If you're staying anywhere near Hotel Al Sotoportego, do yourself a favor and eat at Al Vagon…read more
My two daughters and I were staying at Hotel Al Sotoportego, and this restaurant is literally right outside the hotel entrance along the canal. The moment you step out the door, you're practically part of the restaurant. Every time we walked by, it was packed, and every dish that came out looked incredible.
It was our last night in Venice, and we made a last-minute decision to cancel our dinner reservations at another well-known restaurant and eat here instead. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during our entire trip.
Even though they were extremely busy and we didn't have reservations, the owner, Giovanna, welcomed us with such warmth and kindness. She asked us to wait just a few minutes inside, made sure we were comfortable, and even turned the fan/air conditioning toward us while we waited. That simple gesture said everything about how much she cares about her guests.
When we finally sat down, every single bite was outstanding. My daughters and I devoured everything we ordered and literally cleaned our plates. The food was authentic, fresh, and absolutely delicious.
But what truly makes Al Vagon special is the hospitality.
Since it was our last day in Venice, we were trying to figure out how to avoid dragging three large suitcases through Venice and over the Rialto Bridge to get to Marco Polo Airport for our flight to Santorini. As we were eating, we noticed there was a water taxi dock literally next to our table. Since the restaurant sits right on the canal, we wondered if it would be possible to arrange for a private water taxi to pick us up directly outside our hotel.
Our waiter immediately offered to help and asked Giovanna if she had the phone number for a private water taxi. We already thought that was incredibly thoughtful. But then Giovanna went above and beyond. When I thanked her, she didn't just hand me a phone number--she personally called and arranged the entire pickup for us.
The next morning, our private water taxi arrived exactly on time right outside our hotel. We stepped aboard with our luggage and enjoyed one of the most beautiful rides of our trip all the way to Marco Polo Airport. It cost €170, and it was worth every single euro for the convenience, the scenery, and the stress-free ending to our Venice stay.
Giovanna, thank you for your incredible hospitality, your kindness, and for serving my daughters and me one of the most memorable meals we had in Venice. You turned what could have been a stressful travel day into a perfect ending to our trip.
We can't wait to come back. Until next time--grazie mille!
