Al Ponte Antico Hotel in Venice

SD › Italy › Venice › Hotels › Al Ponte Antico Review
Updated: May 4, 2022
By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: Calle dell’Aseo, close to Ponte di Rialto.
• Hotel website: alponteantico.com
• Hotel phone: +39 041 241 1944
• Check prices for Al Ponte Antico

Al Ponte Antico – Sixteenth-century palace overlooking Venice’s Rialto Bridge.

This intimate, family-run boutique hotel with views of Rialto Bridge features just nine rooms and suites. The décor in the individually-decorated rooms is flamboyant Louis XV-style, with striking wallpaper, beds with ornate headboards, heavy drapes, and plenty of velvet and brocade. Guests get a warm welcome from the owner and his tight-knit team and a highly personalized service is de rigueur; expect plenty of local recommendations based on your interests. While there’s no on-site dining besides an ample breakfast spread, the restaurants of Cannaregio, San Polo, and San Marco are just a short walk away, and you can nurse an aperitif on the hotel terrace while watching boat traffic along the Grand Canal.

See Also

• Best Hotels in Venice
• Best Hotels for Families in Venice
• Best Boutique Hotels in Venice
• Best Budget Hotels in Venice
• Where to Stay in Venice

Al Ponte Antico – Location

• Address: Calle dell’Aseo, Cannaregio, 5768.
• Nearest Vaporetto Stop: The Rialto vaporetto stop is a 3-minute walk (0.1 mile) away. It’s served by vaporetti #1 and #82, which connect this northern part of San Marco to Cannaregio, Santa Croce (#1 only), Dorsoduro, and Castello, as well as Lido Venezia and Venice’s railway station. It’s also on the direct Linea Arancio (Orange Line) of the Alilaguna Airport Shuttle route.
• Area: Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in Cannaregio, just off the Via 2 Aprile shopping street and overlooking the famous Rialto Bridge. The central location means that it’s hard to get away from crowds that throng the bridge and the nearby streets, and there is some noise from the river traffic during the day, but on the other hand, if you’ve dreamt of waking up to see the bridge from your balcony, then it’s possible to overlook the rest. Just south of the hotel, San Marco is packed with restaurants and cicheti bars (there are some good ones nearby), and decent bars and restaurants with a more local feel can be found in Cannaregio within 5 minutes’ walk. Venice’s main sights are within a 10-minute walk from the hotel and there are good vaporetto connections nearby.
• How to Get There: From Venice’s main Marco Polo Airport, take the Orange Line of the Alilaguna Airport Shuttle directly to the Rialto vaporetto stop (€15, around 1 hour). From here, it’s a 3-minute walk (0.1 mile) to the hotel. If coming from the Santa Lucia train station, take vaporetto #1 or #82 directly to the Rialto vaporetto stop.
• Handy to: Rialto Bridge, Rialto Market, Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

Al Ponte Antico – The Basics

• Ages: The hotel is frequented mostly by adults on a romantic vacation, though families with older children can be accommodated in the 2 Junior Suites.
• View: Rooms overlook either the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge or one of Cannaregio’s canals.
• Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
• Laundry: Laundry service available (additional charge).
• Extras: The hotel is distinguished by its wonderful, personalized service, from the dedicated 24-hour concierge to the treasure trove of info on the city from the Peruch family that owns this hotel. It also has a private jetty.
• Phone: +39 041 241 1944
• When to Book: Book 6 months to a year in advance for the high season (Carnival in February, April-June, Sept-Oct) and a couple of months in advance for the March and July-August shoulder seasons.
• How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
• Email: info@alponteantico.com
• Website: alponteantico.com

Al Ponte Antico – Amenities

• Pool: No pool.
• Spa: No spa.
• Fitness Center: No gym.
• For Disabled Guests: There are 3 rooms on the ground floor suitable for guests with reduced mobility, but the bar and breakfast room are up a flight of steps.
• For Families: No specific facilities for families. Junior Suites can accommodate families of up to 4.

Al Ponte Antico – Food and Drink

• Restaurant: No on-site restaurant but there are numerous dining options a 5 to 10-minute walk away.
• Bar: There’s a beautiful frescoed bar with velvet-upholstered booths on the 1st floor, open 24 hours. The terrace overlooking the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge is a fantastic place for an aperitif.
• Breakfast: A generous breakfast spread is included in the price, with egg dishes cooked to your specifications. Served in the bar area and on the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal between 8-10 am.
• Room Service: Guests may choose to have breakfast served in their rooms.

Al Ponte Antico – Rooms

• Room Types: Classic Double • Superior Double • Deluxe Double with Canal View • Junior Suite with Canal View • Junior Suite with Patio and Canal View • List of all Rooms
• Smoking Rooms: Al Ponte Antico is 100% smoke-free.
• Best Room: Both Junior Suites overlook the Grand Canal; one of them has its own private terrace, which is hard to beat. If you’re on a smaller budget, opt for the Deluxe Double which also overlooks the Grand Canal.
• For Families: No family rooms per se but the junior suites can accommodate 3-4 people.

Al Ponte Antico – Local Transport

• Walking: Al Ponte Antico has an enviable setting in Cannaregio, overlooking one of Venice’s most famous landmarks. The hotel’s location is ideal for exploring Venice on foot since attractions in Cannaregio, San Marco, San Polo, and Santa Croce are all walkable, and even Castello and Dorsoduro are reachable on foot. Cannaregio’s Ghetto and San Marco’s Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco, and the Doge’s Palace are all within a 10-minute walk, while the Zanipolo cathedral on the Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo is a 5-minute stroll, as is the Rialto Market across Rialto Bridge.
• Vaporetto: While all attractions in Cannaregio and San Marco are easily accessible on foot, to get to San Polo and Santa Croce, you need to cross the Grand Canal. It’s quicker and easier to reach San Marco’s top attractions via vaporetto #1 or #2. It’s possible to reach the sights in Dorsoduro and Castello walking, but again, taking vaporetto #1 or the express #2 is quicker. If you want to head to Murano, take either vaporetto to the Ferrovia stop and switch to vaporetto #4.1 or #4.2 and for Guidecca, take vaporetto #2 via the Ferrovia stop. It’s worth buying a multiday vaporetto Travel Card online if you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing; individual tickets can be purchased at most vaporetti stops. Validate your pass/ticket before embarking.
• Water Taxi: Water taxis aren’t cheap but they are handy if you’re in a rush (since they are considerably faster than vaporetti) or have a lot of luggage, since the hotel has its own private dock. It costs around €90 from the airport to your hotel. Getting around Venice costs €15 base fare, plus €2 per minute, with a €10 surcharge between 10 pm and 6 am. Official water taxis have yellow strips with their respective license numbers and you can find them at the airport, Piazalle Roma, and at Tronchetto; your hotel can also call one.

Al Ponte Antico – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Nearby Tours

• Tours by Locals – Excellent, varied tours with multilingual local guides, ranging from private walking tours of the Piazza San Marco and surrounding attractions to Venice by night tours, early morning walking tours, private food tours, and more. Starting point depends on the tour.
• See Venice – Venetian native Luisella Romeo leads engaging, small-group tours of the city off the beaten path in San Polo, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro, and Castello, along the hidden waterways in less-trodden corners of neighborhoods. She also offers art, music-themed, and private tours of the Doge’s Palace, Piazza San Marco, and the Basilica. Departure points vary.
• Venice Original Photo Walk – Getty photographer Marco Secchi leads early morning and late afternoon small-group tours of the city, teaching you how to get the best snaps of its streets and iconic landmarks. Departure points vary.
• Walks Inside Venice – Small-group and private walking/boat tours of the city, include iconic landmarks such as St Mark’s Square, Rialto Market, and Murano glass-blowing workshops. Departure points vary.
• Monica Cesarato Food Tours – Passionate local blogger Monice takes you on specialized food tours of the city, from cicheti (Venetian tapas bars) to wine tasting, cake, and chocolate tours. Departure points vary.
• Gondola Rides – Gondolas are synonymous with Venice and it’s hard to think of a more quintessential Venetian experience, whether you’re being taken on a scenic spin along the Grand Canal or exploring the narrow waterways that bisect Venice’s sestieri (districts). Gondola rides cost €80 for 40 minutes (€100 for 40 minutes after 7 pm), not including tips or singing. There are numerous gondola posts throughout the city, including one in front of the Piazza San Marco on the Grand Canal. Agree on price and time limit. Cheaper shared gondola rides are available and you can hop across the Grand Canal in a gondola for as little as €2 per person. (0.2 mile).
• SUP in Venice – Small-group stand up paddleboarding (SUP) tours are a fun and active way of exploring Venice’s canals. Inter-island outings are available for advanced paddleboarders. Start location: 0.8 mile.

Best Nearby Restaurants

• Marchini Time – Great for grabbing a snack or light meal on the go, this bakery is open all day and serves everything from filled croissants to mini pizzas and overflowing panini sandwiches. (0.2 mile).
• Osteria All’Arco – Family-run bacaro (wine bar), a stone’s throw from the Rialto Market. It’s locally famous for its elaborate cicheti – such as raw butterfish marinated with mint and olive oil – that are inexpensive and generously plated. Great local wines, too. (0.2 mile).
• Osteria di Santa Marina – Just off the Campo Santa Marina in Castello, this casual restaurant puts a contemporary spin on traditional Venetian dishes. Expect unusual pasta dishes as you dine al fresco. Buzzy, popular with groups. (0.2 mile).
• Osteria Alle Testiere – One of Castello’s best eats, this intimate restaurant serves extravagant seafood feasts during its 2 evening sittings. Book well ahead and come hungry. Romantic ambience. (0.2 mile).
• Trattoria da Bepi Gia “54” – Order the grilled fish or the likes of spaghetti with cuttlefish ink at this traditional, wood-paneled trattoria and wash it down with a glass of local wine. (0.3 mile).
• Osteria da Alberto – Tucked away behind Cannaregio’s Santa Maria dei Miracoli church, this atmospheric tavern is the place to dine on seafood-heavy Venetian dishes and seasonal cicheti. Popular with locals. (0.3 mile).
• Bistrot de Venise – Romance your sweetie in this high-end bistro where Renaissance-era recipes have been revived amidst the rich fabrics and subtle lighting. Specialties include braised duck and goose with pine-nut pasta. Book ahead. (0.3 mile).
• Osteria Boccadoro – One of Cannaregio’s best-kept secrets, this bustling taverna is renowned for its homemade gnocchi and pasta and fantastic crudi (raw seafood). Casual, popular with locals. (0.3 mile).
• Osteria alla Vedova – Seriously old-school (19th-century) taverna specializing in traditional Venetian cuisine and great meatballs. Book ahead for a table or sidle up to the bar and tuck into some superlative cicheti and a glass of wine. (0.3 mile).
• Ai Mercanti – This bistro has a romantic ambience and a short and sweet menu of imaginative fusion dishes such as duck breast with buckwheat and cumquat and teriyaki eel with black cabbage. Great veggie options, too. (0.3 mile).

Best Nearby Cafes, Gelaterias, and Pasticcerias

• Goppion Caffetteria – Tiny café a few minutes’ walk across the Rialto Bridge in San Polo. Spot it by the colorful moka pots in the windows and come here for your morning cappuccino and pastry. (0.2 mile).
• Caffe Brasilia – Tucked away down the narrow Rio Terrà dei Assassini, near Campo Sant’Anzolo, this café serves 3 Venetian coffee blends, fresh pastries, and light bites. (0.4 mile).
• Torrefazione Cannaregio – The only artisan coffee roaster in historic Cannaregio. Come here for a caffeinated pick-me-up enroute to or from The Ghetto. (1 mile).

Best Nearby Bars and Cicheti

• Al Mercà – Tiny, busy hole-in-the-wall bacaro (wine bar) near the Rialto Bridge. Standing-room only; grab a glass of prosecco and cicheti such as mini-panini or meatballs. (0.2 mile).
• Osteria al Portego – Thimble-sized cicheti bar in Castello, with well-priced local wines by the glass, craft beer, and a convivial atmosphere. Grab a table round the back if you’re after a proper seafood meal. (0.2 mile).
• Un Mondo di Vino – Buzzy wine bar with dozens of regional wines by the glass, plus traditional Venetian cicheti such as sarde in saor (sardines in tangy onion marmalade). (0.2 mile).
• Cantina do Mori – Founded in 1462, this is the oldest bacaro (wine bar) in Venice and it certainly looks the part. According to legend, Casanova used to bring his dates here. The bubbly is served in old-fashioned champagne saucers and the giant copper pots add to the atmosphere. (0.2 mile).
• Black Jack – Pick a spot around the grand, horseshoe-shaped bar, and order from the menu of local wines and a range of cicheti. (0.3 mile).
• Enoteca al Volto – Historic, wood-paneled bar and eatery, where you can sample hundreds of wines from the Veneto region as well as some classic cicheti. (0.3 mile).
• Teamo Wine Bar – Café by day and wine bar by night, this intimate place serves excellent local wines by the glass accompanied with cheese and cured meat platters. (0.4 mile).
• La Cantina – A seafood bistro and a wine bar in one, this is a popular spot to perch on one of the wine barrel tables on the square and sip a glass or two of white while sharing a platter of marine goodies. (0.4 mile).
• Osteria alla Ciurma – A short walk across the Rialto Bridge in San Polo, this former storeroom is a buzzy bar packed with regulars who come for the wallet-friendly house wine, imaginative cicheti, and sharing platters of cheese and cold cuts. (0.5 mile).
• Vino Vero – Canal side bacaro (wine bar) with exposed brick walls and several vintages by small regional producers. Grab a few cicheti such as the multi-topping crostini (open-face sandwiches) if you’re hungry. (0.6 mile).

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

• Coin Excelsior – Grand department store where you can find threads by local designers as well as famous international brands. Look out for their legendary sales. (100m).
• Giovanni Zanella – Custom-made shoes by celebrated Venetian designer. Pricey but one of a kind. (0.2 mile).
• Kalimala – Beautiful leather bags, hand-made shoes, belts, gloves, and other top-notch accessories at affordable prices. (0.2 mile).
• Bevilacqua Fabrics – This store specializes in the rich fabrics for which Venice is famous and are still produced on 18th-century looms by master craftsmen, such as silk-velvet brocades. (0.3 mile).
• Al Campanile (Calle Lunga de Santa Maria Formosa, 5184) – Unique and contemporary Murano glass jewelry by celebrated designer Sabina Melinato. (0.4 mile).
• Declare – Contemporary bags, totes, and clutch purses made from Tuscan leather in all types of hues and colors. (0.4 mile).
• Ca’ Macana – Your one-stop shop for traditionally made Carnevale masks, crafted either out of leather or papier-mâché. Includes the hugely popular steampunk range. Several locations across the city, but this Cannaregio shop is the closest. (0.7 mile).
• Fanny – Locally designed, handmade leather gloves in an array of alluring colors and styles. (0.7 mile).
• Leonardo – Right on Cannaregio’s Strada Nuova shopping street, this Murano glass bead workshop is where 2 local brothers create memorable jewelry. (0.7 mile).
• Cárte – Book-themed, original gifts made from marbled paper as well as one-of-a-kind purses, tubular statement necklaces, and other creations by designer Rosanna Corrò in San Polo. (0.7 mile).

Nearby Attractions

• Ponte di Rialto – The 16th-century Rialto Bridge is one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. It spans the narrowest part of the Grand Canal and is covered by elaborate stone reliefs depicting St Mark, St Theodore, and the Annunciation. It’s a favorite with photographers at sunset. (100m).
• Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli – This beautiful Renaissance church was built in the 1480s around its miraculously weeping icon of Virgin Mary. Unlike most churches in Venice, this one was built in a single architectural style by an individual architect. Check out the wooden ceiling panels. (0.3 mile).
• Zanipolo/Basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo – Dominating its namesake square in Castello, this huge 14th-century Dominican church is where 25 of Venice’s doges are seeing out eternity inside their lavish tombs. Look out of the Bellini polyptych on the second altar that survived the fire in 1867. (0.4 mile).
• Piazza San Marco – Venice’s iconic square, flanked by the city’s top attractions: the Basilica di San Marco, Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, and the arcaded Procuratie Vecchie. It’s overlooked by the Campanile, the basilica’s 99m bell tower that you can climb for unparalleled views of the city. (0.4 mile).
• Basilica di San Marco – In a city of many incredible churches, this cathedral is the grandest. Dating back to 1094 AD, it features some remarkable dome mosaics, marble-clad walls, an elaborate golden screen studded with precious stones behind the main altar, and a treasury full of priceless artifacts from the Crusades. The venerated tomb allegedly holds the mummified remains of St Mark, smuggled by Venetian merchants out of Egypt in 828 AD. Book your entry ticket online or be prepared to queue. (0.4 mile).
• Fondazione Prada – This stately 18th-century palace on the Grand Canal in San Polo hosts contemporary art exhibitions. Don’t miss the beautiful frescoes on the ground floor depicting Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus. (0.4 mile).
• Teatro La Fenice – This incarnation of Venice’s Opera House dates back to 2003 when it was rebuilt after a fire. It was originally built in 1792 and some of the world’s greatest operas were premiered here, including Verdi’s Rigoletto. Even if you don’t attend a performance, check out the sumptuous interior with an audio guide. (0.4 mile).
• Palazzo Ducale/Doge’s Palace – This elegant Gothic palace has been the seat of the Venetian government for over 7 centuries. A standard ticket gives you access to the grand state rooms, the armory, and the prisons, but it’s worth splurging on access to the splendid doge’s apartments, while other rooms, including the attic cell from which the famous lover Casanova managed to escape, can only be seen as part of a guided tour. Book tickets online to skip the lines. (0.5 mile).
• Museo Correr – Comprising Napoleon’s former palace, this museum flanks the western side of Piazza San Marco. Highlights cover sumptuous palace rooms, including Empress Sissi’s suite decked out in luxe fabrics, the ancient sculptures in the Archaeological Museum, and the 16th-century library covered in frescoes by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. (0.5 mile).
• Jewish Ghetto – This part of Cannaregio has been the designated Jewish quarter since 1516. Highlights include the Jewish Museum which explores centuries of Jewish culture in Venice, the starkly beautiful synagogues, and the art galleries and kosher eateries found in this maze of narrow streets. (1 mile).

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

• Rialto Market – Open from 7 am to 2 pm daily, this lively produce market has been on the same site for centuries. Check out the fishmongers selling soft-shell crabs and baby octopus from the Venetian lagoon and piles of regionally grown fruits and vegetables. (0.1 mile).
• Drogheria Mascari – Near the Rialto Bridge, this gourmand magnet sells award-winning olive oils, honey, wine from small regional producers, and much more. (0.2 mile).
• I Tre Mercanti – Gourmet food shop, just off the Ponte de la Guerra bridge, selling high-end Italian ingredients and wines. Try different flavors of Tiramisu here. (0.3 mile).

Al Ponte Antico – The Hotel

Read More

• Best Hotels in Venice
• Best Hotels for Families in Venice
• Best Boutique Hotels in Venice
• Best Budget Hotels in Venice
• Where to Stay in Venice