Hotel Santa Maria Novella - Florence

I'm not sure I'll ever stay anywhere else in Florence. This hotel hits on all levels - location, price, quality, breakfast, facilities. Our room was nicely furnished and decorated. The breakfast was excellent with all sorts of healthy options. It's hard to beat the location. It's a 3 minute walk to the train station, and you can be at most landmarks within 20 minutes. Stores and restaurants are very close. The Napoleon room is a nice warm place to relax in the evening.

Very very beautifull

1. great location and excellent services 2. hotel is clean and breakfast is good. 3. the roof (which has been reported to have a great view and a good picnic area) is generally locked but i believe hotel staff will open it for you if request.

We visited Florence for a short break to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The Hotel Santa Maria Novella proved to be an ideal choice. It was our first stay at this hotel, and we found that everything on the website was accurate. We were warmly welcomed by the very efficient reception staff, and were immediately offered a complimentary upgrade to a junior suite. Our room was on the fifth floor and had a stupendous view across the Piazza to the church of Santa Maria Novella and to the hills beyond. The room was spacious and elegantly furnished, and the king size bath in the marble lined bathroom was a welcome feature. The air conditioning was very efficient, for both warm and cold (our stay was in October, with sunny days but chilly nights). Breakfast is served in an attractive, light and airy room on the ground floor. There is a wide selection of pastries, charcuterie, cheese, yogurt as well as hot food (bacon and eggs), well supported by attentive and friendly staff. In addition to the bar, there are two lounges, comfortably fitted out with easy chairs and sofas (the 'Napoleon' lounge is shown on the website). One room is designated as a smoking area, which is a bit of a surprise to someone coming from the UK where indoor smoking is a thing of the past. There were in fact no smokers in the room while we were there, but it would have put us (non smokers) from going in, had there been. Our only mark of less than 10 relates to the public areas: the lounges, although elegant and comfortable, are rather small for the size of the hotel. With this one very small reservation, we had a magical time and would certainly recommend the hotel. It is very centrally placed, convenient for SMN station, the shuttle bus from the airport, and all the major tourist sites.

Great location near train station and major sights. Front was desk was very helpful, especially the two young ladies working on days. For the price the rooms and the breakfast were excellent. The room was very large. Would definitely return and recommend!!!

Rooms very clean. Staff really customer oriented. Hotel really well placed. Definitely worth a stay!

Thanks to Venere, we were able to obtain a room, with a spectacular view overlooking the Piazza Santa Maria Novella (normally 520 euro/night) for 183 euro/night. Our room had (obviously) just been renovated and was perfect, with a huge walk-in closet, lighted mini-fridge, and extremely comfortable "king" bed (NOT two "twin" beds pushed together.) The bathroom had inlaid marble in the floor, slab marble wainscoting and tub/shower walls, as well as the latest in plumbing fixtures. The area around Piazza S. Maria Novella is wonderful, as the train station is just on the other side of the cathedral, but out of sight of the hotel. While just a 5 minute walk from the main Cathedral, it is far enough away for the surrounding businesses to not charge as much. (Example: Coca Colas for 1.5 Euro, instead of 3.0 Euro). Also, the "coup de grace" for the location is that there is a gellato store across the piazza that had the best "frutti di bosco" I'd tasted in Florence, and I'd tasted as many as I could.

Very good hotel, in front of Santa Maria Novella and just a 10 minute walk from the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, with quiet and spacious rooms. Recommended to all.

Room and location were fantastic. Staff was not quite as welcoming as others we experienced in Italy. The in room internet service was aweful. Work out facilities were dated. All in all, we'd stay there again!

SMN Hotel is in an excellent location - walking distance to museums, attractions, piazzas, restaurants, bus terminal, and shopping (Mercato Central was fun). We stayed in a superior room which was very spacious and the bathroom was more than adequate for the two of us. The room is tastefully decorated. The breakfast was great and the ladies provided excellent service. By the 3rd day, they brought me my American coffee and a shot of espresso without my having to ask. The only thing I would change is to heed the advice of another traveller to forego the 'view'. We were there the 1st week of April and according to the staff air conditioners can not be used until sometime in May - some govt rule. Well it got HOT so we had to open the windows and people in the piazza party way after the cows came home. One evening a guy sang his heart out til past midnight. Lots of screaching teenagers, bongo-playing insomniac, and folks having a heck of a good time. This all added to lack of sleep for me. So heed my advice - trade the view for a restful sleep!

Breakfast excellent, location excellent, will definitely come back.

Great hotel, extremely well presented A few remaining works going on in the Plaza but this is a fabulous hotel, no doubt about it. We met several front desk staff members & without exception they were outstanding, as were the breakfast staff One of the highest standards of any hotel we have stayed at, a real credit to the hotel & its people Tip: Dine at Roses Mediterranean Restaurant on Via del Parione, simply excellent

The room is spacious and decorated tastly with marble bathroom. 2 minutes walk from the railway station (but you need a good direction to find it in the plaza) and not far from a few good restaurants. It is the best deal in my 10 days travel in Italy as compared with other hotels I got with similar price in Rome and Venice.

Spent about a week in Florence and stayed at the Santa Maria Novella. Selected this hotel based on others reviews and found that even the positive ones weren't enough praise for the location, accommodations and expecially the staff. This hotel far exceeded my expectations. We were made to feel very welcome and comfortable thoughout our entire stay. The staff assisted with tour plans and felt like friends. The location is great and the rooms are more spacious than standard EU hotel rooms. I hope to have the chance to return someday and will recommend to anyone who goes to Florence.

We booked a triple and were given a huge room with a nice view of Santa Maria Novella church. The breakfast was good with the best tasting crissonts ever! Only thing was the maid broke a bottle of our skin cream and did not say anything until we asked at the front desk.

Hotel location was great. No issues with noise. The staff were very helpful with shopping, restaurant and rental car advice. The room was large (by Italian standard). The bathroom was very large and clean. Loved the marble bathtub! Breakfast was very good with a lot of delicious variety. Would definitely stay there again.

Beautiful hotel with a wonderful location.

First time I stayed at Hotel Santa Maria Novella, but I have used several other hôtels in Florence previously. This hôtel is very well situated on the Santa Novella Plaza, the room is lovely and service is very kindly

First time, great place to stay if you want to be in the center but have quiet stay.

This is a true 4 star hotel. Large, nicelly decorated, clea rooms, with marble bathrooms. Location is perfect: downtown, yet quiet. Our room had a very nice view over the square, I ould recommend paying the extra charge for it. Service was ok, Florence is a busy city and the hotel was very busy so off coruse somethings don't go as well. Note: . the hotel is somewhat of a maze, with many stairs, lift hopping, etc. If you have a small baby (not our case) you mind want to go elsewhere. . there is no parking (as in most florence), the hotel will charge you Eur 30/day for vallet parking. Otherwise a great place, would definitely stay there again.

1st time stayer. Would certainly return.

This is a fabulous hotel - probably underrated. The location is brilliant; we were travelling by train and the short walk to the rail station is a real plus. And the proximity to all the major sites is great - all within walking distance - particulary the leather market which was a boon for our shoppers. The staff are friendly and very helpful. The rooms were fresh, clean and large. The bathrooms in particular were impressive. The whole hotel is maintained to the highest standards. Breakfast was terrific. A lot of choices for our family of 5, including a beautiful fruit salad and bacon and scrambled eggs. The food was varied and interesting and the helpful and cheery staff continually kept topping up the offerings. Certainly the best of 6 hotels we stayed in during our 1 month holiday. We will stay here again if travelling to Florence. For other families on a long holiday, there is a laundry close-by in a side street on the other side of the piazza where they will wash, dry and fold a full load for 8 euros. Very useful.

We staid 2 nights. Very nice place close to the train station. Excellent service! Very nice breakfast!

The Santa Maria is a lovely hotel in a good situation for visiting all the sights of Florence on foot .The buffet breakfast included was very good .We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there and would return .

Very good hotel. The room is spacious and had a good view of the Santa Maria Novella Church. The bathroom is clean and the amenity goods were good quality. Several minutes walk to Duomo and main sightseeing areas. The only drawback is the elevator. We had to use two elevators and a stair to reach our room. There are good restaurants near the hotel, a pizzeria and the Buca Mario.

A beautiful hotel -we had a fabulous room right on the square with fantastic views of Santa Maria Novella. The hotel staff are very friendly, the breakfast is excellent and the central location ideal for sightseeing. It is also very quiet considering it is so close to the station. No complaints at all!

The proximity to the train station makes this hotel a convenient location. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is a must see. And do not miss the Basilica cloister which has amazing frescoes.

The room was spacious, clean and well-appointed with a large marble bath attached. We had a great view over the piazza with the the church and mountains in the distance. The hotel is within easy walking distance of all the sights of Florence as well as the main train station. Make sure to visit the gelateria across the piazza (at the corner of Via Della Scala) for the best gelato in Florence! We were very impressed and would be happy to stay here again.

I would highly recommend this hotel. The service was outstanding, the room clean, spacious and well appointed, the bathrooms beautiful marble, the beds large and comfortable. It was convenient for the train station but far enough away that the neighborhood was lovely. It was close to all the sights we wanted to see. The breakfasts were plentiful, the room service competent. Value for money, it stacked up as a great hotel stay. I would go back again in a flash.

Three day stay. Excellent location, near train station, wonderful old hotel with great accomadations. Ellegant. breakfast --superb!!!

The room was spacious and very beautifully decorated, best hotel we have stayed in Italy. Our room type is "superior B&B". Breakfast is excellent, location is superb. The only thing I can complain is that the "Piazza Santa Maria Novella" entirely is under construction, we couldn't hear it at night, but during the day is a mess and very noisy.

Very charming, great staff, convenient location!

We loved this hotel. It made our trip very enjoyable. The rooms were spacious and extremely comfortable. We also enjoyed the rooftop view of the city. It was conveniently located near the train station, yet quiet and luxurious.

Beautiful, spacious room, great staff, a little noisy in the evening due to a bar directly below room, view left a lot to be desired--construction site directly out window, but an awesome view of Santa Maria Nouvella Church!

The Santa Maria Novella was recommended to us by my sisters who have stayed there a few times. The hotel staff was very nice and helpful and you can't beat the location. It is just a few blocks from the train station and bus station. It is also very easy to walk to any of the city's attractions from the hotel. We had a lovely junior suite which had a marble bathroom, a sitting area and a balcony which over looked the Piazza de Santa Maria Novella. The piazza is currently under reconstruction but this didn't really bother us. We would definitely stay there again.

Our stay was fabulous. Easy access to the museums and the sites of Florence. Staff were excellent. A 4 minute walk from the train station (the one from Rome. )Our only negative is that the Santa Maria Square is being renovated and was a construction site, not the fault of the hotel. This was truly the gem of our holiday;London, Rome, Florence and Paris. I will stay @ the Santa Maria Novella again and again. Breakfast was excellent.

The Santa Maria Novella is within walking distance to the train station. Once the piazza in front is completed, it will be quite lovely and scenic. Right now, the piazza in front is under construction, so it is not at all soothing or scenic. However, our room had a direct view of the Santa Maria Novella Church. As it was recommended to me by an experienced traveler in Italy, I would recommend this hotel highly. The staff was excellent and accommodating. The breakfast was awesome!

The location of the hotel is great if you are traveling by train. It is located right across from the train station. The only difficulty we had in finding it - the sign is very small and hidden behind a tree. We asked a local and he pointed us in the right direction.

Wonderful hotel for couples on holiday or business travelers. Large rooms and bathrooms; delicious and generous breakfast buffet. Need to avoid rooms 106/7 and 306/7, which are separated only by a single door that doesn't soundproof. Very convenient to train station, but in a square that will be lovely when renovation is completed.

This was the best hotel we stayed at in a 4 city trip to Vienna Austria and Italy. By far the largest rooms, nicest bathroom, excellent breakfast, beautiful common areas. Lots of nice soaps, lotions, even bedroom slippers for all. It was less expensive and much nicer than the rooms we stayed at in Rome and Venice. And very convenient to the train station to walk with roller suitcases, and also very close to major tourist areas and Duomo. We highly recommend Santa Maria Novella hotel.

I stayed in this hotel with my wife and my son (1 year old). People were very kind to us, room was very good (space enough for a child) and location is perfect (city center). The only negative comment is that our room has not a direct elevator, so we had stairs up and down to get in and out. With a baby it is not comfortable. I strongly recommend this hotel but you must ask for the proper room.

This is very close to the train station and also within walking to sites in Florence. The hotel was nicer than I expected and the breakfast was also very nice.

This is an excellent hotel. The rooms are spacious and quiet. The staff was very helpful. The location is supurb. You cannot do better when in Florence.

Excellent hotel and location. Close of many attraction and the train station. It is ideal if you are planning to go to Siena, Pisa or other destination by train, the hotel is a very short walk, and just a few steps of Santa Maria Novella Church. The breakfast room is very nice as well as the breakfast provided. Receptionist and concierges have been very helpful. We recommend this hotel. Start early, too many places to see, Duomo, Baptistery, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Pontevecchio, Uffizi gallery, gallery della Academia, Piazza della Republica, etc. Local tours will help you a lot to understand the history, sculptures, paints of this unvaluable places. Florence is a place to come back, three days for us was not enough.

The hotel itself was fine and I would normally reccommend it. However, one of the principle reasons for booking this hotel was the wonderful location in Piazza Santa Maria Novella overlooking the church and beautiful square. I even paid an extra supplement for a room overlooking the square. When we arrived the whole square was a building site with the church scaffolded out of site - very ugly. This was not pointed out to me when I specifically asked for a room with a view (and a supplement) and I feel that the staff were wrong to accept my request for the better room without informing me that there was no view to be had. This was rather disappointing to say the least. I would advise anyone considering booking the hotel who is aware of its nortmally exquisite location to check that the bulding work is completed first - they told me it won't be till sometime next year.

A wonderful hotel in a fabulous city. Really close to SMN train station and within easy walking distance to most attractions and restaurants. The room we had was beautiful and the bed was very comfortable. Staff was pofessional and efficient. I highly recommend this hotel. The only downside was the current redevelopment of the piazza so views were somewhat diminished.

Major construction in the Piazza across from the hotel. Thus, a lot of construction equipment and noise. Should be done in a year. Very convinent to the train station. Restaurant recommendations were poor. room was small, but very nice.

A beautiful hotel. It seemed like I was in a world of Vermeer's painting. The bathroom was spacious. Location was nice, too. 5 minutes walk from S.M.Novella station and in front of the Piazza di S.M.Novella. It was not due to the hotel, however, I was disappointed that Chiesa di S.M. Novella was under reconstruction.

The hotel is very beautiful (ancient style) and in a excellent position, close to the railstation (150 meters) and the center. Good services (tea corner in the room, flat TV)

Overall, a nice hotel, small and quiet, staffed by nice people, and very well decorated, offering good to very good value. Potential customers should keep in mind that it does not include a restaurant (there are many in the area), and is "only" on the edge of the historic district (10 minutes walk to the main monuments). On the plus side, breakfast is very pleasant. On the minus side, the Internet connection is miserably slow and unreliable.

Fantastico soggiorno

The hotel itself is nearly flawless. The staff, despite being extremely professional, are somewhat snobbish. I had a feeling of being treated with an attitude. I don't want to speculate the reason behind this, for I think I've fulfilled all the basic responsibilities a hotel guest should have done so, except to look and act like I'm rich and famous, just like most other guests did. Therefore, I don't think the problem is on my side. Anyhow, I wasn't bother by the attitude of the members of staff at all, if you are as care free as I am, you should try this hotel because physically, it's a classy and comfortable hotel to stay in. Otherwise, you'd better use a piece of expensive suitcase or wear ostentatious outfit in order to gain being respected in this establishment.

We had a very nice bedroom (a triple superior) BUT the third persone had a "canapé-sofa" and not a real bed. We didnot have ANY view at all (the window was in front of a wall). The breakfast was poor. The parking is not in the hotel and the way to get to the hotel with your car is not well explained. The decoration is excellent and the bathroom perfect. The beds are very confortable.

Rooms are good firnished and bathroom was quite spacious. Especially the shower was excellent. There was two shower head in the bathroom and one was huge and feel like big water fall !! Staffs are quite kind but reception desk was relatively small and sometime jamed. Unfortunatly, there was building constraction going on next to hotel, so it was not so quiet at our stay.

A perfect reception. high qualified people to manage the hotel and guests. great location. superb environment. my staying in florence for vacation was enhanced by the support from the people at the hotel.

Quaint but absolutely brand spanking new -- That is the description for this hotel. The rooms are beautiful and spacious. The public rooms, bar, etc. are museum quality. It is close to the train station, a bit of a negative except when leaving on the train, but it is close to Il Duoma, Ponte Vecchio bridge, and numerous really good restaurants. The staff helped us arrange a van and a driver for a fabulous day trip to Siena, San Gimingano and the Chianti region. The price was astonishingly low for the quality of the rooms and the hotel. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.

This is a wonderful hotel in a charming area. We could not possibly have asked for more. The staff was friendly and helpful, the rooms very pretty and comfortable. Breakfast delicious and served in a beautiful room. There was some construction immediately beside the hotel, but that didn't bother us. The proximity of the train station isn't a problem. Visiting the adjacent Santa Maria Novella church was one of the highlights of our trip. The shops nearby ranged from designer to artisan. It was easy to spot the popular restaurants as they were always full. Many were quite reasonably priced. In our opinion, the property was worth the splurge.

The Santa Maria Novella, its a beautifull hotel, the room and bathroom are good sise, remember Europe rooms are not big.I could see the Piazza Santa Maria Novela from my two windows room,and that is special.

This is the second time we have stayed at the Santa Maria Novella, and it is without doubt the most beautiful hotel we have ever come across. It is an exceptional hotel, an oasis of luxury right in the centre of Florence. The location, overlooking the church of Santa Maria Novella, is simply perfect.

A really lovely hotel with a wonderful shower! We stayed in a superior room, which was very spacious, with ane extremely comfortable bed. The staff were friendly, it was just a shame that there was not a restaurant in the hotel for when you're feeling lazy.

The hotel was great...perfect location, spacious rooms...outstanding service. I will stay there again when I return to Florence.

ES UN BUEN HOTEL, ESTA BIEN SITUADO EN UNA ZONA TRANQUILA PERO CENTRICA. LAS HABITACIONES SON ESPACIOSAS Y LOS BAÑOS EXCELENTES( RARO DE VER EN ITALIA)

A great hotel, very clean, friendly and with agreat location

This is certainly one of the most ellegant hotels in Florence. I had 1 single and 1 double room for my family and both were great. The rooms were very large and the decoration... just perfect! The hotel staff recommended us 2 restaurants: Buca Mario (which was fairly good) and Cafe Piti (which was excellent!). Believe me, you should try the Cafe Piti. Despite the name "Cafe", this is a large restaurant with nice environment and very high service standards. The food is just great! They offer different dishes but they specialize in truffle-based ones. At Cafe Piti, even the bread was good! (In general, bread in Firenze is bit disappointing, as it has no salt...) Expect to spend 40+ euros per person including wine.

The room was very nice, great bath room, the hotel staff was very nice and helpfull. The location was great to the train station and old city center

We very much enjoyed this hotel. Located near train station as well as central city. Excellent choice, beautiful rooms. Helpful staff.

It's a very fine address for holidays

The restaurant for dinner recommanded by the hotel was inelegant in taste and quality of the food. As a 4 star hotel it should offer much better restaurants so that it will give a satisfaction to guests in accord with the level of the reputation.

Wonderful hotel, excellent location, friendly and knowledgeable staff, great service. It was a little expensive, but "you get what you pay for" as they say. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the station (SMN) - no need for any taxis. Within walking distance of all the major museums, etc and very quiet at night as it overlooks a plaza not a busy street. Staff more than willing to help by printing off museum, church opening/closing times as well as train timetables for our return journey. We paid for an upgrade to a superior room - much more space and the view was to die for (standard room was a bit cramped). A few minor gripes: 1.The room was a little hi-tech (lights and air-con controlled by inserting the key fob into a slot in the wall), but there was no real explanation of how to operate things - I accidentally pulled on the bathroom emergency cord several times thinking it was the extractor fan which resulted in a call from reception asking if I was OK !! This then locked out the air con panel. Sorted out quickly by the front desk. 2. The Satellite TV only had MTV, Eurosport and CNN for english channels 3. No coffee or milk, only teas - fruit, herbal, etc. Strange for a continental country. On the whole though a wonderful hotel that met our needs perfectly. If you can afford it and want a little bit of luxury I would recommend the SMN highly.

Superior room was provided at rate of a standard room. quality of a standard room was uncertain.

Rooms including dining room and lobby are all beautiful. Breakfast is excellent. Very close to down town and convenient.

There was construction all around our hotel., building as well as ground. Knowing this fact in advance, I would not have booked this hotel at ths time.