While Rome and the Amalfi Coast tend to get a lot of hype from American tourists during the summer, Florence remains one of my favorite cities to visit. We stopped in Florence on the way to a wedding in Siena and had the pleasure of staying at 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino.
This hotel sits in the center of Florence’s Old Town in Santa Maria Novella District and is about a 10-15 minute walk to most attractions. Here’s Where to Stay in Florence and everything you need to know about 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino.
Spoiler alert: This hotel is super Instagrammable and offers incredible amenities and features you won’t find anywhere else.
About 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino
25Hours Hotels has locations throughout Europe, each pulling unique inspiration from the destination. At the Florence location, the hotel’s design, created by interior designer Paola Navone and her team, draws inspiration from Dante’s Divine Comedy. This theme is particularly evident in the rooms. I’ll elaborate later in this blog, but the room themes mimic heaven and hell. The rooms guide you through the virtues and vices of Dante’s world.
On the outside, the hotel is located in a restricted traffic area, so it’s quiet and easy to get to by foot. As I mentioned, it’s a short walk to many of Florence’s major attractions.
- Neighborhood: Santa Maria Novella
- Walkability: 10-15 minute walk to most attractions
- Distance to Train Station (for day trips and easy access to/from the airport): 7-minute walk
Pick from Heaven or Hell Room Theme
The hotel offers two room theme choices: “Heaven” or “Hell”. We stayed in Heaven, and dare I say, it felt like heaven on Earth. When booking your room online, you can select from various Heaven or Hell-themed rooms of various sizes. Note: Even within each theme, each room is different! Click here for an example of a Hell-themed too.
The cozy rooms feature one or two single beds and include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers in every room. The best part is all rooms include a free minibar. Gone are the days of paying $20 for a snack when the afternoon or late-night hunger strikes.
We stayed in the “Medium Paradiso with balcony.” We found it was unusually big for a European hotel and perfect for two people.
The Food Situation
The property offers many cuisine options, so you’ll never go hungry while staying at 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino. Perhaps you’re just passing through Florence for the day, a visit to 25hours is still a must. You can enjoy a drink on their terrace or a nice dinner in their restaurant.
Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day for most Italians, but for Americans who are used to a bite in the morning, breakfast is included at the hotel’s San Paolino restaurant every day from 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM.
During the rest of the day, San Paolino offers a mix of Tuscan and modern Italian food featuring the freshest produce this region has to offer. The restaurant sits in a thriving courtyard garden under a huge glass cupola. It is ideal for a date night or nicer group meal.
If cool hotel bars get you excited, look no further than Dolce Amaro Bar Companion. The menu features classics featuring bitters, liqueurs, or vermouth, with the Negroni being a bestseller.
Finally, the Alimentari offers a more casual bakery and café vibe, offering paninis, sandwiches, and salads. It also features a large selection of wine and local products.
The Souvenir Shop
Nothing’s worse than landing in another country to realize you forgot something as important as a toothbrush. Thankfully, this hotel’s elite Souvenir Shop will have all the toiletries, postcards, and books you could need.
The hotel partnered with a neighborhood bookshop, coffee, and coworking space, Todo Modo, to make this vision come to life. I personally purchased Paola Navone’s well-known Serax Fish carafe to take home!
Where to Stay in Florence: Hotel Amenities & Features
Relax in the Sauna
After a long day of sightseeing, nothing compares to a relaxing spa day. As you know, I love a spa, so much so we went to two Turkish baths on our last trip.
At 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino, enjoy the Finnish Sauna before heading to the relaxation room to kick up your feet and relax. This feature is free of charge to all guests of the hotel.
Sweat it out at the Gym
This isn’t your average hotel gym. This gym spreads across two floors: one for classes like yoga and pilates and the other fitted with the best cardio and strength training equipment.
While I opt to get my steps in exploring the city, this feature is a great option if you like squeezing in a workout during your trip.
Catch a Film
Every Sunday, catch a film in the living room style, in-house Cinema Paradiso. You can watch and relax while enjoying a glass of wine, cocktail, and platter of Tuscan’s finest meats and cheeses.
No need to reserve ahead of time. Simply show up, grab a drink, and enjoy the film.
Nearby Things to Check Out
While most of Florence’s top attractions are within a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, there are various activities in the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood to check out.
- 3-minute walk: Grab a drink from a historic “wine window” at the Osteria Belle Donne. You’ll find wine windows all over the city, but we particularly liked this one as it’s on a quaint and quieter street with flowers growing all around.
- 3-minute walk: Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. While not as popular as the Duomo, it was the city’s first great basilica.
- 4-minute walk: Pick up a souvenir at the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella 1221. This historic pharmacy is the original location and is also home to a museum and immersive art experience.
Looking for more Florence tips?
5 Free Things to Do in Florence (& a few to Skip)
Day Trip from Florence to Venice Itinerary
