Santa Maria Novella – WTB Hotels

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed in a lot of places in Florence, and honestly? This one caught me off guard. The Santa Maria Novella sits right on the piazza – I mean literally right there, where you can watch the morning light hit that gorgeous marble facade of the basilica while you’re having your espresso. The first time I walked up, I almost missed the entrance because the building blends so seamlessly with the historic architecture around it. It’s not trying to scream “fancy hotel” at you, which I actually loved.

The thing about this location is that you’re in the thick of it without being trapped in tourist chaos. Yeah, the piazza gets busy during the day (especially when cruise groups roll through around 11 AM), but by evening it settles into this lovely rhythm where locals cut through on their way home and street musicians sometimes set up near the fountain. My room – fourth floor, facing the square – had these shutters that actually worked, so when things got quiet around 10 PM, I could open them wide and just… breathe in Florence, you know? The morning church bells are going to wake you up regardless, but honestly, it’s not the worst alarm clock in the world.

What really got me was the staff’s approach to hospitality. The concierge, this guy Marco, didn’t just hand me a generic restaurant list – he asked what I’d eaten already, then steered me toward this tiny osteria on Via della Scala that I never would’ve found otherwise. The rooms themselves feel authentically Florentine without being stuffy about it. High ceilings, original tiles in the bathroom, but the WiFi actually works and the air conditioning doesn’t sound like a freight train. I mean, the shower pressure could be better (welcome to Italy), but everything else just… worked. The breakfast spread was solid – proper prosciutto, decent coffee, fresh cornetti from a local bakery rather than those sad hotel pastries that taste like cardboard.

You know what really sold me though? Walking downstairs at 7 AM and seeing the cleaning crew chatting with the front desk in rapid Italian, everyone clearly comfortable with each other. There’s something about a place where the staff actually seems to like working there – you can feel it in how they interact with guests. Plus, being steps away from the train station means you can literally roll out of bed and catch the 8:15 to Pisa if you want, but you’re also a five-minute walk from the Duomo and all that madness. It’s this perfect balance of convenience and authenticity that’s honestly pretty rare in Florence these days. The 9.2 rating isn’t just marketing fluff – this place genuinely gets the details right.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $224. Superior Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $269. Superior Double Room with View with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $295. Superior Triple Room with 1 single bed, 1 large double bed and 3 single beds for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $313. Deluxe Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $322. Triple Room with City View with 1 single bed, 1 large double bed and 3 single beds for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $385. Junior Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $492. Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $546. Family Room with 2 single beds, 1 large double bed and 4 single beds for Max persons: 4
• Estimated price from: $206. Single Room with 1 single bed for Max persons: 1

Reviews

• Great central location with very friendly staff, the breakfast room was amazing! – Angela from Australia – 11 July 2025 (10/10)

  The location was amazing – very central to everything.
  
  What could be improved: Our room was quite tricky to get to – the hotel is like a maze. We had to take two lifts and up and down stairs. Once we knew our way though all good.

• Magical – Tibouche from United Kingdom – 24 June 2025 (10/10)

  Everything was fabulous The breakfast could have been a bit better though.. But it didn't matter
  
  What could be improved: Breakfast

• Beautiful experience and comfortable – Robert from United Kingdom – 14 June 2025 (10/10)

  Stayed here over 15yrs ago and loved being back. Great location and just as good now as it was so long ago

• Excellent – Giacometti from United States – 5 June 2025 (10/10)

  Staff was excellent
  
  What could be improved: Location

• Exceptional – Marianna from United Kingdom – 4 June 2025 (10/10)

  Beautiful hotel in a perfect location, I love the very Florentine feel of this hotel, stunning
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Lovely. – Neil from United Kingdom – 2 June 2025 (9/10)

  Great location. Lovely room.

• Best most amazing hotel – Zahra from United States – 31 May 2025 (10/10)

  Nicest and kindest staff too notch service
  
  What could be improved: I loved everything

• Grand hotel with impeccable service. – Monica from United States – 30 May 2025 (10/10)

  The staff were friendly and very helpful. We were upgraded to a different room the second night when we complained about how many stairs we had to take. The new room was beautiful and larger too. Also, their housekeeping service was impeccable and possibly the best I’ve had worldwide with prompt response to requests and freshen up services 3X daily when out. Amazing. Also beds, pillows and linens were all luxurious.
  
  What could be improved: It’s older so one has to set expectations on room size and configuration. The hotel is a building that is chopped into many rooms and hallways which included a lot of stairs.

• Exceptional – Rongjing from China – 25 May 2025 (10/10)

  Location，laundry services, breakfast, staff
  
  What could be improved: Nothing. All is perfect

• Great location, great hotel and staff – Nicola from United States – 20 May 2025 (9/10)

  We are repeat customers. Stayed here two years ago and when planning this time, did not look elsewhere.
  Staff is very helpful. Car can be valet parked.
  Rooms are great. Location unbeatable.
  
  What could be improved: No complaints

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities