L’Orologio

Located on the Grand Canal, right near the Rialto market and bridge, this winning four-star hotel features a contemporary design scheme that is a welcome change from Murano glass and heavy fabrics.

• The canal-facing top-floor rooms with expansive views of Venice
• The lovely team who make everyone feel like part of the family
• The fourth-floor terrace facing the interior courtyard and Venetian rooftops for a morning coffee or afternoon apero

During the height of the Venetian Republic, the L’Orologio would have been deemed on the “wrong side” of the Grand Canal (less sunny). Of course, in 21st-century Venice, there’s no such thing—and today, the L’Orologio sits in a truly enviable position, a stone’s-throw from the Rialto market and, therefore, one of Venice’s three Grand Canal-crossing bridges (on the same side, incidentally, as the Aman, which is just a short walk away).

Don’t come expecting Venetian opulence: the L’Orologio is decidedly contemporary, with poured resin floors, dark-wood ceiling beams and exposed brick walls in the lobby lounge and a sleek, understated aesthetic in the 48 rooms and suites. As rooms are spread across four floors, each of the room's layout is slightly different, and while the décor is stylish and uncluttered, dark-wood floors and color-accent walls make some of the rooms appear a bit dark. For the best light, it is important to get one of the eighteen rooms that face the Grand Canal. As for the clock theme throughout: the hotel's owner has a passion for horology, as well as one of the world’s largest collections of rare watches.

What truly makes the experience of staying here, however, is the lovely team—especially at the front desk—who treat each guest as if they were part of the family. Breakfast and cocktails are served in the black and red lobby lounge (which is a bit 1960s–masculine in style), and, while there is no restaurant on property, the hotel's central location means that it is in walking distance to many of Venice’s top dining spots. No matter where you dine, you must have a nightcap at Naranzaria or Bancogiro, two of Venice’s loveliest bars, which offer wonderful front-row seats on a broad quay along the Grand Canal and—best of all—are still filled with a local crowd.

Low-key couples who like boutique hotels, don’t mind the somewhat moody lighting scheme and don’t need amenities like a gym, spa or on-site restaurant. L'Orologio is a great choice for value-conscious travelers who want a Grand Canal view for a fraction of the price of the city’s five-star hotels.