Cima Rosa Hotel in Venice

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Updated: May 4, 2022
By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: Santa Croce, steps from the San Stae vaporetto stop.
• Hotel website: cimarosavenezia.com
• Hotel phone: +39 041 099 5271

Cima Rosa – Tranquil grandeur meets intimate home-away-from-home feel.

Combining a centuries-old palazzo with a modern aesthetic, this intimate boutique hotel features just five rooms and suites, three of which overlook the Grand Canal. Expect a mix of period features (heavy wooden beams and antique furnishings) and contemporary creature comforts. The owner and her all-woman hospitality team offer warm, personalized services, welcoming many repeat guests, and providing unparalleled local knowledge of the city. While there’s no on-site dining beside a generous breakfast, you’re within easy walking distance of Santa Croce’s and San Polo’s numerous bars and restaurants.

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

Cima Rosa – Location

• Address: Santa Croce, 1958.
• Nearest Vaporetto Stop: The San Stae vaporetto stop is a 2-minute walk (0.1 mile) away. It’s served by vaporetto #1, which connects Santa Croce to Cannaregio, San Marco, Dorsoduro, and Castello, as well as Venice’s railway station. It’s also on the direct Linea Arancio (Orange Line) of the Alilaguna Airport Shuttle route to/from the airport.
• Area: Quiet location at the end of a narrow street in Santa Croce, next to one of several neighborhood canals and overlooking the Grand Canal. An easy walk from Santa Croce’s sights, such as the Ca’ Pesaro art gallery, the Museum of Natural History, and the Fondazione Prada, as well as the Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, its church, and surrounding bars and restaurants. The Rialto Market and Rialto Bridge are within a 10-minute walk, as are the attractions in San Polo. Venice’s main sights in San Marco are a 20-minute vaporetto ride away.
• How to Get There: From Venice’s main Marco Polo Airport, take the Orange Line of the Alilaguna Airport Shuttle directly to the San Stae vaporetto stop (€15, around 1 hour). From here, it’s a 2-minute walk (0.1 mile) to the hotel. If coming from the Santa Lucia train station, take vaporetto #1 directly to the San Stae vaporetto stop.
• Handy to: Ca’ Pesaro, Palazzo Mocenigo, Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio.

Cima Rosa – The Basics

• Ages: The hotel is frequented mostly by adults, but families with older children can be accommodated in the 2 suites.
• View: Rooms overlook either the Grand Canal or the tranquil front courtyard which is full of greenery.
• Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
• Laundry: Laundry service available (additional charge).
• Extras: Guest kitchen with fridge and tea/coffee facilities, private dock (for water taxis), all-female hospitality team. The owner gets in touch with her guests before they arrive, with detailed local info on the city, and can make attraction and restaurant reservations in advance for you.
• When to Book: Book 6 months to a year in advance for the high season (Carnival in February, April-June, and September-October) and a couple of months in advance for the March and July-August shoulder seasons. Occasional last-minute vacancies. 3-night minimum during high season, 2-night minimum the rest of the year.
• How to Book: Directly via the hotel website.
• Phone: +39 041 099 5271
• Email: info@cimarosavenezia.com
• Website: cimarosavenezia.com

Cima Rosa – Amenities

• Pool: No pool.
• Spa: No spa.
• Fitness Center: No gym.
• For Disabled Guests: Not suitable for disabled guests.
• For Families: Extra beds can be added to the 2 suites for €25.

Cima Rosa – Food and Drink

• Restaurant: No on-site restaurant but there are numerous dining options within a 10-minute walk.
• Bar: No bar but guests have their own fridge to chill their wine and there’s a smattering of bars nearby, around the Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio.
• Breakfast: A generous breakfast is included in the price. There’s a good continental spread plus a different hot dish made every day. Served in the elegant living/dining room overlooking the Grand Canal between 8-10 am.
• Room Service: No room service.

Cima Rosa – Rooms

• Room Types: Double Room • Grand Canal Suite
• Smoking Rooms: Cima Rosa is 100% smoke-free.
• Best Room: On the first floor, the 2 suites overlooking the Grand Canal are spacious and come with king-sized beds, antique furnishings, and wonderful views of the water.
• For Families: No family rooms per se but the suites can accommodate extra beds to fit 3-4 people. Additionally, the owner of Cima Rosa has 2 apartments in San Marco and Dorsoduro that can accommodate up for 4 people each.

Cima Rosa – Local Transport

• Walking: Cima Rosa is ideally located if you want to be slightly off the tourist beat, but still within an easy walk from the sights and attractions in Santa Croce and San Polo and also a direct vaporetto ride away from the sights in San Marco, Dorsoduro, and Cannaregio. Ca’ Pesaro, Palazzo Moncenigo, and Fondazione Prada are all within a 5-minute walk from the hotel. The Rialto Market, Rialto Bridge, I Frari, and Scuola Grande di San Rocco in San Polo are a 10-minute stroll away. Cannaregio’s Ghetto and San Marco’s Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and other top attractions are also a 20-minute walk via the Rialto Bridge.
• Vaporetto: While all the attractions in Santa Croce and San Polo are easily accessed on foot, to get to San Marco, you need to cross the Grand Canal and it’s quicker and easier to reach the top attractions there via vaporetto #1. It’s possible to reach the sights in Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, and Castello by walking, but again, taking vaporetto #1 is quicker. If you want to head to Guidecca or Murano, take vaporetto #1 to the Ferrovia stop and switch to vaporetto #41 or #42. 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, and your hotel has its own 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, Piazzale Roma, and at Tronchetto; your hotel can also call one.

Cima Rosa – 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: 0.6 mile.

Best Nearby Restaurants

• Osteria la Zucca – Tuck into hearty meat dishes and seasonal vegetarian ones either on the canalside terrace or within this restaurant’s snug, wood-paneled interior. Casual and inexpensive. (0.1 mile).
• Osteria Mocenigo – Right near the Palazzo Mocenigo, this informal, family-run restaurant serves wallet-friendly Venetian seafood classics as well as grilled meats. (0.1 mile).
• Il Refolo – Unfussy, informal restaurant on Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, with pizza, homemade pasta, and light seafood bites on offer, along with canalside seating. (0.2 mile).
• Antica Besseta – Tucked away down a narrow side street just off the Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, this spot is renowned both for its inspired wine list and regional dishes with a contemporary twist. Book ahead for dinner and dazzle your date with the seafood tasting plate. (0.3 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. (0.4 mile).
• Frary’s – Across the canal from the Campo dei Frari, this Middle Eastern spot is a departure from classic Venetian cuisine. Come here for moussaka, spicy Jordanian rice, and kubbe (rice balls stuffed with ground meat). Casual with good weekday lunch specials. (0.4 mile).
• Trattoria da Ignazio – Venerable trattoria with white-jacketed waiters, where you can feast on homemade pasta and grilled lagoon fish in the garden. Evenings are ideal for romantic meals, while at lunchtimes, you can grab a bargain set menu. (0.5 mile).
• Snack Bar Ai Nomboli (Calle dei Saoneri) – A couple of blocks west from Campo San Polo and across the canal, this sandwich bar gets packed with locals at lunchtime. Fill up on crusty rolls stuffed with prosciutto and roast beef with fig salsa or grab a sandwich to go. (0.5 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. (0.8 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. (0.8 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 and popular with locals. (0.8 mile).

Best Nearby Bars and Cicheti

• 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. (0.2 mile).
• Al Prosecco – Right on the Campo San Giacomo, the specialty at this bar is the range of organic and biodynamic wines from small regional producers. Raise your glass of ‘cloudy prosecco while people-watching on one of Venice’s prettiest squares. (0.2 mile).
• Cantina Do Spade – Brick-lined bacaro (wine bar) made famous in Casanova’s memoirs. Here you can pair battered seafood snacks with inexpensive wines from all over the Veneto region. (0.3 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. (0.4 mile).
• 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. (0.4 mile).
• Basegò – Live music by local bands, a generous selection of Veneto wines by the glass, and superlative cicheti draw locals to this lively bar on Campo San Toma. (0.5 mile).
• Il Santo Bevitore – A favorite with local beer aficionados, ‘The Holy Drinker’ in Cannaregio has 20 beers on tap (including seasonal stouts and Trappist ales). Enjoy them from your canal-side seats. (0.5 mile).
• Al Timon – Both a steakhouse and a cicheti bar, Al Timon has an enviable canalside spot in Cannaregio, numerous wines by the half-glass (so you can really acquaint yourself with local vintages), and inexpensive cicheti. (0.5 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. (0.6 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).

Best Nearby Cafes, Gelaterias, and Pasticcerias

• Pasticceria Rizzardini (Calle dei Meloni) – A local institution for generations, this tiny, standing-room only coffee shop in San Polo is locally renowned for its melt-in-the-mouth pastries. (0.4 mile).
• Goppion Caffetteria – Tiny café a few minutes’ walk in San Polo near the Rialto Bridge. Spot it by the colorful moka pots in the windows and come here for your morning cappuccino and pastry. (0.4 mile).
• Torrefazione Cannaregio – The only artisan coffee roaster in historic Cannaregio. Come here for a caffeinated pick-me-up en route to or from The Ghetto. (0.5 mile).

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

• Veneziastampa – Old-school printing shop with a 1930s Heidelberg press, where you can pick up some gorgeous lithographed postcards, bookplates, and more. (0.2 mile).
• Il Gufo Artigiano di Raffaella Murra (Calle dei Muti) – En route from the Rialto Bridge, this wonderful crafts store showcases the works of artisan Raffaella Murra, from jewelry detailed with Murano glass and hand-sewn journals to copper-embossed wallets and purses. (0.3 mile).
• Leonardo – Right on Cannaregio’s Strada Nuova shopping street, this Murano glass bead workshop is where 2 local brothers create memorable jewelry. (0.3 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. (0.3 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. (0.4 mile).
• Fanny – Locally designed, handmade leather gloves in an array of alluring colors and styles. (0.4 mile).
• Declare – Contemporary bags, totes, and clutch purses made from Tuscan leather in all types of hues and colors at this San Polo branch. (0.5 mile).
• I Vetri a Lume di Amadi – Incredible glass creations by award-winning artisan Bruno Amadi, from tiny glass crabs to shimmering fish and pelicans. (0.5 mile).
• La Bauta – Just off the Campo San Toma near I Frari, this extravagant costume shop is the place to stock up on your Carnivale gear or pick up a steampunk plague doctor mask as a souvenir. (0.6 mile).
• 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. (0.6 mile).

Nearby Attractions

• Ca’ Pesaro – This stately palazzo dates back to 1710 and is home to a Museum of Modern Art and a Museum of Oriental Art. The interior alone is worth a visit, but also check out the paintings that span the major art movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as objets d’art from the East, guarded by samurai, such as a lacquered palanquin and 12th-century Islamic ceramics. (0.2 mile).
• Church of San Giacomo dell’Orio – This Romanesque church, founded in the 9th-century, dominates its namesake square. Centuries-old artwork inside includes the standout Miracle of the Virgin by Gaetano Zompini. Check out the 14th-century carena di nave (ship’s keel) ceiling. (0.2 mile).
• Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari/I Frari – This monumental 14th-century Gothic basilica is one of the top sights in San Polo. The interior is pared-down to showcase Titian’s 1518 Ascension altarpiece, Bellini’s Madonna with Child in the sacristy, and the black marble figures of the Doge Pesaro funerial monument. (0.4 mile).
• 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. (0.5 mile).
• Scuola Grande di San Rocco – This remarkable building, dedicated to the patron saint of plague victims, showcases an astounding collection of paintings by Tintoretto. Standout works include the New Testament wall scenes in the Sala Grande Superiore, Ascension in the Assembly Hall, and Crucifixion in the Sala Albergo. (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. (0.5 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 which you can climb for unparalleled views of the city. (1 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. (1 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, armory, and 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. (1 mile).
• Palazzo Mocenigo – 17th-century palazzo that used to belong to Count Mocenigo. Visit for the gorgeous interior, opulent rooms decked out with 18th-century furniture, collection of historic fashion, and temporary exhibitions. (1 mile).

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

• Drogheria Mascari – Near the Rialto Bridge, this gourmand magnet sells award-winning olive oils, honey, wine from small regional producers, and much more. (0.4 mile).
• De Spar Teatro Italia – Right on Cannaregio’s Strada Nuova shopping street, this large gourmet supermarket has an extensive deli section. (0.4 mile).
• 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. (0.4 mile).

Cima Rosa – The Hotel

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