SANT ANTONINO FIRST FLOOR RELAIS, Florence

The hotel sits on a side street off Piazza Santa Maria Novella, placing the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Accademia Gallery, and Mercato Centrale all within a 5-15 minute walk. The Santa Maria Novella train station is only 250-300 metres away, and the tram stop is directly outside, making car-free city access easy. For those arriving by car, the paid Garage Sant'Antonino is on the same block. The immediate street is lined with Asian-run supermarkets, restaurants, and a Chinese supermarket next door, providing inexpensive options for water, juice, and snacks.

The guest house offers double, quad, and loft-style rooms. Most rooms are compact and very basic in decor, with some featuring a mezzanine sleeping area that has limited headroom - those over 5'4" (163 cm) may find it cramped. Air conditioning is present in all rooms, but its placement near the door rather than the sleeping area can leave the bed warm at night. Soundproofing is listed as a feature, but the building can be noisy from adjacent rooms and internal equipment. Rooms on the street side may experience traffic noise, while some windows face a dark inner courtyard. Bathrooms are private but often very small, with a shower and hairdryer; some rooms lack a bidet. All rooms include a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a safe, and a desk.

There is no breakfast or restaurant service at the property. A paid vending machine in the lobby serves coffee, ginseng, hot chocolate, and tea. For meals, the area immediately around the hotel is filled with eateries: Braciere Malatesta, Capitale della Cina, and Trattoria da Guido Firenze are all a 3-minute walk away. The famous Mercato Centrale is just around the corner, offering a huge variety of food stalls, and the indoor market is a must-see. A Chinese supermarket next door provides inexpensive drinks and snacks.

Key practical services include a free, high-speed Wi-Fi connection (tested at 339 Mbps), which supports 4K streaming and video calls. Luggage storage is available free of charge before check-in and after check-out, though bags are left in the reception area. The property has 24-hour security and a safe deposit box in each room. Check-in is from 14:00, check-out at 10:00; late arrivals can use a code entry system. The reception staff communicate via WhatsApp and are responsive to queries. There is no washing machine on-site, but a self-service laundry operates directly across the street. Accepted payment methods include Visa, CartaSi, and MasterCard.