Hotels with a Bar near Venezia Santa Lucia Station
Santa Lucia is where most visitors first meet Venice, stepping straight out of the station onto the Grand Canal. Arriving with luggage and no cars around, a hotel with its own bar a few minutes away on foot makes the first evening much simpler. The twelve hotels in this selection all have one, from the posh bars of the Hotel NH Venezia Santa Lucia and the CHC Continental to the tapas bar of the AC Hotel Venice and the bar of the Hotel Antiche Figure, a 15th-century building facing the Grand Canal with a rating of 9.6.
The station sits at the north-western edge of Venice, where the Ponte della Libertà brings trains across the lagoon from the mainland. Directly outside, the Ponte degli Scalzi crosses the Grand Canal, the Lista di Spagna leads east into Cannaregio, and Piazzale Roma, the last point reachable by road, is one bridge away. Vaporetto lines 1 and 2 stop at Ferrovia, right in front of the station steps, and the Rialto is around half an hour away on foot.
Where to stay
Canal views, palazzos and quiet courtyards
Venice empties early once the day visitors have left, and many bars near the Rialto close sooner than travellers expect. A bar inside your hotel near the station gives you a place for a spritz or a nightcap without crossing bridges in the dark, and an easy start if your train or water bus leaves at dawn.
Several hotels here put their bar right beside the Grand Canal. The Hotel NH Venezia Santa Lucia, formerly the Hotel Bellini, overlooks the canal and pairs a posh bar with chic rooms and a kid-friendly approach. The Hotel Antiche Figure, set in a 15th-century building facing the water, is the best rated in this selection at 9.6 and includes breakfast. The Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal, the largest by number of reviews, offers canal views from some rooms, a restaurant with rooftop dining, a cafe-bar and a business centre, plus an airport shuttle for travellers who arrive by plane.
If the setting matters as much as the drink, the historic addresses stand out. The CHC Continental, part of the Best Western Premier Collection, occupies a 15th-century building with an upscale restaurant and a posh bar. The Hotel Principe is an ornate four-star with a seafood restaurant, lounges, a bar and a private boat dock, which makes arriving by water taxi straightforward. The Hotel Il Mercante di Venezia, an 18th-century property, keeps a bar alongside a courtyard garden, a rare green corner in this dense part of Cannaregio and a calm place to end the day.
For a more contemporary feel, the AC Hotel Venice combines trendy rooms, some with canal views, with a tapas bar, and it holds a rating of 9.0. The U-Visionary Venezia Hotel, a four-star rated 9.2, includes breakfast and has both a restaurant and a bar, along with an airport shuttle. The Albergo Marin, also rated 9.2, is a smaller and warmer choice: a refined bar, complimentary breakfast and kitchens in some rooms, which suits longer stays. Each of these three trades the grand palazzo setting for quieter, more modern spaces close to the station.
Travellers watching their budget still have options with a bar. The Hotel Guerrini Venezia is described as budget-friendly and offers a bar, a restaurant and free breakfast, close to the station. The Hotel Carlton Capri is a low-key address with a restaurant and bar, complimentary breakfast and some rooms with balconies. The Locanda Ca' Lucrezia adds a bar and restaurant to a breakfast buffet and pet-friendly rooms. None of them offers the drama of the canal-side palazzos, but all three keep a drink and a simple meal within reach after a long journey.
A traveler's perspectiveMy choice depends on the evening I want. For a drink with the Grand Canal in front of me, I would book the Hotel Antiche Figure or the NH Venezia Santa Lucia. For a palazzo atmosphere, I recommend the CHC Continental or the Hotel Principe with its private boat dock. If I wanted something calmer and more modern, the AC Hotel Venice and its tapas bar would be my pick.
4.8Guest scoreBarHotel Antiche Figure
15th-century charm on the Grand Canal with free breakfast and a bar
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Antiche Figure is a three-star hotel in a 15th-century building overlooking the Grand Canal, and it offers family-friendly accommodation. Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and room service are included, with a hotel bar, an airport shuttle and full-service laundry. That mix of history and practical services suits families on a longer Venice stay. Guests rate it 9.6 across more than 900 reviews, an outstanding score, so I would book it with confidence.
4.6Guest scoreBarU-Visionary Venezia Hotel
Modern 4-star hotel with free breakfast and airport shuttle
View hotel →Why guests love itU-Visionary Venezia Hotel is a modern four-star hotel that takes much of the effort out of a family trip to Venice. Breakfast is included and there is a restaurant, a bar and room service, so tired children can eat without another outing. An airport shuttle simplifies arrival, rooms are air-conditioned and smoke-free, and the property is accessible, helpful with a pushchair. Wi-Fi is free. A guest score of 9.2 from 152 reviews is excellent.
4.6Guest scoreBarAlbergo Marin
Warmly furnished rooms with complimentary breakfast and a refined bar
View hotel →Why guests love itAlbergo Marin is a charming small hotel with warmly furnished rooms, some with kitchens, and a refined bar. Complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning are included, and the property is kid-friendly, accessible and smoke-free. An airport shuttle is available. Kitchens in some rooms are a real help for families. Guests rate it 9.2 across more than 770 reviews, an outstanding score, so I would book it for the warmth and the inclusions.
4.5Guest scoreBarAC Hotel Venice
Modern hotel with canal-view rooms and a lively tapas bar
View hotel →Why guests love itAC Hotel Venice is a modern hotel with trendy rooms and suites, some with canal views, and it is described as kid-friendly and smoke-free. Air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and accessible facilities are included, and a tapas bar is on site for an easy evening. Suites help families find extra space, which is rare in Venice. Guests rate it 9.0 across more than 800 reviews, an excellent score, so I would book it for the comfort and the canal-view rooms.
4.4Guest scoreBarLocanda Ca' Lucrezia
Pet-friendly hotel with breakfast, bar, and restaurant near the station
View hotel →Why guests love itLocanda Ca' Lucrezia sits near Venezia Santa Lucia station, which spares families a long walk over bridges with suitcases. A breakfast buffet is included, so children can eat before a day in the city, and the restaurant and bar make dinner easy when small legs are tired. Rooms are warm in style, Wi-Fi is free, and pets are accepted. A guest score of 8.8 from 235 reviews suggests a comfortable, well-run stay.
4.2Guest scoreBarHotel NH Venezia Santa Lucia - Formerly Hotel Bellini
Chic rooms and a posh bar overlooking the Grand Canal
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel NH Venezia Santa Lucia, formerly Hotel Bellini, is an upscale four-star hotel overlooking the Grand Canal, and it is described as kid-friendly. Rooms are chic with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, the property is smoke-free, and room service and full-service laundry help families on a longer trip. A posh bar is on site for the evening. Guests rate it 8.4 across more than 1,300 reviews, so I would book it for the canal views and the comfort.
4.2Guest scoreBarHotel Carlton Capri
Comfortable rooms, some with balconies, plus breakfast and parking
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Carlton Capri is an unpretentious three-star hotel near Venezia Santa Lucia railway station with comfortable, low-key rooms, some with balconies. Complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi are included, with a restaurant, a bar and parking, and an airport shuttle is provided. Pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.4 across nearly 780 reviews, a good score, so I would book it for the free breakfast, the shuttle and the short distance to the station.
4.1Guest scoreBarHotel Principe
Refined rooms with a boat dock, seafood dining, and parking
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Principe is an ornate four-star near Venezia Santa Lucia station, so families arriving by train avoid a long walk across bridges with luggage. Its private boat dock makes arrivals and departures by water taxi simple, which children tend to enjoy. The seafood restaurant and bar cover dinner, and room service helps on tired evenings. Rooms are refined and air-conditioned, the property is kid-friendly and smoke-free, and free Wi-Fi is available.
4.1Guest scoreBarCHC Continental, BW Premier Collection
Swanky 15th-century hotel with an upscale restaurant and posh bar
View hotel →Why guests love itCHC Continental is a 15th-century building turned four-star hotel, and the setting is its main draw. Rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, room service is available, and there is an upscale restaurant and a posh bar downstairs. Families are welcome and so are pets, which is not a given in Venice. Guests score it 8.2 across more than 2,000 reviews, a good result for a historic property, and I would book it for the atmosphere.
4.1Guest scoreBarHotel Guerrini Venezia
Budget-friendly stay with breakfast, parking, and a warm welcome for families
View hotel →Why guests love itHotel Guerrini Venezia is a budget-friendly two-star hotel near Venezia Santa Lucia station, with low-key rooms, a bar and a restaurant on site. Complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi are included, parking is available, and the hotel is described as family-friendly and pet-friendly. Guests rate it 8.2 across about 500 reviews, a good score for a modest address, so I would book it for the free breakfast, the station proximity and the price tier.
4.0Guest scoreBarHotel Carlton on the Grand Canal
Refined hotel with canal views, rooftop dining, and a cafe/bar
View hotel →Why guests love itRooftop dining and rooms with canal views, for those who book them, are what I would highlight for families at the Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal, close to Venezia Santa Lucia station. Arriving by train with children and luggage is simple, and an airport shuttle covers the other end of the trip. There is a restaurant, a cafe and bar, and pets are welcome. The rooms are genteel and classic rather than modern.
4.0Guest scoreBarHotel IL Mercante di Venezia
Historic 18th-century hotel with ornate rooms and a charming courtyard
View hotel →Why guests love itAn 18th-century building with ornately decorated rooms and a courtyard garden gives this Venice hotel real character, and I like it for families because the garden offers children a calm outdoor corner. Breakfast is complimentary, rooms have air conditioning for summer heat, Wi-Fi is free, and there is a bar. The hotel is both kid-friendly and pet-friendly. The decor is traditional, so families who prefer modern rooms may look elsewhere.
Local tips
- 1Ask for a canal-view room at the Carlton on the Grand Canal, AC Hotel Venice or NH Venezia Santa Lucia.
- 2Book the Hotel Principe if you plan to arrive by water taxi, thanks to its private boat dock.
- 3Use vaporetto lines 1 or 2 from Ferrovia to reach the Rialto or San Marco after a drink at the hotel.
- 4Pack light: there are bridges with steps between the station and most hotels, even the closest ones.
- 5Choose the Albergo Marin if you want a bar plus a kitchen in the room for a longer stay.
- 6Enjoy the courtyard garden at Hotel Il Mercante di Venezia on a warm evening.