Palazzo Doni by Florence Art Apartments

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed in my share of Florence apartments, and Palazzo Doni honestly caught me off guard in the best way possible. When you first walk up to Via Antonio Magliabechi – which, by the way, is this narrow street that most tourists never find – you’re not expecting much from the outside. But then you step inside and it’s like… well, you know that feeling when you discover something that actually lives up to the hype? The place has this perfect balance of old palazzo charm with apartments that don’t feel like they’re trying too hard to be trendy.

What really got me was how they’ve managed to keep the historic character without making you feel like you’re sleeping in a museum. The ceilings are properly high (thank god, because Florence in summer), and there’s this natural light that floods in during the morning hours that makes you want to just sit there with your coffee. Speaking of location – and I mean this – you’re literally a three-minute walk to Santa Croce, but you’re tucked away enough that you’re not dealing with the constant stream of tour groups. I actually discovered this amazing little enoteca around the corner on Via de’ Pepi that I never would have found if I’d stayed in the more obvious tourist areas. The whole Santa Croce neighborhood has this authentic feel, especially in the evenings when the locals come out and the piazzas fill up with actual Florentines, not just people taking selfies.

The thing that really sealed it for me was the attention to detail – and I don’t mean fancy amenities or whatever. I mean practical stuff that shows someone actually thought about what travelers need. The kitchen setup actually works (you can make real meals, not just heat up leftovers), the Wi-Fi doesn’t cut out every five minutes, and honestly, the beds are comfortable enough that you’re not waking up feeling like you wrestled with a brick wall. Plus, the whole check-in process was refreshingly straightforward – no weird key pickup locations or confusing instructions. You can tell this is run by people who understand hospitality, not just property management. The 9.4 rating makes complete sense once you’re there; it’s one of those places where everything just… works. And in a city where you can easily drop serious money on underwhelming accommodations, finding a spot that delivers on both the Florence experience and basic comfort feels like hitting the jackpot.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $199. Superior Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $229. Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $249. Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $259. Superior Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $278. One-bedroom Loft Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $278. One-bedroom Loft Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $298. Queen Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $298. Deluxe Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $298. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $398. King Suite with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $398. Deluxe Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $398. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4
• Estimated price from: $398. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4
• Estimated price from: $497. Two-Bedroom Superior Apartment with 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4
• Estimated price from: $1,490. Three-Bedroom Deluxe Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• It exceeded our expectations! Thank you! – Deborah from United States – 15 July 2025 (10/10)

  Great location, very clean and accommodating staff! Thank you!

• Superb – Sabine from Singapore – 8 July 2025 (9/10)

  Beautiful design, great location

• Beautiful old building, new apartment tastefully furnished. Great location. Excellent facilities. – Ma from Malaysia – 7 July 2025 (10/10)

  Perfect for families – options for 2-3 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms with showers, toilet with bidets. Complete facilities for an apartment including refrigerator and freezer, washing machine/dryer (for bigger apartments), Smart TVs in every room (we had 3 in our apartment), internet wifi, coffee maker, air conditioning, ceiling fans. I just want to make a special mention on the air conditioning especially because of the current heat wave – this apartment was amazing – they installed a second air conditioner in the bathrooms to supplement and cool the bedrooms even more and there was a ceiling fan to drive the cool air down. That is awesome after a long day out.
  
  Location was excellent – near Santa Croce where Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli were buried. Also minutes away from a supermarket (Conad – less than 5 minutes walk) and near good restaurants. 450m away from Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria. The apartment itself had a nice view.
  
  Staff was helpful and greeted us at the entrance of the property – they are easily reached via WhatsApp and are responsive to any queries. Check in and check out was fast and easy.
  
  The building is old and has a tantalizing bit of history – there's a painting at Uffizi called Doni Tondo which was might have been painted in the building or for the building owner by Michelangelo. It was also a former furniture shop before which explains why their lift was so spacious unlike most minuscule lifts in older buildings.
  
  It was renovated and in 2025, started operations so everything is really new and works well. It's a real hidden gem in Florence.
  
  My husband was very impressed – we would most likely book this apartment again should we return to Venice.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing I did not like. If I may suggest though – to have some ice cube trays and a couple of bottles or a pitcher for storing water in the refrigerator (water from tap in Florence is drinkable) will be a nice touch.

• Beautiful comfortable apartment – Miriam from Australia – 2 July 2025 (10/10)

  The apartment is newly renovated and beautifully fitted out. Has all the small details you need including a tote bag to do shopping
  
  What could be improved: We loved it. It was just a little out of the main part of Florence but really only another 5 minutes walk. This was only a problem because it was a heat wave when we were there

• We enjoyed our stay and will recommend to friends – Joseph from Philippines – 1 July 2025 (9/10)

  The character of the room
  Cleanliness
  Security
  The luggage storage facility
  Prestige of the apartment hotel
  Staff friendliness (Silva) and attentiveness
  
  What could be improved: The bedside wall lamp needs to be changed it's blinding when turned on.
  
  The step down of the bathroom is dangerous especially at night.
  
  The elevator door is dangerous, it closes immediately and no sensor.

• Perfect location, beautiful apartment, great staff! – Julia from United Kingdom – 18 June 2025 (9/10)

  Perfect location, beautiful spacious apartment with everything we needed – lovely and quiet too, the staff were great and really friendly and helpful. We were very grateful to have air con in the room too.

• Beautiful and convenient for tourists – Faina from United Kingdom – 14 June 2025 (8/10)

  It was great, beautiful and functional
  
  What could be improved: Could do with more dishes, and condiments plus conditioner

• Beautiful expensive stay – Lyudmila from United States – 12 June 2025 (10/10)

  The place was perfect and beautiful. Do I think its worth the price? no. You could find something good enough thats cheaper in Florence
  
  What could be improved: The price

• Beautiful historic flat in the heart of Florence – Rae from United States – 6 June 2025 (10/10)

  An amazing property in the heart of Florence! 10 min walking to practically everything in the city center, but out of the hustle and bustle of Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. Truly great stay for the price, you cannot beat it!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing 🙂

• A quiet, understated luxury with every necessity catered for. – Van from South Africa – 31 May 2025 (10/10)

  The apartment was one street removed from the chaos of the tourist flow and a short walk to the river. We had a duplex apartment and enjoyed having our bedroom separated from the downstairs living area. We were able to do our laundry during our 8 day stay and it was super convenient having a dishwasher, fully fitted kitchen and air-conditioner in every room. We loved having a coffee and pastry shop downstairs for morning treats and found the restaurant Dimsum, right next door, excellent for late night snacks and take-aways to enjoy on the rooftop patio. Our apartment was a welcome reprieve from the chaos of the city and made our stay in Florence one that we will remember fondly.
  
  What could be improved: Typical to apartment living, you can at times hear your neighbours. The downstairs bathroom's drain smelled a bit but once we started using the shower it disappeared

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities