Cellai Boutique Hotel

The Cellai is full of character and old Italian charm, and its central spot puts you near the Piazzas and shops while still keeping things reasonably quiet. The service was exceptional. Abdi deserves a special mention for his warm welcome, constant smile, and upbeat energy. He went out of his way to make guests feel looked after. Highly recommended!

The room itself was perfect, but the heating was on despite daytime temperatures of 23C. Apparently the air conditioning isn't switched on in April. Breakfast was only okay, and over the three mornings we ate there, nobody offered us coffee or tea. For the price, I think there are better options. We also couldn't use the bar because the attendant's strong body odour could be smelled all the way to reception. It's a great little boutique hotel in Florence, but those issues got in the way.

Those jam tarts at breakfast were hard to stop eating. I was here for six days for a conference, and the stay felt relaxed and easy. Everything is within walking distance. In the evening, hotel guests also get huge complimentary antipasti trays at the cocktail bar. Thoughtful and unpretentious, and I'd definitely come back.

The way ownership handled our complaint made an already upsetting stay even more disappointing. After we raised the incident directly, the offered resolution was parking costs and a bottle of Prosecco, though my wife and I expected the matter to be taken much more seriously. One morning, while she was resting in our room at Hotel Cellai in Florence, a man came in without knocking or warning. She woke up startled and frightened to find someone inside. When she shouted, he told her she should have locked the door. But locking it from inside requires the key to be inserted, and there was no interior toggle lock or second latch. There also wasn't a “Do Not Disturb” sign in the room. I went straight to the front desk and asked for a manager because it seemed anyone could come in from the street and reach the guest rooms. The incident left us deeply unsettled, especially given the hotel's cost and reputation. Florence is beautiful, but we left feeling extremely uncomfortable and disappointed. Guest safety, security, and privacy should be a priority at any hotel, particularly one at this price point.