Hotel Kraft

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Hotel Kraft? It’s tucked away on this quiet side street – Via Solferino – that most tourists completely miss, even though you’re literally a three-minute walk from the chaos around Santa Maria Novella station. I mean, the location is honestly perfect if you think about it. You step out the front door and boom, you’re in the thick of Florence’s historic center, but when you retreat back to your room at night, there’s this surprising calm that settles over the neighborhood. The building itself has that classic Florentine elegance – thick stone walls that actually keep the summer heat out (trust me on this one) and these gorgeous original details that haven’t been renovated into oblivion like so many places.

The staff here really gets it – they’re the kind of people who remember your name after one conversation and can tell you which gelato place on Via dei Calzaiuoli is worth the inevitable queue (it’s not the obvious one, by the way). My room had this wonderful view over the internal courtyard, and honestly, I loved hearing the gentle sounds of the city waking up each morning instead of traffic noise. The breakfast setup is solid without being pretentious – proper Italian coffee, fresh pastries from a local bakery, and they actually put out decent prosciutto and cheese. What I really appreciated was how they handle the practical stuff smoothly. Check-in was quick even though I arrived during that crazy afternoon rush when half of Florence seems to be moving around with suitcases, and they sorted out restaurant reservations without making it feel like a huge favor.

Here’s the thing about staying in Santa Maria Novella – you’re close enough to walk to the Duomo in maybe ten minutes, but you’re also right near the train station if you want to do day trips to Siena or Pisa. The hotel sits in this sweet spot where you can explore the Oltrarno district (seriously, cross Ponte alla Carraia and thank me later) or wander toward the Uffizi without feeling like you’re schlepping across the entire city. The rooms themselves are comfortable in that understated Italian way – good linens, reliable air conditioning, and bathrooms that actually have decent water pressure. I stayed there in September when Florence was still pretty warm, and the thick walls kept everything cool and quiet. What really sold me was how the place feels authentic without trying too hard – no fake rustic nonsense, just genuine hospitality in a building that’s clearly been welcoming travelers for years. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels like a real part of Florence rather than a tourist bubble, this is honestly one of the better choices in the area.

Rooms

• Single Room with 1 single bed for 1 adult
• Double or Twin Room with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Triple Room with 3 single beds, 1 single bed and 1 extra-large double bed for 3 adults
• Superior Double or Twin Room with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Quadruple Room with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for 4 adults
• Superior Double or Twin Room with Balcony with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Deluxe Double or Twin Room with Balcony with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for 2 adults
• Family Room with 2 single beds and 1 extra-large double bed for 4 adults, 1 child

Reviews

• Katrina from Philippines (9/10)

  – The staff members were so attentive and helpful
  – They had amenities that made my mother’s stay comfortable (she uses a wheelchair)
  – location is great (not in a loud and busy street but within walking distance to the train station, places if interest, and our favorite pasticceria
  
  Thank you for a great stay! We’ll definitely book this hotel again when we come back. 😊

• Thiffault from United States (9/10)

  Loved the room with a cozy balcony, loved that it had a sofa bed in addition to 2 twin beds. The breakfast was fantastic! So much to choose from and the service was friendly and on point! Loved how you could walk along the river to follow into town!

• Susan from Canada (9/10)

  Everything.

• April from United States (9/10)

  Great family room. Large queen with two twins. Comfortable. Two bathrooms two minibars. Everything in the room
  Worked and was clean. Staff was very helpful. Gym was great. I loved the sauna too. The breakfast was great. Even though I mention some issues this was a great stay.

• Gillianx5 from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Everything was smooth and efficient. From the speedy check-in going forward nothing was too much trouble. There was always a member of staff on hand. All staff were helpful and genuinely wanted to give good customer service.
  Very clean room and whole hotel. Very comfortable bed and bedroom.
  Breakfast was plentiful and good.
  The view from the restaurant on the open-air terrace was great. It was a shame that we had bad weather throughout and could not use the terrace because of this. The open-air swimming pool looked great, but again we could not use it (although it was still heated) because of the rain.
  Location was very good. Very quiet, but with many restaurants nearby. It took about 15-20 minutes to walk into the old town.

• Kurten from France (9/10)

  Spacious, elegant rooms, exceptionally attentive service. The heated pool with rooftop views was great.

• Finn from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Lovely friendly staff and excellent service

• Pearce from Australia (9/10)

  Beautiful rooms with small balcony and large bathroom. Amazing view from the restaurant terrace of Florence. Very friendly, attentive and helpful staff.

• Juliet from United States (9/10)

  Great room and location and facilities. Staff very helpful!!

• Cherise from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Location was excellent, close to the train station and the river with a quick walk to the cathedral and shops. The room has a beautiful cozy balcony and had a great roof top for drinks. the staff were quick with room service

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities