Lonely Planet Review

This quiet place by a canal is near the bustle of Accademia and Campo Santa Margarita, but blissfully removed from it. It has been a hotel since 1890, and the rooms with views of canal or garden, have welcomed famous guests such as Gabriele D'Annunzio, Ezra Pound and Modigliani.

If you fancy sharing a room with D'Annunzio, (metaphysically speaking) request No 12, the oldest room, dressed with coordinating 19th-century wooden furniture. Original paintings in all rooms add splashes of colour to the otherwise plain walls. Unfortunately the floor is lino; the wood underneath is too old to be exposed. Only 10% of the family's art collection is in the Locanda. An American painter, Congdon, paid for his meals with paintings in the 1950s - you could try this, but they may not need any more! The two best rooms are on the second floor (Nos 5 and 8) and have balconies overlooking the canal. The downstairs restaurant has a popular pergola area outside. Look out for the tuna tails hanging on the walls, accompanied by certificates and photographs of Giorgio saying 'it's this big' in Italian.