Il Bargello

This a charming B&B, with a wonderful hostess and staff. The room was clean and inviting, the breakfast was very good (Suzanne makes, as she said, a mean cup of cappuccino!), and we were within walking distance of all the major attractions. It was really a great place to stay for our 3 days in the beautiful city of Florence. There is no lift, so for those who would have trouble climbing stairs, it is something to keep in mind. We took it as extra exercise so we could enjoy more of the wonderful food in Italy!

If you are looking for the perfect b&b in Florence, look no further! My fiance and I always tend to stay in Airbnbs when traveling but opted for a hotel/b&b on this most recent trip to Florence since we wanted an easier check-in process and to be more central to the sites, as well as enjoying a little bit more of the hotel nice experience vs. Airbnb. Il Bargello is in the center of everything, a perfect jumping off point for time in Florence. The hotel is only about a 5 minute walk from Palazzo Vecchio + The Uffizi, a 5 minute walk from the Duomo, a 10 minute walk from Palazzo Vecchio bridge, and surrounded by endless restaurants + shops + architecture. In terms of the hotel, it is an absolutely beautiful, quaint space on the top floor of a building. There is a common kitchen area and wonderful rooftop which was wonderful to enjoy breakfast and apertivo. Suzanne, who manages the property, was an incredibly welcoming + friendly host who spent each morning helping us map out recommendations for our day. Did I mention she also bakes fresh cakes/breads each morning for the guests for breakfast and will wake you up with a cappucino?! This is the kind of service you just don't receive while with an Airbnb and really made our stay so special. She was also able to call us a cab to the airport (which came right to the door, and was only a 22 Euro flat rate). She also recommended an amazing apertivo rooftop bar overlooking the duomo that was the highlight of our trip. We will be back!

We stayed 6 nights in Giotto a good sized room with ensuite and terrace. It was a wonderful experience and Suzanne really made sure it was extra special by taking extra time for every guest. She gave us a 15 minute orientation of best places to eat and where to go as soon as we arrived and checked on our plans over breakfast every morning. She helpfully printed out some tickets we had ordered by email and it was a nice touch to be able to have other tickets sent ahead to the hotel; they were waiting in our room when we arrived. Arrival was easy- they can let you in even if they are not at home via their phone which made it less stressful for us. Breakfast was continental and almost every morning there was also home made cake to add to the fruit, toast, yogurt, cereal and croissants as well as a range of hot drinks or juice. Fruit and biscuits as well as hot drinks were available all day whenever we wanted it. Il Bargello also has a rooftop terrace which was a lovely retreat one day for lunch. The B&B has a selection of plates, cups, cutlery bottle openers etc free to use. Il Bargello was always spotlessly clean. All areas seem to be air conditioned (a must in August) The location is wonderful- 5 minutes to Duomo, 5 minutes to Uffizzi, etc. The only thing you must be aware of the 78 steps up (third floor). This should by no means put you off as it's worth every step, but watch how much luggage you bring!

This B&B is perfectly situated near the Bargello in the centre of Florence. Our room had a sloping ceiling with original wood beams and bricks. It faced onto rooftops and was very quiet. The only noise was the church bells first thing in the morning which we actually enjoyed. The coffee and breakfast is v. nice with plenty of fruit. Either Gabriella or Suzanne, the owner and manager, were there to help every morning. They were both super and speak fluent English, Italian and French. There is a fridge where you can keep a few snacks and drinks. The beds were comfortable, the shower was hot and the air conditioning worked. We appreciated having maid service every day. There is a wonderful roof terrace with views onto towers and the neighbourhood rooftops. Really the only thing that guests should be aware of is that the B&B is on the top floor so there are several flights of stairs. The number of stairs is very clearly stated in the description. They weren't a problem for us (except one evening when we'd already done 26,000 steps...), but don't bring a heavy suitcase!

The B&B is ideally located between two Florence main squares. Close to everything. But that ideal location is, say in two dimensions. If we consider third dimension (vertical) – location is not that convenient: fourth floor (in Europe it is called “third”), 87 steps of a rather steep staircase. Well, it you are ascending this staircase with heavy luggage that may seem too high. But there is an advantage even in this location: the property has a roof terrace with excellent view of other Florence roofs and several towers. Other that height to climb, everything else is very good: clean, friendly owner, who gave us helpful advices about Florence (extended Uffizi hours; where to buy FirenzeCard etc). Breakfast is modest, but that is how normal for Italian B&Bs. Bottom line: I can advise staying in Il Bargello if you are not afraid of climbing 87 steps up.