Hotel Spadai was highly recommended to us by my sister-in-law. She constantly raves about the…read moreplace, and I could totally see why. The hotel was centrally located, and it's one of the more modern, elegant hotels we've stayed at during our trip. The Duomo and Piazza Santa Maria Novella were steps away from the hotel, and it's a less than 10 minute taxi to the train station. Their complimentary breakfast was amazing. They offered a huge variety of items including hot food, tortes, cereals, fruit, cheeses, parfaits, quiches, etc. I enjoyed a latte every morning with them. Our room at Hotel Spadai was excellent. Very spacious with tall ceilings and had plenty of room for us to lay out 2 large pieces of luggage and 2 small carry-ons. The bathroom was big as well, but the shower was disproportionate to it. The shower felt so much smaller, and what's weird was its two double doors. The doors met at the corner of the shower and didn't close all the way, so water could easily escape to the floor. Other than that, I would 1000% stay at this hotel again next time I'm in Florence.

The best hotel I've ever had the pleasure of staying at! From check-in to check-out, everything was…read moreabsolutely top-notch. The room and bathroom were spacious, luxurious, and beautifully designed. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and every detail of the experience felt thoughtful and elevated. The amenities were fantastic -- especially the unexpected happy hour at the bar, which was such a lovely touch. And the breakfast buffet? Truly unmatched. I'm convinced every future hotel breakfast will pale in comparison. I still think about the incredibly fresh raspberries and strawberries I had every morning! I also loved the robes and slippers provided in the room, which made the stay feel even more comfortable and indulgent. The location is perfect -- close to everything and just steps from the Duomo, yet surprisingly peaceful and not overly noisy. The hotel itself smells amazing and is decorated in such a beautiful, modern style. I honestly can't say enough wonderful things about this hotel. It was worth every penny, and I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

Best and only hotel we stay at when we are in Florence. Centrally located. Steps from the Duomo…read more You can't go wrong!

Would you spend the night in what used to be a women's prison in the 12th century?…read more The Pagliazza Tower is the oldest building in Florence. It was built in the 6th century AD by the Byzantines as part of the "newer" city walls to augment the older Roman ones and protect the city during the Gothic War. The circular shape, which was rare in the Middle Ages, reflects ancient Roman building techniques. The tower rests on a circular wall that surrounded a swimming pool or Roman thermal bath. In the basement there is a calidarium, with brick floor channels for heat, which would have been used for steam baths. According to our guide, Roberta, it was used as a women's prison in the 12th century. Pagliazza references the straw mat bedding upon which the inmates slept. Later on, it was converted into the bell tower of a church. Eventually it was acquired as a private residence. Today it is home to a luxury hotel with a small museum and restaurants. The museum showcases artifacts from excavations dating back to the Roman and medieval times. Although we didn't stay here, the history of the Pagliazza Tower is very interesting.

First and foremost, this hotel has to be given some major leniency in any review simply based on…read moreits location. I'm sure you're aware - but just to hammer it home - it is on some prime Florentine real estate. Sharing a cozy road with the 5 star Savoy Hotel and less than a 2 minute walk from Il Duomo (even if you crawl slowly on hands and knees), any nit-picking I may have done if it were located elsewhere, I'll forgive. Having read the onslaught of horrible reviews I booked anyways. Partly because I spent all my extra money on other holidays earlier this year and partly because I thought it worth the gamble based on its location. The gamble paid off, but I think it was only because I made certain I at least had a good hand before my arrival. To avoid the common complaint many have made about being sent packing to a sister property, I emailed the hotel prior to my arrival. TWICE. Once immediately after booking to let them know I had read the reviews, would be writing a review, and would not accept accommodation elsewhere; and a second time 5 days before my arrival to reconfirm that. Both received gracious replies confirming I would only be in the "main house". When I arrived at 1:30am (Never again, Ryanair! Never again!) without any issue they told me I was in room 508. When I got to room 508 and opened the shutters I almost pooped my pants. A VIEW! Not just a view, a view from a corner room with a small terrace of what I had come to see: Il Duomo. It was glorious. The hotel has a fabulous rooftop terrace with a sweeping city view. I went up and looked at it once, then didn't go again since I had the same view and my own little terrace from the room. Lucky me! The room itself was perfectly functional. Yes, the walls were shabby, a light bulb was out, and it was almost stark in its furnishings - but it's a 2 star hotel that gave me a 5 star view. The sheets were clean, the toilet flushed properly, and the water in the sink and shower wasn't an off colour or smell. At a European 2 star hotel, that makes it aces. I cannot comment on the hotel wifi or even state affirmatively that there was/wasn't any because having read prior reviews I assumed it didn't, and rented a satellite personal mobile wifi. The street noise in the room might be loud for people unaccustomed to old world city living. I live in London so I'm used to it. This is also why I have no complaints regarding the shower size or splashy-ness (my shower at home is the same). Welcome to Europe! The thundering of the bells from Il Duomo at 7:45am and 8am every morning add to the charm of the location. You just have to deal with city noise and an itty bitty shower. Not a big deal. The breakfast is nothing to either sing or swear at. Very basic automatic machine coffee, bread rolls, and jams. It'll get you to lunch without a belly rumble and if you want something more substantial, the hotel shares a common first floor wall with a lovely cafe (outdoor seating...perfectly Italian!). The waitress/server/helper/bus girl was perfectly amiable and polite. She wasn't overly friendly and didn't speak English - who cares. She brings the bread, she clears the bread. I don't need more than that. At these prices I wouldn't expect more. Be wary of the hotel city tax that can only be paid in cash. It's 2 Euro a night per person and no matter what your booking or agent tells you, you haven't paid it. When I checked out the otherwise kind reception gent tried to charge me 24 Euro when I only owed 12 , but he also didn't bat an eye in accepting my number without complaint. Can't blame a kid for trying I suppose, but it cost the Medici a star on my review. All in all I will give this 2 star hotel a score of 4 stars. I am not saying it is a 2 star hotel that resembles more of a 4 star hotel, because it doesn't. It is definitely a 2 star hotel, just one I personally believe is at the high end of average as a 2 star hotel. The view and location are a 5 star slam dunk no matter what star rating it officially has. To make your stay as pleasurable as mine, I'd politely confirm the main house booking via email twice before arriving, ask for room 508 (which also has a city view from the bathroom), calculate your room tax yourself, and make sure you rent your own personal, portable wifi (I used TEP) before arriving in Italy. Stayed November 2014

The view is nice from their rooftop bar,, but my experience was really upsetting. The waitress took…read moreforever to even come by, and when I decided to leave, she confronted me harshly about a picture I had taken on my phone. I wasn't even given a chance to read the paper about "no photos", instead she pressured me to go through my phone and delete the photo, even from my "recently deleted" album, while giving me a nasty attitude. I decided to comply because I didn't want any issues, but I'm writing this review so others are aware. It was completely unnecessary the way she went about it, and it ruined what should have been a nice experience.

What an incredible stay we had here - the staff is incredibly kind and accommodating and the rooms…read moreare top notch. They were particularly attentive to our 13 month old who was traveling with us. You absolutely get what you pay for here, and we will definitely return. Thank you for a wonderful stay in Florence!

I love this hotel. It thus far has surpassed the experience I had at Portrait Suites in Rome…read more Luca greeted me at the door and offered sparkling water and champagne while I was in the sitting area waiting for them to check me in. All the meanwhile he provided a brief overview of highlights and services at the hotel. The highlights served as a refresher since my last trip here. The restaurant recommendations and offer to set up reservations will make the trip smooth. There is morning breakfast at the third floor or option to have it for room service (charge included in hotel rate). Finally the location is central to attractions in the town, dining, and temptations galore for shopping!

From the moment we were dropped off in front of the Excelsior, we noted the kind doorman, the…read morebeautiful lobby, and the exceptional service of Marta at the front desk. It was not even 10:00, but she got us checked into our room, which was greatly appreciated. Room 128 was spacious, comfortable, and had an amazing balcony that looks out on the river. Our bathroom was huge, with a shower/tub combination, fluffy robes, and slippers for our comfort. We had a separate 'toilet room' with a bidet, which provided an extra level of privacy. Breakfast in the lobby was a real treat. There were so many options. Made to order omelets, eggs, French toast, and pancakes, along with an assortment of pastries, tarts, and fresh fruit made it hard to choose. Everything we ate, was delicious. It was the best breakfast we had in our two week trip to Italy. After dinner, we enjoyed having a nightcap at the rooftop bar. The drinks were expensive, but the fabulous views made it a worthwhile expense. Sadly, we only had one night here, because this place was spectacular in every way. We would happily stay here again on our next trip to Florence!

Beautiful hotel, great location. Didn't stay here but dropped in for a pre-dinner drink with my…read morefamily. Lovely bar, TERRIBLE service. Uncharacteristically Florence, staff is very snooty almost French like. Hated it here!

We stayed at this beautiful hotel while recently visiting Florence. One of the best things about…read morestaying here is its location, it's near everywhere you'd like to go. Florence is a great walking city and from this hotel, we walked to all the main sites. Our room was large with a comfortable bed and a large screen TV. Everything was very clean. We received full breakfasts which were excellent with lots of choices on the buffet. Great stay and definitely recommend if you're visiting Florence!

This review is for their restaurant. I guess Italy is the only place where I LOVED a meal at a…read morehotel. And the funny thing is we really just stumbled upon this amazing place. We were starving, it was rainy and just got off the train from Rome so we even had our luggage. The service was impeccable, they took care of our coats and luggage right away and seated us. The restaurant was peaceful and gorgeous. I still remember thinking "oh awkward we are underdressed for this!" I usually don't get impressed by decors of restaurants but the color and the elements and the layout of the restaurant somehow just gave me the relaxation I needed. We loved our entire experience but the highlight was the food. Every single dish was beautifully prepared and so so delicious. We fell in love with truffle here. And don't think we have had truffle that blew our mind elsewhere after (including Michelin two and three stars). I can taste the chefs mastery of the ingredients. No dish was overly complicated but each ingredient and sauce just complemented each other perfectly. You feel like you are in the forest where the food comes from. It's one of the meals I remember the most vividly, even after 4 years. Even on our culinary journey throughout Italy, this was a clear highlight. My only regret is we didn't purchase the truffle products here. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Beautiful boutique hotel just 2 blocks from the Domo. The squares. The staff is exceptional. Every…read morerestaurant the recommended was better than the last. They host a nightly cocktail hour in their lobby. The breakfast buffet is wonderful. They servers are friendly and will happily make lattes and cappuccinos. The rooms are spacious, clean and the blankets and sheets heavenly. Full bathroom with all the amenities.

We really loved our stay here. Location is perfect in the center of town on Piazza della…read moreRepubblica. Beautiful view of Duomo from guestroom. Great restaurants and shopping all around. Hotel is beautiful and service is great. There are spa services but does not have a great spa (better to visit the beautiful La Spa at Helvetia and Bristol a block away.) The daily breakfast is nice too.

My sister and I stayed at the Pensione for 3 nights, and it was a delightful stay. We researched,…read moreand this location is to die for! It is in the heart of Florence and a few minutes walk to everything. We had a deluxe double bed room, that overlooked the Piazza della Repubblica. At night, when the window was open, music from Caffè Paszkowski would filter in. The beds we comfortable and the bathroom was very clean. The complimentary breakfast was basic, but how can you go wrong with ACE juice and some Nutella on a pastry? Whenever I am in Florence again, I will be staying here!

This hotel is in a great location and the staff were friendly and helpful. However we asked for a…read moreroom upgrade which we got on the 2nd of our three nights and although it was a very large room would easily sleep 4 + and it overlooked the square the room was very tired looking and the scaffolding at the front spoiled the view. The bathroom was completely different though, very clean and quite modern. We had no way of making a drink or even keeping water cold as there was no fridge. The Internet connection was poor very slow and even unavailable for some of the time. Florence is a lovely city and we enjoyed our stay overall.

Hotel Continentale was the best hotel by far of our trip through Paris, Barcelona, and Florence!…read more The staff was friendly and helpful at this small boutique style 43 room hotel. They were always there to greet you and assist with any bookings for restaurants, taxis, etc. We upgraded to the room over looking the Arno river which is well worth the extra expense. The room was awesome, very modern feel with new furniture and fixtures. Our shade, which was inside the window between double glass, was not working which made it difficult to sleep. My wife called and they had us moved to a larger corner room which was even better than our last one. Now that is GREAT customer service! Unfortunately the seasonal lounge was closed because it was raining but the view from our 4th floor room gave us the same feel. Their workout facility was also closed which I was bummed about, but the room and hospitality more than made up for it.

The hotel has a cute rooftop that is popular during sunset - although you can't really see much as…read morethe bar area is blocking the view. But nonetheless, it provides a romantic atmosphere. The cocktails were extremely pricey when we went in August 2025. I was here the first time in September 2010 and it was so nostalgic that I wanted to revisit the rooftop again. Snacks were provided with your drinks.

As a solo female traveler I'm a bit nitpicky when it comes to accommodation in a foreign country…read more I'm more inclined to picking hotels due to 24-hour service but I value any accommodation as long as it provides basic amenities and is centrally located. I'm too old for a hostel but since I use the hotel to sleep 4- or 5-star hotels would be too much of a luxury to consider. I found Hotel Duomo using booking.com (preferred site for hotels in Europe). Coincidentally it was one of the hotels listed under Rick Steves' Italy guidebook. It's a solid pick for a three-star hotel as it's located in the Piazza del Duomo with the Duomo *literally across the street* from the hotel. It's so close that I managed to get a (somewhat weak) connection when I tried using the Duomo's official wifi (included in your ticket). The reviews highly suggest to pay for an upgrade to get a view of the Duomo - it was worth the upgrade. The view from my room #32 was one of the best views of the Duomo in all of Florence. For those that don't have a room with a view don't fret: the dining room outside provides a lovely view. Like the previous Yelp reviews have mentioned, the hotel was a bit hard to find. Even with Google Maps I had to resort to calling the hotel to give me more specific directions. The sign for the hotel's really small, which can easily be missed considering the sensory overload of the Duomo. The hotel lobby is accessed by an elevator that takes you to the 4th floor. Rooms are located along the same floor as the lobby along with the main dining room. ROOM: It is average for European standards (which is small for most Americans). As a solo traveler I expected as such. However what I was most impressed was the balcony with the view along with a mini-fridge that contained complimentary beverages, at least for the initial stock. The room comes with complimentary wifi, but it was down for several hours so I have to resort to the wifi code provided by the Duomo itself. Plugs were situated so that I could charge my phone and laptop next to the bed. BATHROOM: Decent-sized bathroom with a shower and a bidet. I liked the complimentary soaps they provide you. DINING: While not complimentary, you can have breakfast in the dining area where they have a decent selection of typical breakfast items. Noteworthy was that they catered to the American palate and had hot breakfast meats in addition to scrambled eggs. This was also in addition to typical continental Europe fare, which was a selection of fruit and pastries. OTHER AMENITIES: The hotel provides a free museum-booking service for the two famous art galleries: Accademia and Uffizi. Getting it through the official channels isn't as straightforward as it sounds, so I found this service to be essential. They were also very accommodating when I had to switch my Uffizi day upon revamping my Florence schedule. When I actually got to the museums I had no trouble with their ticket office when getting a ticket through their reservation. Francesca herself was a nice lady, but it took me a while to get used to her hospitality. Compared to the other two hotels I stayed in for Venice and Rome, I didn't get as much hospitality from her in terms of trying to make my stay as welcoming as possible. There was a slight miscommunication with trying to explain to me how the locks worked in the doors but everything was settled within the first day. I highly recommend this hotel for the excellent location to base your Florence sightseeing as the Duomo is central to everything around the city. Should I come back to Florence I'll gladly book this hotel again.

I stayed at the Hotel Duomo over Christmas. As a solo traveler I booked a single room. And while…read moreit was small, it was so perfect. The staff was amazing. I recommend adding the breakfast option bc it had the best of everything, American breakfast options, Italian breakfast options. They even left me a little gift for Xmas! And of course the location is so perfect. It's centrally located so you can stop back by your room to drop shopping bags, rest or use the bathroom (iykyk). Highly recommend!