Oltre Il Giardino

A small, stylish, tranquil hotel in off-beat San Polo, with art-filled bedrooms and a secret garden

If you’ve ever wondered what it's like to stay in a country villa in the middle of Venice, then this is your place. Oltre Il Giardino (‘beyond the garden’) is the bucolic home of Franco-Venetian Alessandra Arduini Zambelli and her charming son Lorenzo. They converted their villa, which once belonged to Gustav Mahler's widow, into an intimate city retreat, a stylish sanctuary in Venice. Its 6 bedrooms are spacious and serene, its drawing rooms are filled with Edwardian art and family heirlooms, and there’s an easy grace about the place that makes you feel immediately at home.

The garden in question lies at the front (or the back, if you arrived by canal boat), its lavender-covered walls shielding you from street bustle. Breakfasting here is a real privilege. In the evenings, you can sink into deep sofas with a drink from the complimentary bar. Sheer style, and with none of the coldness of some design hotels; the staff are an absolute delight.

Highs

• Comfortable and down-to-earth, but with luxurious touches: Bulgari toiletries, soft robes, orchids by the bed
• Delightful artefacts and paintings
• Private walled garden for delicious breakfasts
• Quiet location - people can't walk past the hotel
• Good value for Venice, especially the double rooms

Lows

• No restaurant, though there are some good eateries and lively little bars close by
• It isn't as close to the main tourist attractions as other hotels (this could be a plus though), but St Mark's Square is a 10-minute vaporetta ride, and you can walk to the Rialto in 15 minutes