Maison Ginori Guelfa

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Maison Ginori Guelfa? The moment I walked through those doors on Via Guelfa, I felt like I’d stumbled into someone’s incredibly stylish Florentine apartment rather than a hotel. I mean, this isn’t one of those sterile chain places – the whole building has this authentic 19th-century palazzo feel, but they’ve managed to make it feel fresh and lived-in rather than museum-stuffy.

The location is honestly perfect if you actually want to experience Florence like a local. Via Guelfa sits right in San Lorenzo, which means you’re literally a three-minute walk from the Mercato Centrale (and trust me, you’ll want to grab breakfast there at least once). The Duomo’s close enough that you can easily stroll over, but you’re tucked away from the tourist chaos that engulfs the areas right around the cathedral. I loved that I could walk to Santa Maria Novella station in about ten minutes – super handy for day trips to Siena or when you’re dragging luggage. The neighborhood has this wonderful mix of actual Florentines going about their daily business and just enough cafes and wine bars to keep you entertained in the evenings.

What really impressed me was how they’ve nailed the details without being precious about it. The rooms feel spacious by Florence standards (and honestly, by Italian standards in general), with these gorgeous original terracotta floors and windows that actually open properly – you can hear the gentle hum of the neighborhood in the morning, which I found oddly comforting. The staff genuinely seems to care about making your stay work, not just checking boxes. When I mentioned I was trying to find a specific wine shop, the front desk guy actually drew me a little map and called ahead to make sure they’d be open. That kind of personal touch is rare these days. The common areas have this effortless elegance – think contemporary furniture that doesn’t fight with the historic architecture, lots of natural light, and art that feels curated rather than corporate. I spent quite a bit of time in their lounge area just because it was such a pleasant place to plan my days or decompress after walking around the city for hours. One small thing that made a difference: they actually have decent WiFi throughout the building, which isn’t always a given in these older Florentine buildings.

If you’re looking for a place that feels authentically Florentine without sacrificing comfort, this is it. It’s not trying to be the flashiest hotel in the city, but it delivers on the things that actually matter when you’re exploring Florence – a great location that locals would choose, rooms you’ll actually want to spend time in, and staff who treat you like a person rather than a booking number.

Rooms

• Deluxe Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Superior King Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Standard Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Family Junior Suite with 2 extra-large double beds for 4 adults
• Deluxe Family Suite with 4 extra-large double beds for 8 adults

Reviews

• Yaron from Israel (10/10)

  The place was central but quiet, within walking distance of all the points of interest in the city. The room was above and beyond what we expected – large, spacious, modern. You could clearly see that a lot of thought was put into every detail. The host was very welcoming and available and even helped us with recommendations on places and restaurants. It is highly recommended!

• Nicolaysen from United States (10/10)

  Beautifully decorated modern room. Absolutely dream bathroom. The most gracious and attentive host ever.
  
  Extremely convenient location to historic sites but also daily needs – Pharmacy, market, restaurants etc.

• Glenn from Australia (10/10)

  Everything about the Maison was just perfect. From the warm welcome from our host, Pierpaolo, to the beautiful design of our room, with its luxurious fixtures and beautiful fireplace, there was nothing not to love. Nothing was too much trouble and Pierpaolo was always helpful and responsive to any questions. The location was also fantastic.
  This was by far the best place we’ve stayed since we arrived in Europe six weeks ago. We will remember our wonderful stay and will be sure to stay at the Maison again on our next visit to Florence 🤩

• 수빈 from South Korea (10/10)

  Very nice place for us!
  Thanks to awesome kind host:)
  If we'll back here, we'll stay here again!

• Chiara from Ireland (10/10)

  Where do I even begin? I think this is one, if not the best place, I have ever stayed at in Italy. When reading the reviews beforehand, it set really high expectations and they still got strongly exceeded! Pierpaolo is such a charming and outstanding host who will go above and beyond to make your stay as perfect as possible.
  We loved the room!! Everything is brand new, spotless clean and beautiful state of the art furniture & design. The bed is really comfortable and you’ll have an amazing sleep!
  The location of the Maison is unbeatable, you are within walking distance of all the major sites in Florence. We didn’t want to leave because it was so great. We’ll gladly come back anytime!!

• Madison from Australia (10/10)

  The staff went above and beyond to make sure our stay was Perfect, great walking location to all the sites in Florence. The deluxe room was spacious and comfortable, we loved the fire place and would stay here again.

• Melissa from Australia (10/10)

  Pierpaolo was an amazing host and helped us transport our luggage up the stairs to our room on arrival. He also showed us around the apartment and explained everything we needed to know and was very obliging. He recommended dining spots in the city and made the reservations for us. We booked two rooms and had the apartment to ourselves which was great. The rooms are very comfortable and Newly renovated with modern bathrooms. The location is perfect and close to all the sites of the City within walking distance. I would highly recommend staying at this property. Grazie Pierpaolo

• Tracey from United States (10/10)

  Pierpaolo, our host met us at the door and welcomed us warmly. He went on to upgrade our room and share a chilled white wine to get us settled. The room and Pierpaolo were delightful in every way. It will be our go to stay while in Florence.

• Nina from Serbia (10/10)

  Very helpful host and amazing looking new apartment. Both bedroom and bathroom were quite spacious and modern, just 2 minutes away from everything 🙂

• Jennifer from United States (10/10)

  There was a very good bakery and cafe within a block from the apartment.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities