Relaxing in Venice

Here are a few nice places in Venice.

• In September ’09 I stayed at Pensione Accademia (Dorsoduro 1058, 30123 Venezia, Italia; phone +39 041 52 10 188, fax 52 39 152, www.pensioneaccademia.it). It is on a small canal near the gallery and the vaporetto stop of that name.

It has two gardens. Breakfast was served in the one facing the canal. Though paved, it is well planted and very attractive.

What surprised me was the rear garden, a small gem, with grass, trees, flower beds, a swing, deck chairs for snoozing, a trellis, tables and chairs under a big umbrella, and beer and goodies from the bar. I couldn’t ask for a nicer place to read.

My room cost €140 (near $201) per day, including a good breakfast. I took my dinners at the taverna nearby.

• I did not stay overnight at Hotel Flora San Marco (2283/A, 30124 Venezia, Italia; phone +39 041 5205844, fax 5228217, www.hotelflora.it) — located on V. Bergameschi off 22 Marzo, west of C’o S. Moise — but it has a very attractive paved garden, well planted, with nice architectural details, ivy to the sky and service from the Flora’s bar.

I found the garden a great place for a cappuccino with my morning paper or a prosecco in the afternoon. (It was nice to be recognized as having been there before and to be greeted accordingly.)

• There is another place with real charm, the bar at Hotel Danieli (Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196, 30122 Venezia [VE], Italy; http://danieli.hotelinvenice.com), but the prices are outrageous. Ask for a gin and tonic and you get billed for the gin and for the tonic. It’s true that they give you a small bottle of tonic and plenty of nuts, but it grates.

From its fourth-floor terrace I have seen the streak of a full moon in the lagoon, and it is a great place for breakfast.

G.F. MUEDEN

New York, NY