Alfieri 9

We spent three nights here while visiting Florence, and Sylvia and the staff were wonderfully welcoming. Sylvia helped us with the information we needed to plan our itinerary, and even gave us a little Italian lesson over breakfast in the morning 🤣. CIAO CIAO, see you next time!

The only small drawback, which didn’t bother us, is that you have to go up to the first floor and there’s no elevator. Otherwise, this is a lovely little boutique hotel in a very good location, with friendly, helpful staff. I’d definitely recommend it.

For three nights, the room gave us basic comfort and was clean when we arrived. It’s reasonably well equipped, with a tea set, safe, small fridge, balcony, and little desk. The shower was comfortable, with overhead and handheld options. The decor is cosy too, including in the shared breakfast room. Despite being advertised as a hotel, it felt more like a bed and breakfast, and I found the way it was presented misleading. There’s no staffed reception here, apart from the people preparing breakfast in the morning. After certain hours, guests have to check in across the road at Hotel Villa Liana, which the owners say is connected to this property. Staff told us it’s licensed as a hotel, but didn’t offer evidence or a clear explanation. Once we went to Hotel Villa Liana, check-in was easy, and we paid and showed our documents there. The property takes up one floor in a shared residential apartment building, with no lift. That’s an accessibility consideration that wasn’t clearly explained, and I’ll provide video evidence of it. Laundry costs €30 per bag, which felt too expensive. There are also separate charges for changing towels, shower mats, and bed linen (€2, €1.50, €2, and €6 respectively), if changed before 2-3 days. Breakfast had an adequate range, including pastries, cereal, tea, water, juice, boiled eggs, fruit, and coffee. It’s served only from 8:00 to 10:00 am, and everyone shares one communal table. I’m lactose intolerant and asked for plant-based milk. They provided soy milk, but it seemed out of date or badly stored, and I felt unwell afterward. The staff were friendly, but I was concerned by how they handled feedback. When other guests asked whether the place should be called a bed and breakfast rather than a hotel, staff seemed defensive and unwilling to accept the criticism. One guest told me staff had approached them and asked them to remove an online review after they made the same point. Factual, constructive feedback shouldn’t be treated as a personal attack, and guests shouldn’t feel pressured to take reviews down. Our stay was acceptable for cleanliness and basic comfort, but transparency is a major issue. Guests should know it functions as a bed and breakfast, whatever the advertising says. Clearer communication, fairer prices, and a more open response to feedback would improve the experience.

It felt like waking up at grandma’s house in Florence. Every morning there was a buffet breakfast, with Ms. Silva serving it with a huge smile. My wife and I came for our honeymoon and were welcomed by an angel. She cooked for us and made us feel at home from the moment we arrived. When the airport lost our bags, she even called the operators and spoke Italian to help sort it out. You can walk to everything you need, and the stay felt like a fairy tale. It was more than just a room. We’ll be back in Florence, and we’ll stay here again without hesitation!