Hotel Moresco

Hotel Moresco is a four-star boutique hotel in Dorsoduro, on Fondamenta del Passamonte beside the Rio Novo canal. It sits in a residential part of the sestiere close to Piazzale Roma and the station, which makes it one of the most convenient upmarket hotels for arriving and departing, while still being within walking distance of the main sights.

The rooms are decorated in a classic Venetian style, and some of the Classic rooms look over the Rio Novo canal. The hotel's pride is its garden, a quiet outdoor space that is a rare luxury in Venice and especially pleasant for breakfast in summer. Breakfast is a buffet with pastries, fresh breads, cured meats, cheeses and Italian coffee.

In the early evening, the hotel's lounge bar serves cocktails, wines and cicchetti, the small Venetian snacks, typically from 18:30 to 20:00, which makes a relaxed way to start the evening before heading out to dinner. Staff can recommend restaurants in the surrounding neighbourhood, which has a good choice of trattorie and bacari frequented by students and locals.

Moresco suits couples and travellers who want a comfortable, characterful base with good transport links and a quieter atmosphere than the San Marco area. Families with older children will also find it practical. Campo Santa Margherita, one of the liveliest squares in Venice in the evening, is a short walk away, as are the Frari, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and Ca' Rezzonico. St Mark's Square is about 25 minutes on foot or a short vaporetto ride.

Its position close to Piazzale Roma is a real advantage for anyone arriving by car, bus or airport shuttle, as it involves far fewer bridges with luggage than hotels in the centre. From the railway station it is a walk of around ten to fifteen minutes. The nearest vaporetto stops are Piazzale Roma and San Tomà. Contact the hotel for directions and to check availability, particularly in spring, autumn and during Carnival.

Because the hotel is on the edge of the centre, rates are often better value than comparable four-star hotels near St Mark's, and the neighbourhood restaurants nearby are generally less expensive too. Ask about canal-view rooms when booking, and allow time to enjoy the garden, which is the hotel's most distinctive feature.