This hotel is a piece of heaven and absolutely breathe taking!! Our room was spacious, spotless, beautifully decorated, and very QUIET!! The staff was very helpful and gave us several suggestions of place to eat and visit. They have a great breakfast

This is a hidden gem! Via San Gallo was not a pretty street - it was a tight street filled with cars and motorbikes parked on both sides, and there was always students standing around the area... A university/college was less than 100 metres away.

We were apprehensive when pressing the door bell, fearing that I may have made a wrong choice. Upon entering the property, we were pleasantly surprised. We were greeted by the young receptionist who was most friendly and helpful. She started with 'congratulations'. And then I remembered telling the property in my email many months ago that we were going there for our honeymoon. She also delivered to our room a bottle of red wine as a welcoming gift.

The room was very homely, adequate, unpretentious, with emphasis on comfort and warmth. The room was reasonably large, unlike the shoebox we had in Venice. I requested a room with a balcony and we were not disappointed.

The property is not far from the station. It is about 15 min walk to the Duomo. The Accademia (where the statue of David is located) is within minutes of the property. The River Arne is about 20-25 mins away... everything is within walking distance!

Some of the restaurants on Via San Gallo were fairly touristy. We made the mistake of going into one - the only Italians we saw were the people who worked there. So avoid them. We like one on Via Guelfa, just off Via San Gallo (the name appeared as Rist Cafaggi on my credit card statement) - only Italian menu (no English) and only Italian diners. Very good food!

We stayed in this little hotel during a three day city break in Florence in October 2006. From the outside it is unprepossessing - a small door in an anonymous facade, a poky lift to the second floor. But this is when it changes. It has a lovely reception area and several large bedrooms furnished with elegance and decorated in modern, elegant Tuscan pinks and other subdued colours. Loos and bathing facilities well up to standard, and, for us, a little balcony at the back to rest and reflect on the glory that is Florence. Breakfast adequate, and with some nice touches, such as Florentine chocolate cake, to set you up for the day. It is excellently situated to catch the major attractions, most less than fifteen minutes stroll. Forget buses and taxis in the city centre - they wait in queues while you walk past.
Most of all, you are sure of a very warm welcome. We found the staff excellent - friendly, polite, efficient, and extremely helpful. We would certainly go there again. If you would like a superior bolthole at a modest price (roughly €130 per room per night), then this is the place for you.

Rather than staying in the Antica Dimora B&B (which has fabulous reviews on Trip Advisor), my mother and I stayed 4 days in their charming Market House Suite Apartment.

It was lovely fun renting a flat rather than staying in a hotel -- a style of travel which my mother and I always prefer. We make our own breakfasts, usually return home in the afternoon for a light lunch or snack, then out for dinner every evening.

The property was very well stocked and maintained, and the patio would have been fantastic if the weather was warmer. The decor is very charming, and the kitchen adorable.

The only major downside was the very unfortunate smell through the bathroom due to recent rains. We realize such problems come with old buildings in old cities, and my mother and I were still very pleased with the flat, but most others might not feel as comfortable.

Additionally, the flat has no telephone service. Luckily I had my mobile and could call for taxis or other necessities. If you don't travel with your mobile, be prepared to use a nearby pay phone.

The location of the flat is a bit far from the historical centre, but you feel like a real Florentine. Across the street is a fabulous fruit, veg & cheese market which is open nearly every morning. Additionally, next door is the Cibreo restaurant complex which is delicious, and La Giostra (our absolute favourite) is a very short walk away. We usually travelled to and from the city centre by taxi.

We were welcomed to the flat by Umberto, who helped us find all the local necessities (including a nearby grocery for my Diet Cokes and the local wash & dry for our laundry). As a tip, I recommend asking the maid to come every day rather than every 3rd day to make life a bit easier for you.

And finally, I feel I need to make one comment about the service from the Antica Dimora B&B. Two months in advance, I had asked them to make dinner reservations during our stay. They emailed me back confirmation, then I reconfirmed again a week before our arrival. However, three of the four nights there were no reservations when we arrived at the restaurant. We do not know if this was the hotel's or the restaurants' mistake, but I recommend making dinner reservations yourself (most places will speak English).