxing space.

Historic palace 

This isn’t just any hotel, it’s a real 15th-century Venetian palace! 

It was once the residence of Elena Barbarigo, daughter of Doge Agostino Barbarigo, so yes, you’re literally spending the night where Venetian nobility once lived.

The building has been beautifully restored over the years, including work by the famous architect Sansovino, and it still features original frescoes and ornate stucco work that make the place feel like a small museum. In fact, it actually was a museum before becoming a hotel.

The classic Venetian decor in the rooms, the elegant common spaces, and the lovely little internal garden all add to the charm. If you love places with history and atmosphere, this one’s hard to beat. I absolutely loved it!

Staff 

The staff was incredibly kind and helpful throughout our stay. Since we’re both vegan, we had a few special requests—and they handled everything with a smile, no fuss at all.

I also bought a couple of illustrations during our trip and didn’t want to crush them in my suitcase. They kindly kept them safe for me after checkout, which I really appreciated. It’s the little things like that that make you feel genuinely taken care of.

Quiet, comfortable rooms 

Our room was super comfortable and had everything we needed for a short stay. The bed was cozy, the bathroom was spacious, and we had all the usual amenities.

What really stood out, though, was how quiet it was at night—even during Carnival. We both slept really well, which isn’t always a given in Venice.

Great breakfast 

The breakfast was amazing. We’re both vegan, and the staff went out of their way to prepare something special just for us—way more than we expected! 

They made fresh croissants, cooked up some veggies, and gave us both sweet and savory options. It was almost too much food for two people, but my boyfriend Luca absolutely did not complain! 

Breakfast in Italy is not always easy if you have food intolerances or other dietary requirements, so we were blown away by the options here!

The regular buffet looked fantastic too, with plenty of variety and everything beautifully presented.

There’s also a fine dining restaurant inside the hotel called La Bauta. We didn’t eat there during our stay apart from breakfast, but I’ve heard great things if you’re looking for a special dinner!

Cons 

No Grand Canal views

If you’re set on having a view over the Grand Canal, this isn’t the hotel for that. Even though it’s a beautiful historic palace and sits along a smaller canal, the views aren’t the dramatic views of the Grand Canal or Rialto Bridge many travelers picture when they think of Venice. 

On the flip side, the location is super peaceful, which was a big win for us—so it really depends on what you value more.

Smaller rooms in the lower price range

If you book one of the cheaper rooms, just know they can be a bit tight. Our room was lovely and had everything we needed, but space was limited. For a night or two, it was totally fine—but if you’re staying longer or plan to spend a lot of time in the room, I’d suggest upgrading to one of the larger ones.

FAQs 

So, should you stay at Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace? 

It depends on what you’re looking for—but if you’re anything like me and want a romantic stay in a historic palace, with a great location, kind staff, and a price that feels fair for Venice, I think you’ll absolutely love Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace! 

It’s the perfect place to spend one or two days in Venice.

If having a Grand Canal view from your window is a dealbreaker, then this probably isn’t the right fit. But for everything else? It’s the perfect hotel in Venice. 

More tips to help you plan your trip to Venice

Now you know all about my favorite hotel in Venice! If you’re still on the fence about how long to stay, whether Venice deserves a spot on your itinerary, or what to do, I think these posts could help:

• Is Venice worth visiting?
• How many days in Venice do you really need?
• One day in Venice (perfect itinerary for first timers)