Torte Lini

We’d happily stay here again if we return to Bologna. The hosts were welcoming and put out a generous breakfast. We arrived from the airport by taxi after midnight, but they sent clear directions for finding the place and getting in. It’s not in the city center or right beside the station, which may not suit everyone. For us, the 10-minute walk from the station was easy, and the pavements were well lit.

The location is convenient, just outside Bologna’s historic center, with a parking space right in front. Still, I wasn’t comfortable here. I couldn’t really tell what kind of place it was, and it felt a bit shady. The rooms are spread across three apartments in a dark housing complex, each with a heavy fire door at the entrance. We were taken to one of two rooms in a separate apartment. It had a lockable door and an ensuite bathroom, but it still felt like sharing with a stranger. We were told the other bedroom would be empty that night. Then at 12:30 am, two people suddenly came in noisily and started a little party in the kitchen outside our room. We had to tell them to be quiet. It felt more like a hostel than a B&B. Our room and bathroom were quite dirty too. There was a large mould stain below the AC, dust, and hair among the towels. Bars were fitted outside all the windows, so I’m not sure what would happen in a fire or other emergency. After that rough first night, we complained and were “upgraded” to the “junior suite,” a separate apartment we didn’t have to share. It was definitely better, though still not very clean, and noise from the upstairs neighbours was loud. The staff could see how distressed we were and really tried their best. Breakfast is served in the third apartment, where five more double rooms are located. The food leans sweet and is prepared nicely, but the owner seemed stressed and distracted while making it. On our second morning she asked if we wanted scrambled eggs. We said yes, but never got them because she moved on to five other things. The small seating area can also get crowded. In the end, the whole operation felt like it was in a grey zone, with savings coming at the expense of safety, cleanliness, and the customer. We were very glad to leave.

The train and bus stations are very close, which made this a good place for our Bologna stay. We got a lovely welcome, and the room was clean, nicely decorated, and had a really comfortable bed. Breakfast was good, with lots of homemade cakes. Coffee was available all day, along with some cake, which made a nice treat after sightseeing.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and getting in touch with them was easy. Our room was very clean, with a comfortable bed and Wi-Fi that worked perfectly. It’s a cozy, chic place if you want to stay near Bologna Central station. The window faced the train tracks, but with it closed we had no trouble with noise overnight.