Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal

I kept trying to find a way to review just the restaurant but keep getting directed back here. Four of us had the chance to have drinks on the patio before dinner began and had a great view and experience. Our server was helpful when we asked for what was in certain cocktails and he had to get help to tell us in English (we tried our not so great Italian but we weren't understanding him). Ended up with great cocktails. The view is also wonderful being directly on the grand canal. It began lightly raining and they extended the overhead canopies to make sure no one was disturbed by the rain.

I stayed here for 2 nights pre cruise with Azamara. We came in on a train from Verona and I had the hotel arrange a private water taxi from the station. They were there to meet us right as we came off the train and they whisked away our luggage and directed us to the private boat. It was a beautiful site traveling on the Grand Canal to the hotel I had a standard room and it was spotless and very well appointed in Venetian style. I will never forget dining outside at the restaurant overlooking the infamous Grand Canal! The hotel is also close to major sites such as St Marks, Doges Palace as well as many shops and restaurants.

A bit like the curate's egg-good in parts. The staff were absolutely brilliant; the waiters in the restaurant and bar were helpful friendly and helped this Englishman with his Italian!! The concierge and the reception staff went the extra mile and our chamberperson ("maid" is not allowed now apparently!!) was first class. Sadly I cannot endorse the breakfasts; I know that cooked breakfasts are not really the norm "sur la continent" but there is room for improvement there. The evening menu was adequate but did not change during our stay, but a daily set menu, a daily special and more vegetarian choice maybe? Whilst the room was adequate the one hard chair, no real desk, no hotel guide and E8 for a small bottle of water and chocolate that was inedible. The bathroom was fine although the bath was slippery to say the least. A beautiful terrace (a black mark to the maitre d' at lunchtime who sat us at a table which was on the edge of the terrace and because of the high tide my new shoes were ruined) . I have tried to be constructive, using my 20+ years as a manager/director of hotels and I enjoyed my stay immensely and the hotel overall is a credit to one of the most beautiful cities in the wonderful country of Italy. One thing that made our stay really enjoyable was the friendly and helpful attitude of the people of Venice . I have visited a large number of countries in my travels and the Venetians were wonderful among the best in the world!!l.