Residence Porta Al Prato

Residence Porta Al Prato Overview

So I’ve stayed at Residence Porta Al Prato a few times now, and honestly? It’s become my go-to spot in Florence. The thing is, it’s tucked away on Via Ponte Alle Mosse – which sounds fancy but is actually this quiet residential street that most tourists never stumble onto. You’re literally a five-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station, which I mean, you can’t beat that for convenience, but here’s the kicker: you don’t hear any of the train noise. The building sits just far enough back that you get all the benefit of being central without the chaos.

What really got me about this place is how it feels more like staying in a well-appointed apartment than a typical hotel. The rooms have these little kitchenettes that actually work (I’ve made coffee and heated up pastries from the bakery down the street more times than I can count), and there’s something refreshing about having space to spread out your stuff. The staff remembers you after a day or two – there’s this one guy at the front desk who always asks about my morning runs along the Arno. It’s that kind of place where you feel like a temporary local rather than just another tourist checking boxes.

Location-wise, you’re in this sweet spot where you can walk to the Duomo in about fifteen minutes, but you’re also right near some of the neighborhoods where actual Florentines live and work. There’s a fantastic little trattoria called Il Contadino just around the corner that doesn’t even have an English menu – the kind of place you’d never find unless you were staying in this exact area. The Cascine park is practically at your doorstep too, which is perfect for morning jogs or just escaping the marble-and-crowds intensity of the historic center when you need to breathe for a minute.

I will say, if you’re the type who needs to be right in the thick of the tourist action, this might feel a bit removed – though honestly, that’s exactly why I love it. The neighborhood has this authentic residential vibe where you’ll see kids playing in the small piazzas and old Italian men having their evening aperitivo at the corner bar. Plus, parking is actually manageable here if you’re driving (good luck with that anywhere near the Duomo), and the bus connections are solid if you want to venture further out to places like Fiesole or the Oltrarno district.

The only minor thing I’d mention is that the elevator is one of those charming-but-tiny European ones, so if you’re traveling with massive suitcases, just be prepared for a bit of luggage Tetris. But honestly, that’s such a small detail in the grand scheme of things. What matters is that you’re getting genuine Florence living – the kind where you grocery shop at the local market, wave to the same shopkeepers, and actually feel like you’re experiencing the city rather than just visiting it.

Residence Porta Al Prato Accommodations

Reviews of Residence Porta Al Prato

• Good location, with private parking and super friednly staff – Kirill from Luxembourg – 1 July 2025 (9/10)

  Good location, with a private parking close to the city center that’s kind of pedestrian, so not troubles getting there.
  
  What could be improved: It’s mentioned that there is air conditioning, and there is definitely some AC system in place, but I was not sure if it was actually working. It was not hot inside the apartment though, despite quite a heat outside. The building is quite dated.

• Overall a decent place to stay. – Priyank from India – 26 June 2025 (9/10)

  Good and spacious apartment!
  Slightly away from the centre. Easily a 15-20 min walk. A washing/laundry place right in front of the hotel. The staff was very nice and helpful
  
  What could be improved: It was all good. They should provide a good hair dryer instead of a wall mounted hairdryer which stopped functioning after one minute.

• Fabulous base for exploring Florence – Gina from United Kingdom – 24 June 2025 (9/10)

  Great accommodation, clean and spacious. Great base for visiting Florence.
  
  What could be improved: It was quite a walk to the centre, with we were find with although a bit much for our toddler who was travelling with us, however we were aware of this prior as it as clearly stated in the information section.

• Lovely, spacious and only a short walk to the centre. – Sam from United Kingdom – 25 April 2025 (9/10)

  Great value for money.
  Huge space with a nice balcony.
  All the staff were great, in particular Eleonora.
  Clean.
  Only a short walk (15-20mins) to the centre.
  
  What could be improved: It didnt affect ourselves but its worth mentioning that the reception is not 24hrs.

• Very good – Michael from Indonesia – 16 January 2025 (8/10)

  The room is spacious and clean. Bed is comfy
  The coin laundry just in front of the residence
  
  What could be improved: Not a short walk to SMN station, save by the trem.

• Great room and comfortable – Emmy from United Kingdom – 12 November 2024 (8/10)

  Comfortable room with all the essentials.
  
  What could be improved: I thought it was expensive.

• Superb – Frank from United States – 15 October 2024 (9/10)

  Didn’t use coffee/tea. Biscuits and jam very nice

• Very good – Gillian from New Zealand – 11 October 2024 (8/10)

  The place was lovely and clean. Staff very good.
  
  What could be improved: The only down fall was the tv could be updated as we were unable connect to Internet. As we only soeak English we could only get local channels all spoken in Italian

• Overall, I highly recommend this hotel and hope to return in the future. – Marcin from Poland – 26 September 2024 (9/10)

  I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Porta Al Prato, and it truly fulfilled my expectations. The hotel's location is quite convenient, with excellent bus and tram links making it easy to explore Florence, while still being situated in a quieter, less touristy area. If you enjoy walking, it’s just a 20-minute stroll to the heart of the city. The accommodation was spacious and well-equipped. The room was comfortable, featuring a lovely balcony and efficient AC. What stood out most was the friendly and helpful staff, who went out of their way to ensure my stay was enjoyable. They assisted with arranging taxis and even agreed to pick up packages filled with business items before my arrival to make my check-in smoother.
  
  What could be improved: As it is a residence, cleaning is only provided upon request for stays longer than a few nights, typically once a week. This may be inconvenient for some guests.

• Superb – Oana from Romania – 17 September 2024 (9/10)

  I loved the fact that we were pretty close to the City Center, but still not in the crowded area. There were several options of restaurants (good ones), supermarket also located nearby.
  The staff was very helpful with advices and useful information. They were friendly, we loved that.
  The private parking was a big + for us and the price of it also .
  Very clean and comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: –

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