Casa Alla Fenice is truly one of Venice's best small hotels. We felt so lucky to stay there, with its perfect location near San Marco, on a quiet street that translates to "Street of the Assassins." Guests receive their own key to the apartment on the backstreets of San Marco, and climb a set of stairs to reach the small lobby where one of the two proprietresses greets guests. One of the two women staffs the desk all day, and goes down to the dock to meet guests and guide them back to the hotel, no need to get lost in Venice when you have all your bags.
The rooms are themed after famous Venetians. We took the Casanova room, all done in red velvet with paintings of cherubs. My parents stayed in a blue velvet room with a cloud-like theme in the wall paintings. Each room also had a second bed in addition to a double bed. The bathrooms were a bit small for my stepdad, but we found them sufficient - and sparkling clean.
Each morning, we were brought breakfast in bed, bought at local coffee shops & bakery. The one morning that we left too early to get breakfast, we got inexpensive cappuccinos down the street at a café. The location was so close to San Marco, yet it was quiet and did not get a lot of foot traffic. We were very close to the opera house, also named The Fenice. An well-heeled crowd was always hanging out in the square near the hotel, and my parents enjoyed a fun night out at the nightclub in the square.
This was truly a special experience. It was not nearly as expensive as some of the upscale hotels in Venice, yet it had a more intimate and luxurious feeling, like the sort of secret hideout Brangelina would hole up in if they were in Venice.
You can find out more information about reservations at their website -
www.casaallafenice.com, or by emailing them at
info@casaallafenice.com. They also have wonderful pictures of all of their rooms. I couldn't do them justice with my own camera.