Hotel Degli Orafi

My wife and I and two other couples stayed at the Degli Orafi in September prior to embarking on a cycling trip in Southern Tuscany with Backroads (See Trip Advisor under Backroads if interested to know about the cycling trip). First off, I had made all the reservations since I speak Italian. Upon arrival, I announce myself and present an e-mail with my reservation confirmation. The front desk chap looks at me funny, goes back into his office for a minute, then comes back and says, "your reservation was for last night!" My face turns white as I realize I screwed up the date due to the change in day from travelling overnight from North America to Europe. The manager sees my distress and says "Tranquillo", meaning "chill, Dude" in Italian. They had a last minute cancellation and were able to accomodate us. As it happens, he gave my wife and I a room that was really an entire 2000 s.f. apartment! It was brand-new and massive. Two entire bedrooms, each with en-suite. A full living room, dining room, I mean over-the top ridiculous, all for the 300 Euro rate I had booked at. Needless to say, I was extremely grateful that we had any rooms at all on a busy Saturday night at the height of the tourist season in Florence.

Aside from this, it's really a marvellous choice for a hotel. First of all, it's located dead-centre in the heart of Florence, right near the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi. You could not ask for a better location. The rooms are modern, pretty, and it definitely has a boutique feel. The breakfast room is beautiful, and they give you a full breakfast. Really, a wonderful place to stay in a wonderful city, in a wonderful country.

We had a great time at the Hotel Degli Orafi! It's such a perfect location! We had booked two standard double rooms but they upgraded our daughters to an apartment of their own. Our traditional standard room was very nice, had a pretty view, vaulted beamed ceiling, and a great bathroom with excellent amenities. Their apartment had two bedrooms with single twin beds in each, two full bathrooms, living room and well equipped kitchen all decorated in a modern IKEA type style. They were very happy to have their own bathrooms. We especially enjoyed the roof top bar as an escape from the crowded streets of Florence. It was great to be able to sit out there with wine and hors d'oeuvres and enjoy the fantastic view of the River Arno and the Duomo. We happened to be celebrating a birthday and the staff sent up a tray with a bottle of champagne to our room. The breakfast room is gorgeous with a large selection of food. The staff was very helpful in recommending restaurants, answering questions, etc. We especially enjoyed the Ristorante Buca Mario. We drove to the hotel and they had a service that came to pick up the car at the hotel, stored it, and then returned it when we were ready to leave. Loved the Hotel Degli Orafi and would recommend it to anyone!!!

The Hotel degli Orafi is very clean, has a friendly and helpful staff, an excellent breakfast and is very conviently located to all the attractions of Florence. Our room was very nice, although the shower stall was small and cramped. The one problem is that if you are arriving by car, the hotel is rather tricky to find. We crossed and recrossed the Arno three times in our efforts to find the place, even after asking directions in another hotel. It's on a small side street off the Lungarno and easy to miss. The many one-way streets compound the problem. Once there, however, it's a great place to be.

There is no restaurant (except for breakfast) but there are many excellent restaurants within easy walking distance. There is a very nice roof-top terrace and bar. If we return to Florence, we would certainly stay there again.

As a business traveler for over 15 years I've stayed in my share of hotels around the world. But I have to say that Hotel degli Orafi in Florence gives even the Ritz Paris a run for its money!

To say the location is perfect is an understatement. It is located in what feels like the center of the city- literally steps from Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio, and just around the corner from Piazza della Signoria. This makes it an absolute joy to walk home to every night.

The bathroom was spacious and had unparalleled water pressure as well as a full bath, double sinks and gorgeous modern fixtures. Trust me, this matters; especially when you're doing six-hour walking excursions through the city and surrounding countryside.

Breakfast was excellent and included caviar, meats and cheeses, granola, several flavors of yogurt, full pastry and bread selections as well as fresh juice and fruits. It really seems like they deliberately try to cater to all cultures, diets and tastes. Coffee and teas are all made to order by very efficient and courteous waitstaff.

Every night they left little gifts for us at turndown service as well as information on the weather for the following day. Each afternoon the staff at the front desk would offer suggestions for dinner and make reservations for us- and each time was a real treat. (We definitely felt as though we had the "inside scoop" on restaurants -- and did I mention the food was just wonderful?!)

Oh, and be sure to have a pre-dinner drink with Mossimo on the fifth floor terrace and lounge! He's a riot and we had so much fun drinking wine and taking in the breathtaking views of Il Duomo on one side and Santo Spirito on the other side!

We also stayed at the Grand Hotel Florence during this trip. At almost three times the price, the Grand Hotel represents nowhere NEAR the value that Hotel degli Orafi does. In fact I would rate them equal in service and amenities, though they're very different in terms of "style".

If you're looking for a magic getaway to Italy and Florence is in your plans, don't waste your time looking any further! Book this hotel now and consider paying extra for a river view. You will not be disappointed with this little boutique gem located in the heart of old town Florence.

My wife and I recently stayed at the Degli Orafi for four nights in May. The hotel is perfectly situated between the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio and is in easy walking distance to/from all the main sights. They have a very good breakfast, with both cold and hot foods, and make excellent coffee to order. The staff is exceptionally friendly and took care of all our needs, including reserving advance tickets to museums and arranging for private tours in the surrounding Tuscan country side. A wonderful experience all around.

So my partner and I spent 2 nights at the Hotel Degli Orafi as part of our time in Florence. We arrived in Florence from Venice and upon arrival at the hotel we were greeted by Nina at the front desk who checked us in and was more than polite and gracious. She gave us a map of the area and made us dinner reservations at a really great restaurant.

The first room was well decorated and had everything one needs for a successful stay in Florence. The decor was modern and reminded me of W hotels only not as darkly lit. Our first night as part of turn down they gave us t-shirts which was a nice touch.

I would say the best feature of the hotel is the location. It is located right on the Arno River between the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. The location cannot be matched.

There is an upstairs bar with a roof terrace which gives you stunning views of Florence while you sip a glass of wine and take it in. Massimo at the bar is great. We paid for the breakfast and it was well worth it. The food was amazing and the service was stellar. We have stayed in many nice hotels and this was one of the best. The price was good for the hotels in the area, the location can't be beat and the service was top notch. What more can you ask for? Our next trip to Florence will include a stay at the Hotel Degli Orafi.

This was my second stay at the hotel and it was just as wonderful as the first. The staff, the location, the breakfast and the roof top bar all make for a wonderful stay in Florence. My only complaint are the mattress' are a little hard for my liking. I am planning to retun in October of this year and will again stay here.

After reading reviews we selected this hotel. What a great choice. Next to the Ufizzi, close to the Ponte Vecchio, right on the River Arno. Walking distance to absolutely everything. The staff were helpful, the hotel was beautiful, and the location could not have been better. If I am ever again in Florence, this is where I will stay.

I went at the end of March with 4 female friends. 3 had single rooms and 2 shared a twin. I had been there before on my own and had suggested it. I was therefore a little nervous as to whether it would be as good as I remembered. We weren't disappointed at all. The hotel was lovely. They have the best appointed single rooms I have ever stayed and the free water in the mini bar is a really lovely touch.

We were lucky with the weather so made good use of the rooftop bar. Breakfast was lovely and the location is absolutely perfect. For such a central spot, the rooms are very quiet. It is a four star hotel and can seem expensive at first glance. They often have special offers on if you book direct through their website and we got a really good deal. The twin was just over £100 per night for the room incl breakfast and the single cost about £250 for 3 nights which is really good for such a high standard hotel.

I don't think i would actually stay anywhere else when i go back to Florence.

This was our second trip to Florence and our first time to stay at Hotel Degli Orafi. I don't think we will ever stay anywhere else in Florence. We absolutely loved our stay here. There were four of us and we had originally each reserved two "classic double" rooms (their lowest level double rooms). When we arrived, they said they were upgrading us to their apartment suite for free - which was essentially two double standard rooms (each with its own bathroom) plus a nice sitting area and a kitchenette. The apartment suite was absolutely wonderful - very clean, modern and spacious. It was on the "5th" floor, but for people who didn't want to take the stairs, there was a lift immediately outside the door. I don't know what a regular double room looked like, but if they were as updated, spacious, and clean as what we had, I wouldn't hesitate staying there every time. The breakfast buffet was the best of the three hotels we stayed at during our trip to Italy and the rooftop bar (and the bar staff) were exceptional. The location of the hotel is perfect - just past the Santa Maria bridge (I highly doubt that is the real name, I believe this is the street name - it is the bridge over the Arno that has all the shops on it) and right next to the Ufizi Gallery. As Florence is pretty "small" (relative to Rome), everything is within comfortable walking distance. We definitely will be returning to Florence and the degli Orafi hotel again!!

This boutique hotel is a little gem. The room was well decorated with all amenaties.

Breakfast was overlooking the river. A big bonus was the rooftop terrace and bar.

This hotel ,although expensive as all of Florence is, was beautiful. I thought I had requested a room facing the Ponte Vecchio and at first was dissapointed that we didn't get one but our room was a silent haven in a very noisy city. We had a Junior suite, the room was on 2 levels so anyone with a problem with stairs be warned. The toilet is on the ground floor bedroom up steep stairs. Breakfasts were fantastic and all staff very courtious

I am writing this having literally returned home from staying at this wonderful hotel.

My wife and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary during our stay, and at the time of booking, via a website agent, I asked if there was anything that could be done to make our anniversary a little extra special would be much appreciated.

We were delighted to find we were given one of the new Appartment Suite's with a compimentary bottle of sparkling wine.

All of the staff, without exception, are really geared to making your stay as friendly and as comfortable as possible.

As for the hotel, it is spotlessly kept and very well placed for all the major sightseeing attractions.

To all the staff at Hotel Degli Orafi - thanks for making our stay extra memorable!

Location: smack next to Uffizi. Rooms were very clean and modern. Public spaces are plentiful and well done. Breakfast room is spectacular, with murals on the ceiling. Breakfast is very good, with all the usual plus eggs and meats. Wifi available for payment. The bar has a view of the Duomo. An incredible bargain in the shoulder season at 125 euro. I would have paid double that and not blinked.

Fantastic location, right next to Uffizi museum (literally) and right on the river. Was within one block of the famous bridge with all the shops on it (Ponto vecchio).

Room was spacious with fantastic, marbled bathroom.

Front desk staff all very helpful and friendly.

The included breakfast was amazing - huge selection of foods.

Amenities - there is a great bar and small restaurant on the top level of the hotel (with fantastic views) as well as a business center with internet access (have to pay for access however).

Overall, no negative issues at all. Really enjoyed this hotel!

This hotel was absolutely fabulous! The hotel is adjescent to the Uffizi Gallery and is in the optimal location. Very close to all of the attractions and also very quiet. The rooms and bathrooms were outfitted with brand new fabrics and marble. Very clean and had a120V American power outlet. Our basic double was of ample size. I observed the floor plans near the elevator on each floor and noticed that our large room was actually smaller than most others. One of the most luxurious hotels I have visited. Staff was very friendly and even prepared a boxed breakfast for our 5:00am departure. The breakfast room overlooks the river and the Ponte Veccio, and the food was great. You will certainly be satisfied with your stay!

We had a fantastic stay at the Orafi in an apartment/junior suite. Full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with living room. Very clean and quiet.

If you have a student at Kent State University, Florence (Firenze) - this is a perfect location to be near the University and a welcome luxury for the student abroad!

The other reviews are accurate for descriptions of the property.

I just got back from two full weeks at the Degli Orafi in Florence. I picked the hotel from reviews on Trip Advisor and elsewhere. A central location and modern conveniences were most important to me. Most important of all was a room with a view, and I got a room with a view of the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio--just steps away.

This hotel is so centrally located that we walked everywhere, even tho I am not much of a walker. This is really important in a densely packed city like Florence. It's not a city for cars or much public transportation. We were next door to the Uffizi and just blocks from every major sight.

Because Florence is so crowded, it was a blessed relief to enter our cool, quiet hotel each day, even for a quick wash-up. The building is very historic but was completely re-done a few years ago. It felt new and clean and so had the best of both worlds.

There is a fantastic roof-top bar with indoor and outdoor sections--very spacious and full of comfortable chairs and tables. The views are amazing. On one side, you gaze at the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio; on the other, the Arno and Ponte Vecchio. Light meals are available.

The breakfast room has to be the most beautiful in Florence. You feel as if you are eating in one of the galleries at the Uffizi. Vaulted, frescoed ceilings and, at one end, the Arno view again. Service is impeccable with a wide variety of hot and cold choices. Spotless linens are changed quickly and unobtrusively between each set of guests.

There is a "business center" with a computer you have to pay to use. They could definitely use another computer or two but the room is like a large, panelled library, with remains of historic frescoes visible.

My room was all I dreamed of. Again, superb service and everything I asked for attended to immediately. Fresh, cool linens changed every day. A small fridge for my juice and other food. A TV with two English-language stations. Nice toiletries and a free paper of my choice each day.

The lobby is Italian modern in design, with several comfortable seating areas. The desk was attentive. They were businesslike and professional. I did not notice any rudeness or conflict in the two full weeks I was there but they are not warm and chatty the way we Americans often are.

One thing I liked was the mix of nationalities among the guests--American, English, French, German, Italian, etc. I enjoy that when I travel. I don't like big hotels full of tour groups or one nationality only.

The Degli Orafi is a fantastic hotel and I strongly recommend it to anyone going to Florence.

I had a great stay in Florence. This hotel is in the best location - right between the Uffuzi and the Ponte Vecchio. The accomodations are very nice and clean. I found the front desk people to be very nice and helpful. The breakfast was very good and the breakfast room has a beautiful ceiling - it reminds you that you are in a place of beauty which Florence definately is. The Accademia and Uffuzi museums were great. Seeing the David up close took my breathe away. Make sure you go to see the Gold Doors and the inside of the Dome.

Europeandestinations.com showed hotels with user reviews and this was high on the list of recommended hotels in Florence...part of our package deal. My 20 year old daughter and I stayed in this hotel for 3 nights..they upgraded us to an apartment for some reason....living/kitchen/dining, king bedroom, bath, entry, etc. Was great, especially after staying n tiny hotel room in Rome for 3 nights. VERY HELPFULL PLEASANT STAFF...advice, restaurant reservations, etc. Breakfast offered was a good variety of foods including some hot items. Top floor bar/rooftop view was great after long day of sightseeing. Right beside the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, river, and within walking distance to most other sites, etc. I am not sure about the price/value since this was part of a package deal.

Our travel agent chose this hotel for us and I wasn't expecting anything special - I was wrong. This is a truly wonderful hotel in a great location, just down the street from the Ponte Vecchio. Staff are wonderful and hotel has a lovely quaint feel to it. There are lots of sitting rooms/places to unwind on each floor of the hotel so you don't have to be stuck inside your hotel room. The bar on the top floor is fantastic, great place to relax after a long day sightseeing. Met lots of lovely fellow travellers there and exchanged stories about different places we had visited. Overall felt we could have spent two days inside the hotel and had a lovely time!

We had numerous options before returning to Florence in July for a three night stay at Degli Orafi. We chose this hotel because we had stayed there once before and had a good idea of what to expect. Before you go, rent or buy the movie "Room with a View". The movie was filmed here....and like us, you can gain a better idea of what to expect. The location and views from the hotel are perfect!

We feel the breakfast is very good by European standards. Don't expect big fluffy pancakes or a ham and cheese omelet you would find in New York. You're in Florence! Expect scrambled eggs (always over-stirred in Europe during the cooking process), small sausages, bacon (also...always undercooked a bit in Europe for our taste) fresh fruit, cereal, salmon, fresh breads/rolls, vegetables, yoghurt and cheese. We love it! There is plenty of selection, and you can always find a healthy combination for a welcome start to the day. On top of this, the setting is perfect. Others have posted pictures of the ceiling and eating area, as well as the library

The bar on the 5th floor is a must visit. Massimo and Anna are simply a great team.....very helpful and always attentive. The views are absolutely perfect and the appetizers (which were excellent) can almost serve as meals. Highly recommended!

The recent remodeling in the entry area was extremely well done and made the entire area more expansive and comfortable. The front desk crew were also good. The credit card machines were broken down when we left and they were struggling to accomodate everyone waiting to check-out. Such is life! We also wanted a taxi to Pisa and they had some challenges with this request (I should have planned ahead), but I will give them a very high grade for effort. They managed to provide a car within 15 minutes. Again, I was probably the one to blame here....but, heck....I'm on acation and allowed to become a bit mindless for a few days.

This is not a business hotel. Don't expect a business desk in your room, Wi-Fi, numerous power outlets and a charging station. Frankly, I somewhat enjoy this, as I have a real excuse to say...."sorry, we were temporarily unavailable".

From our perspective, it really doesn't take much to find the inner beauty of this property. From the quaint, antique, main elevator and the difficult hotel entrance to initially find. There are no neon signs flying over this place! Perhaps it's somewhat like a treasure hunt.

Someone said it earlier. Reasonable people will sincerely enjoy their stay at Hotel Degli Orafi. Thank you Degli Orafi!

We will return!

My daughter and I just returned from a wonderful 4 night stay at the Degli Orafi. We LOVED this hotel and it's staff! It is perfectly located for easy walks to everywhere in Florence. Our room was on the second floor and was in a very quiet area of the building. The rooftop terrace was an absolute highlight of our stay here. Massimo and Anna took very good care of us as we enjoyed our drinks, appetizers and views every evening. Some nights we came back after dinner for dessert and wonderful ambience! The breakfast is by far one of the very best I've ever encountered in European hotels. Huge selection and all you can eat. The staff at the front desk (especially Giulio and Christiano)went out of their way to make wonderful restaurant recommendations and sightseeing options. If you can swing it, I highly recommend hiring a car and driver (done through the hotel) to take you to the Tuscan countryside. Another highlight for us! After reading another TA review of this hotel we almost didn't book it because of the comments about the hard beds. (I have a bad back). However, we took a chance and are so thankful that we did. The beds, while firm are not hard. My back actually loved the mattress. In our opinion you can't go wrong by booking here. You'll be glad that you did!

We booked in to the Degli Orafi for a treat on our last night in Italy and upon return to Florence (we kicked off trip with two nights at the Globus Hotel before heading to Lake Trasimeno and San Gimignano)

We had already visited the hotel the week before to ask that they make dinner reservations for us for the night of our stay, they booked us into the best steak restaurant in town (in the end we arrived a little later at the hotel than expected , cancelled our reservation and headed to a place we'd eaten at on our first night)

So to hotel

Reception: Staff helpful, reception not large or very impressive. In fact walking to the lift I thought 'oh no' due to tacky posters on the walls etc.

However upon arrival on our floor we could see it was a bit grander!

Rooms

We had what I imagine was a bog standard double: small perfectly formed, good bathroom, loads of towels and a good supply of toiletries , sewing kit etc - a bit of a rarity in italy.

Only problem with room (apart from no view!) was no power sockets - could only find one in bathroom , not so convenient for charging PC.

Nice touch was the sleepshirts on the bed.

Location - what can I say, everything on door step, including great deli if you need a pack lunch etc.

Top tip - book tickets for the galleries in advance - queues horrific

Hotel roof bar - when I think about my week in italy (a wet week in May) I would not trade the hour spent on the roof bar when we arrived at the hotel , sitting in the last of the days sun, sipping a glass of prosecco and munching on the nibbles provided . The roof terrace is tiny - 5 tables each seating 4 max, but it has views out over the Arno in one direction and views of the town hall, doumo and hills in the other. Priceless

Likewise our nightcap on the roof terrace was picture perfect too, and surprisingly only 2 other tables taken.

On the day of our departure we were scheduled to get a 4pm train so had breakfast in the amazing breakfast room, it was really nice, although not quite the 'american breakfast' i'd been expecting - I wanted pancakes and waffles! but a great start to the day for us. We then went for a walk across the river and up to the Piazzele Michelangiolo as had missed that when we arrived due to bad weather. We then decided to return to the hotel, used our vouchers for the free drink at the roof top bar (you must put drinks on your room - no cash, so once you've checked out not supposed to go back up!) and soaked up our final views of florence before heading away.

Overall, the hotel, well the views, were worth every penny and it did feel like a real treat, however important to bear in mind you are paying through the nose for the location and views (which are perfect) our bog standard room was clean and comfy but not super luxurious.

BAd point _ we had room 107 which is very close to the breakfast room - even closer to the kitchen - which meant being woken up very early with the sounds of the preparation etc luckily we wanted to wake early but maybe not that early.. something to consider.

Overall a night at the defli orafi should be something everyone does in florence - even if it means living 'cheap style' for the day -eating pizza on the go , and avoiding the boutiques.

The peace and the views from that roof terrace were to die for, not to mention the jealous looks from all the people walking along when you walk into the hotel!

We chose this hotel after spending (too) many hours looking for options. The reason for the stay was a surprise break for my mother's 70th birthday. The whole experience was excellent. Our room was a standard double on the side of the hotel but we asked for, and were given, a complimentary upgrade, for the old lady who got a junior suite overlooking the Arno. There was also complimentary 'champagne' in her room on the day of her birthday.

The reception staff could not have done more to be helpful, although we arranged tours etc. via the booking website. The restaurants they recommended were all very good (but don't bother with the trattoria just up the road - which they did not recommend).

The rooms were clean and comfortable with linen/towels changed daily with similarly regular re-stocking of the minibar. Breakfast was extensive and the breakfast room very impressive.

I travel regularly for business and, while not in the super-luxury bracket, this hotel more than served its purpose and we would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone wanting comfort and convenience.

Pros: location, location, location.

Cons: lift broke down for a day (but there are two) and the beds are a little firm. The bar has a great view but is quite expensive. Lack of a restaurant can be irritating but the bar does snacks.

But for the price and location, it takes some beating. Do yourself a favour and stay there. You are unlikely to be disappointed unless you are unreasonably demanding, in which case you should pay (a lot) more and stay somewhere else. Any reasonable person will love this hotel.

I stayed here as the third of five hotels in a trip to Italy on honeymoon. It was by far the best hotel experience I have had and it was all in the small things, from the way the staff fussed over us without managing to intrude, to the quality of the rooms the breakfasts, roof bar, the price of drinks, helpfulness of everyone. The room, including its size, was just amazing and was serviced twice a day, once to clean it and second to get it ready fro you at night. The bathroom was four times the size of my previous hotel. The hotel is 75m from the Ponte Vecchio and is on the middle of everything you need to wander and see, literally 100m from everything. The main Piazzas have all manner and prices and the there is street entertainment that gathers huge crowds and is terrific. I loved Florence and the hotel did nothing but enhance every aspect of my stay.

Had two rooms (familiy of 4) which were across hall from each other. We were on second floor, never heard much noise from other rooms. I'd say this is a 4 star hotel...staff very helpful in getting us cabs to train station (when it was time to leave), tickets to Uffizzi (we were off season, so we weren't worried about availability), dinner reservations. Staff's english very good. The included breakfast in the morning was delicious...cappuccino was suberb, but then again, rarely do you get a bad meal in Italy. There was tons of food and we could linger as long as we wanted at breakfast. Rooms were of normal size, warm (we could regulate the heat), quiet (we did not overlook the Arno which was fine with us) and the place was very clean. Heated towel rack in bathroom, soaps, shampoo, plenty of towels. No bathtub, but we didn't need one. Shower stall small but fine for us. If you are large, the shower will not fit. Size of bathrooms quite different between two rooms, but even smaller one adequate (had just sink, no counter space for toiletries.) Hairdryer in rooms. Carpet in rooms (which was important to me.) Hallways bright and cheery. Doorbells on rooms I think but not sure. Privacy light exists on rooms, so that when you ask to not be disturbed, a red light illuminates outside door. High tech locks with computer card that must be put in slot in room to keep lights on. TV had a few english stations (we were there during Primary season and were eager for election results.) Location perfect...could walk everywhere quickly and easily and not feel overwhelmed by noise (but then again, it was February and compared to summer, city was VERY VERY quiet.) Loved being next door to Uffizzi. I would stay here again absolutely.

We stayed at degli Orafi for 3 nights. This was our first trip to Florence and thought the location was perfect, between the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizzi. You always knew your way back to the hotel!

We had a spacious two-story room, with a very large and modern bathroom. We didn't like being located on the first floor close to the breakfast room due to the traffic noise, so if possible request a different floor. The breakfast was great though, one of the best we had in Italy, with a very large selection. Also, the breakfast room is beautiful and at one end the tables by the window have a view of the Arno.

The rooftop bar is very nice and the bartenders are extremely friendly, especially Massimo. The concierge staff was helpful with restaurant reservations too. Internet service is limited to the second floor library and you must purchase access time.

Overall, we would highly recommend this hotel and would stay here again any time we came back to Florence. We loved Florence in general.

We stayed at this hotel for four nights in the middle of April. What can I say? In short "Class Act". We were given a huge room with a view, Room 312. The bed was huge and a matress was just right for us. The bathroom has a twin sink, a large and deep bath tub and a separate room for toilet and bidet. Ammenities were lovely and they gave us new ones every day. The room was just under a private terrace so it was nice and quiet. We were so surprised to find a bottle of champagne waiting in the room. It was a special treat from the management to congratulate us for our 25th anniversary. Also, bottls of water were free and they replenish them every day. When we came back from sight seeing in the evening, we found two sleeping shirts waiting on the bed and the bed was turned in for the night with little cndies and a next day's forecast. This happened every evening. They have comfortable robes and slippers which we enjoyed.

The breakfast room is just beautiful and food is very good.

All the staff were very friendly and helpful.

We highly recommend this hotel to anybody who plans a trip to Florence. We want to go back there just to stay at Degli Orafi.

We stayed at this excellent hotel the first night of an 8 day trip to Florence. We were booking into an apartment for a week beginning the next day, so we used this hotel to bridge the gap. They did far more than that. We arrived at about noon, exhausted from a red-eye flight. They got us right into our rooms and pointed us in the direction of a decent, inexpensive restaurant for lunch.

Even though we weren't staying, they booked museum tickets and restaurant reservations for us far beyond our check-out date. One reservation was difficult to get, and they continued trying long after we checked out. The service was phenomenal.

The rooms were divine, and so quiet it was easy to sleep. The only complaint I have is that the beds were just slightly too hard for my taste, but others may disagree. I slept anyway, of course, after that flight. The breakfast was included in the price of the room and very very good. Bathrooms were large and lovely. All in all, I would highly recommend this hotel and look forward to my next stay.

We stayed here for three nights in December 2007 and loved it. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and there were some very nice touches (eg free mineral water in the room, replenished every day). The buffet breakfast was very good, and there is a bar with a rooftop terrace - although it was too cold to drink al fresco! The best feature of the hotel, though, is undoubtedly its location - two minutes from the Ponte Vecchio, two minutes in the other direction from the Uffizi Museum. Couldn't recommend this hotel more strongly, and would certainly go back if we return to Florence (which we certainly hope to!)

We stayed at the Degli Orafi for one night in December. It was so wonderful. Great shower and room - bed a bit hard but big. Perfect location and the concierge was super helpful with restaurant recommendations. They made our reservation for the Uffizi and held our baggage after we checked out so we could stay in Florence a bit longer and explore. The breakfast was fantastic and the breakfast room was gorgeous. Try the creme pastries and of course cappucino. I wish we could have stayed longer!

We stayed at the degli Orafi during our honeymoon in November and had a wonderful stay. The hotel was placed in a great position to see Florence with the Ponte Vecchio less than 100m away and the Uffizi next door. From the hotels roof terrace bar you can see the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio and it’s a really romantic place to have a quiet drink before going out for the evening.

Upon arrival we were greeted with congratulations by the concierge and upgraded to a two tier room with sofas, very large bathroom, upstairs bedroom etc and a bottle of champagne. A fantastic welcome!

We had travelled from Rome to Florence and the city did not disappoint. The food and wine in Tuscany was so different and seemed to be up a notch. They really do appreciate dining and make a massive effort. The hotel booked us into a restaurant on our first night and the food was amazing even though we were sneered at for ordering white wine.

The city is beautiful and you can easily spend the days in and out of the coffee bars sampling the pastries and hot chocolate before popping into one of the sights or doing some shopping. Everything is close and its worth taking a 30 min walk across the river and up the hill to get fantastic views.

On our third day we went on a Chianti Classico wine tour that we had booked prior to departing on the net with Tuscan-wine-tours and had an amazing day with Rebecca the guide, We were the only ones on our group tour as we were out of season so had her all to ourselves and after a stop at a village about 50km out of Florence we were taken to a vineyard to sample their produce and learn about wine making and tasting. For lunch we were taken to a small family owned farm and had a fabulous 3 course homecooked meal in the kitchen next to a fire with 2 bottles of wine. It was one of the best days we have spent together and Rebecca was an amazing guide. We would recommend it to anyone.

My son and I arrived in Firenze on Saturday 17 Nov 2007, after somewhat disrupted travel from France, due to a major rail strike in Paris and elsewhere in France. This was the second leg of an European trip, and my first visit to Italy. We had originally booked an apartment at the Orafi, but downsized (by email, and with no problems at all) to a fourth floor twin room overlooking the Arno, after my mother could not accompany us.

We came away five days later very happy, and sad to be leaving. The room was great, the view to die for, and with everything so close (and in late November, not plagued by enormous crowds!) we fitted everything in that we wanted to do, including side trips to Fiesole and Asissi.

And we just loved the fact that every morning, before the deservedly legendary breakfast, we could look out our windows to the Ponte Vecchio to the right, the Piazza Michelangelo to the left, the Oltrarno straight ahead, and the tantalizing (because we could not get in!) Vasari Corridor just below our windowsills. The sunsets over the Arno were something to be treasured.

The only small gripe is that there is not free internet, either in the room, or somewhere in the hotel. With so many hotels now offering this as standard, the Orafi needs to follow suit.

This is a gorgeous hotel! It is located right on the Arno next to the Ponte Vechio and the Uffizi museum. A perfect location. The Accademia museum, the leather market the Piazza Republica, Il Duomo and dozens of other sights are within easy walking distance. We arrived in the afternoon on Friday and asked Micheala the concierge if it would be possible to get tickets to both the Uffizi and the Accademia (both closed on Monday) and we were leaving Tuesday afternoon. An almost impossible task but she pulled it off cheerfully for us. The room was absolutely stunning. We asked for a quiet room so it was away from the river, with a tiny balcony overlooking a side street. It was Beautifully decorated and had a huge bathroom with all the amenities including a dual US/ European electrical outlet! A godsend for recharging camera batteries. Their breakfasts were the most decadently delicious I've ever had. They had great recomendations for everything. Our room was a standard but it would have been a superior or even a Jr suite at most other hotels. And their rooftop bar is the perfect place for a sundowner before walking out to dinner. Not the cheapest hotel we stayed at, but not overpriced either. We feel we got more than our money's worth and would recomend it without reservation. They also kept our luggage for us when we wanted to wander on our last day after we checked out. Really a top notch hotel with a great staff. And the complimentary sleep shirts were a nice touch!

Degli Orafi is easily the best hotel in it's price range that we've stayed at in Europe! The room was very cozy, even though we didn't have any view. The staff were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed an excellent buffet breakfast in the mornings. The hotel is in a historic building, recently renovated, but it still maintains a quaint charm. The location is also great, right next to Uffizi gallery at one end of Ponte Vecchio! We were a bit worried when we saw steps leading to our room, but the bell boy carried our bags in and out, so it was fine. Walk around and explore the historic library and breakfast room still with original frescoes!

Highly recommend this hotel, my husband and I will definitely go back there next time we're in Florence.

I visited Florence in March and stayed at the Degli Orafi with my friend and we had such a fabulous time I had to come back with my husband in October. On both visits, the Hotel was excellent - lovely clean and spacious rooms, faulous breakfast, friendly and helpful staff and the best, most central location in the heart of Florence. Everything is close by and the staff provide assistance with excursions, restaurant bookings - they will do everything possible to make your stay a good one - nothing is too much trouble, and the views and brilliant service from the bar on the 5th floor was superb - the only problem now is that we have got to return with the children!

We loved this hotel! A bit pricey but it felt elegant and homey all at the same time. Located near the river, it is ideally located near the shopping area, and right behind the Uffizi. The staff were very helpful in making reservations for us for museums, restaurants, etc. The hotel has a library where you can read all kinds of novels from classical to bestsellers. Would definitely stay here again!

the hotel degli orafi in florence is very central it's beside the

uffizi gallery.

the hotel staff could not have been more helpful.

drinks on the terrace on the 5th floor overlooking the

river arno is a perfect way to end the day.

would recommend this hotel

Arriving by car this hotel was certainly tricky to get to, but having the Uffizi Gallery next door gave us a landmark to aim for. A stone's throw from the Ponte Vecchio, the hotel is ideally situated for exploring the city on foot. Our room was large, spacious, and the marble bathroom well-appointed. Although we faced the river on the second floor, we had no view from the window at all - not the fault of the hotel, but of the Medicis in the 16th century, who built an elevated corridor from their offices to the Ponte Vecchio, so obscuring the view of the river for future hotel guests. No matter. We enjoyed a very comfortable stay.

Breakfast was excellent, served in a restored, fresco-decked dining room in the original building. The rooftop bar offered limited views but was pleasant enough. My only complaint concerns the ridiculous € 10 per hour charge for using the house computer. When paying nearly € 250 a night plus parking charges, this type of opportunist greed is really annoying, and marred our otherwise very favourable impression of this hotel.

We stayed five nights at this hotel. The location, breakfast, and bar were great. The only negative was the bed. The mattress was so hard that we did not sleep well the entire time we were there. We would recommend this hotel to friends, but suggest they ask if the mattresses were upgraded.

We LOVED the Degli Orafi hotel. My husband and I stayed for 3 nights in June and were so glad we selected it. We found the entire staff to be very friendly and helpful, unlike some reviews I've read. We opted for a river front room. It was lovely (although honestly, we never sat and looked out from the room). It was a nice size, clean and well kept. Our room was not ready when we arrived, but they graciously took our luggage and showed us upstairs to the rest rooms where we could clean up a bit. The location is great. It was never loud. We loved the gorgeous breakfast room, although we did have to wait for a table one morning. There is also a charming rooftop bar. I used to stay at the Lungarno, which I really love, but just can't justify the cost these days. This was a perfect alternative and we will stay there again.

I stayed for 4 nights in June. It is the ideal base for all the sights

- everywhere is an easy walk away.

Room was adequate on 4th floor (top) with atmospheric views

over the rooftops.

Breakfast served in very attractive character room overlooking the river.

The best feature of the hotel was the rooftop bar where light meals

were served. I must commend the bar staff Max and Anna for excellent service in looking after us after a hard days sightseeing.

The worst feature of the hotel were the two small lifts - one an antique and one modern but malfunctioning.

We stayed at Degli Orafi for three days in June.

I have not had a chance to check the hotel rating system in Italy, but the hotel shows 4-stars in front of the building and on its web site. I usually select 5-star hotels since we usually travel only once or twice a year, but I decided to try Degli Orafi because of the location and I could not find 5-star hotels in top 50 at TripAdvisor for the dates I was looking for while Degli Orafi had great reviews.

The hotel is at Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi was just a minute walk. It is a little bit of a walk to the Duomo especially when it is 85F-90F in June in Florence. As a first time traveller, I was looking at hotels like Grand Hotel and Excelsior, but you have to be ready to walk a lot if you decide to stay there and visit the Duomo, Galleria dell'Accademia, etc.

For a family of three including a teenager, we reserved a triple room, but the room was smallish compared with other rooms at 5-star hotels we stayed in Siena and Venice and had little space left after with the extra bed in place. We switched to an apartment room in the new tower for 100 euro more. The apartment was on a high floor, duplex and was clean and very spacious. However, they must have made some mistake when they built this apartment tower. As some other reviewers mentioned, you can hear the voice and the television from the adjascent apartment so clearly and loudly (you can hear what they are saying though every word) that if your neighbors are talking or watching TV, there is NO WAY you can sleep. The first night we could not sleep until our neighbors stopped talking around 1:30am. I was ready to switch rooms again or check out, but luckily for us, there was no one staying in the next apartment on the second night and the neighbors went to bed early on third night. It looks like apartments numbers like 41 & 51 may not have adjacent apartments, and may not have this problem. You should be very careful if you are interested in reserving an apartment at this hotel. The main bathroom in the apartment also lacked any space to put things on. Finally, the room had ample closets but no chest/drawers.

Water bottles are free, which is nice. Internet is only available at the lobby, which is very inconvenient when you are accustomed to be able to check travel schedule, etc. in your room.

In general, the staff were professional and helpful. However, the concierge could not help with Uffizi reservation saying making a reservation was impossible for the next two days. We decided to stand in line at 8am, and after 45 minutes, we were in. I recommend making a reservation before you come to Florence.

We only went to the bar during the day time, but the view was nice. The libary was also quiet and cozy.

The concierge recommended and booked us restaurants for all three nights. Every restaurant was decent, but Club Culinario Toscano da Osvaldo was more sophisticated among the three and we really enjoyed the meal there. Ristorante Buca Mario was another one, which was very good but was much bigger, crowded and service was a little slow at times due to big groups. I definitely recommend trying both of them, but especiallay Osvaldo. You cannot easily find the type of Italian food served at these restaurants in NY. Osteria dei Baroncelli was close by, and served basic but decent meal, and the price was much cheaper. The breakfast at the hotel was pretty basic, but the dining room was gorgeous.

Overall, Degli Orafi was a very decent hotel and I think it deserves its 4-star rating, but frankly I would advise against staying in an apartment despite the space.

We were pleasantly surprised with the Hotel Degli Orafi in Florence. Because the dollar was so weak, we passed on the most expensive hotels and selected the Degli Orafi based on a more reasonable price and good reviews. We're really glad we did. It's a very nice hotel.

The location is perfect, right next to the Ponte Vecchio, the River Arno, the Uffizi Museum, the main city plaza, and restaurants, shopping, etc. It was an easy walk to anything we wanted to do. Being right on the river, we had expected a great view as well, but due to the overhead walking area of the Ponte Vecchio, we could only see part of the river. However, the hotel has a roof deck restaurant/bar with fabulous views in several directions, including toward the sunset. The roof restaurant has great lunches, snacks and good wine, etc., with friendly bartender/waiters. We used it many times during our stay. It was a great spot to hang out.

The buffet breakfast that came with our room was really good---large tables with lots of food/options, great cappucino, good service. The scrambled eggs were delicious!

Our room was large with a sitting area and big windows. It's not the Grand, but it was very nice, clean, and comfortable. The bed was comfy and the bathroom was large enough for both of us---though the shower was quite small. There was a large but cozy library a couple doors from our room with sofas and chairs and computers to use for the internet. Internet access was available in the room, but we had trouble accessing it with our laptop.

The front desk staff also acted as concierge staff and were very helpful---some of them more than others---but all were quite friendly. The elevators were slow and adding a couple minutes to the schedule for elevator waiting time just became part of the routine. At the end of the stay, we both got Degli Orafi t-shirts which are really quite nice. We would definitely stay there again.

Great location.

Room 108 has awful noise issues - from the ceiling above (no sound insulation) but mostly through the heating vent, about 4 feet from your headboard - crazy really as the walls are very solid. Woken about 2am by a mans voice and you really thought the person was in the room with you!

Management response was poor - basically ' we are full so tough luck'.

Staff generally very good but one quite abrupt individual on front desk did not help.

Overall good and maybe we were unlucky with the room.

we jaust returned from a short trip in Florence and although the Hotel degli Orafi has a magnificient position and lovely rooms is lacking of staff's courtesy.

Having the opinion that the customer relation starts on the Front Office and Conciergerie, I must say I was realy disappointed.

Overall, we were very disappointed with a number of things with our stay at the Degli Orafi. Thinking of this as a second honeymoon, we had booked a deluxe double with view months in advance. The room looked lovely with chintz and graceful furniture. When we arrived, without explanation, we were taken to a room way in the back of the hotel that looked like an upgraded dorm room with unattractive heavy modern furniture and Escher-type stairs in strange locations (getting to the bathroom in the dark was a dangerous venture). It looked out onto scaffolding and an airshaft. When we asked for an explanation, the staff was indifferent to our not liking the room, since they considered it an upgrade to a two-bedroom suite that normally goes for 500 euros instead of the 380 we had been quoted (they did honor the price booked) and they claimed that it was all they had After having to ask a number of times, they did show us one other room, also with the same kind of furniture and ambience. We were so unhappy with the room that my husband and I spent ½ day of our well-planned vacation looking for another hotel, but, in high season, this was an impossible task.

The staff was competent with things like getting museum tickets, but I would not recommend their restaurant choices or their restaurant booking efforts. They sent us to a touristy restaurant one night and for another called a popular restaurant so late in the day that there were no reservations available (luckily by then we had realized that the staff were not as pro-active as they could be and since we were out about town, we had contacted the restaurant ourselves and did get what we needed). On three separate occasions, they gave me adaptor plugs since I had not brought the right one with me, and each time they did not work. Later they acknowledged that they knew they would not work but never attempted to find one that did. They did fix the door knob when it fell off. They did send two men at different times to help us figure out how to work the safe since the directions were wrong in the room and the desk staff did not know how to work them.

Although the hotel has a computer available without a printer, it costs 10 euros/hour to use. They charge the same for wireless which you can only use in that one computer area.

There were some bright spots. The bar on the rooftop has lovely views of the Arno and Duomo and the bartenders are very accommodating. The breakfast room is lovely and the food lavish (although the staff could be surly). The hallways are beautifully appointed (we got to know them well since we had such a long walk to our suite). The room we had was well-cleaned and quiet most of the time.

The location next to the Uffizi and near the Ponte Vecchio is very convenient. However, it can also have a lot of traffic and is very touristy.

Maybe somewhere at this hotel there was a romantic room with a view that would have made us happy. However, I am not sure that this hotel truly understands genuine, good service, regardless of its good surroundings and some of its lovely aspects. It would not be at the top of my list if I were to return to Florence.

Dissappointing.... Paid for a single supplement with one bed got 2 twin beds. Room faced the back of the hotels construction site which was noisy at 3:00 am with people passing by and partying.

The room I had was on the same floor as breakfast -so the entire floor had a BAD BAD SMELLeach time you landed off the elevator rooftop bar was my saving grace after shopping all day, nice bartender Massimo, probably the smartest employee I met. HE CARED that I was unhappy!Staff at front desk should learn how to speak and understand english speaking people. Asked for a wake up call for 4:45 am but got it at 4:15 only to hear, sorry I got the wrong room! REALLY how dumb at that hour to make a mistake. I will say, good location on the arno. But too many other hotels in Florence to deal with this!

Dear Mrs. Lowy,

Following to your kind e-mail, ,we wish to apologize for all the inconvenience you may have experienced during your stay in Florence. We are deeply sorry about the bad impression we left you in less than 24 hrs, considering you checked-in late morning and checked-out at 6 am the day after

At your arrival we accommodated you in a standard twin for sole use (as requested and stated in your reservation) and we didn’t receive any immediate complaint from you. We could have changed your room to an upper floor with a double bed if you had requested it. We always try to be very helpful regarding these matters, we are aware how important is to listen and fulfil our clients needs and demands.

We hope you can give us another chance to show you our kindness and attention, which is also well witnessed by the excellent reviews on Tripadvisor. Please accept our apologies since we would very much like to welcoming you in our hotel again.

Yours Sincerely,

Rossella Nelli

Managing Director

The hotel is located in a fabulous location within walking distance to most attractions. It's clean and well kept, however, the weekend front desk is unaccomodating. Upon checking in, we were given two different apartments not a room in the hotel as we had booked which were acceptable. One apartment you had to take two elevators and stairs to get to. It faced scoffolding at the Uffizi Gallery which is being restored (Beware). The other apartment was on the first floor and the air conditioning was turned off at night (very warm - 80 degrees.). The windows couldn't be opened because there was a small courtyard that made it easy for other people to enter our room via the window. Finally, we were given a room in the hotel which was fine. The front desk initially told there weren't any rooms available in the hotel. It's amazing how they can find a room if they want. I wouldn't recommend this hotel because of the problems we incurred.