Grand Hotel Minerva

Had a great stay in a suite with a great view of the Santa Margarita Novella square and basilica. Good coffee in your room with free bottled water replenished daily. The breakfast each morning was a buffet with some items to order. The restaurant serves good food with a great view of the plaza. And you must go to the roof to see the pool area with a view of Florence and the Duomo. We were up there on a Sunday morning with all the church bells going off which was magical.

The Grand Hotel Minerva was the perfect choice! The location was ideal. Our suite was amazing overlooking the piazza! From the minute we checked into the hotel until we departed, our experience was wonderful. Great location, very kind and helpful staff, fulsome breakfast buffet with good options for the vegans in our group. The entire hotel is classy and elegant. The city of Florence stole our hearts, a truly charming city, and this hotel was the perfect home base during our visit. I can recommend this hotel with the utmost confidence.

I can't say enough great things about this hotel. First, the location is wonderful. You can walk nearly anywhere you want to go within 20 minutes, but all the major sights are no more than 10-15. It's two minutes from the train station and nestled in a beautiful square. The rooms are spotlessly clean and the housekeeping does a great job with morning and turndown service. Breakfast was excellent (as was the service). The art around the hotel is lovely to look at- it's like a little museum. The staff is incredible and offers amazing help and insight if you need help with any part of your stay. The bar is a great place to wind down after a long day of exploring. I can't wait to come back in the warmer months to take advantage of that lovely rooftop bar/pool!

Location is great. Walking distance to the central train station. Facing to the plaza is a plus making it quiet at night. We stayed at deluxe double room for four nights. We love the layout of the room. A walking closet is the best. However, some arrangements on the bathroom are strange. For example, towel hooks are installed inside the shower area which makes no sense. Otherwise, we are in love with every aspects in the hotel. We really feel like it a home.

For the most part, the people who worked there were outstanding… there was only one person in question. They offer a nice selection of breakfast which is included in the room. Our room was comfortable, but there are limited channels in English. The bed and pillows were very stiff as well. The location is outstanding easy to get to all the sites as well as the train station if you want to visit more of Italy

This hotel was spectacular! The accommodations, the staff and location was superb! The staff was always willing to help and answer questions. They set up restaurant reservations, tours, things to enjoy in the city. The most wonderful hospitality! I highly recommend this hotel.

Although the hotel was generally friendly, it was not enough to be the best hotel. The location was really good and the view was excellent. It was impressive that the staff were active in guiding the traffic to Florence during the check-in. However, the moment I saw two shampoos stuck in my amenities on the first day (where the shower gel was supposed to be), I was disappointed. And the staff at my grandfather's restaurant, who didn't even ask for a plate with food that I hadn't finished yet, cleaned it up in front of my eyes on the second day of breakfast, was the worst. The most disappointing moment was when I asked if they could microwave-hot food that I had packed at a nearby restaurant (because of my health condition), but I was simply rejected. I think it is basic to warm up food that is outside. Besides this, it was honestly annoying to not say a word of greeting while staring at my face when I came in and out every day. I don't know if the sewage system was under construction on the last morning, but I remember the experience of having a bad smell. The location and overall level is a good hotel in Florence, but I don't want to recommend it to anyone or stay again.

I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel in Florence. I don't know if you could pick a more picturesque locale. This is right on a piazza next to a beautiful church. There's a great gelato place on the corner and you are surrounded by restaurants and shops. You're not more than 15 minutes from most major attractions by foot. There's a laundromat nearby, pharmacies, and you're less than 5 minutes from the train station.||The hotel itself is very nice. Lobby is gorgeous, front desk was terrific, the free breakfast is fabulous and the waitstaff are incredible. Sefedine and Paolo felt like old friends by the end of our stay. By the second day they had remembered our drinks and other requests and always took the best care of us. They even gave my sister in law a gift for her birthday!||The rooms we were in were mid-tier among their offerings and they aren't as picturesque as the rest of the hotel, nor are they huge but the beds are comfortable, bathrooms were very nice, they were very clean etc. We did adjoining rooms since we were traveling with kids and we weren't planning on spending much time in the room so this was a good choice for us. If you are there for a romantic stay, perhaps upgrade to one of their fancier rooms. ||The rooftop pool has the most insane views. It's a tiny pool but perfect for our needs for an hour here or there for the kids between activities. No lounge chairs, just a few couchlike things and then tables and chairs. At night I think it is an active bar and can be attended by non hotel guests and I bet the views at night are equally incredible.||I will be telling all my friends to stay at this hotel if they are coming to Florence, that's how much I liked it.

Wow wow wow! Location is prime, beautiful and the service was impeccable. I have never fell in love with a hotel and I definitely fell in love with GHM. Booked through the hotel collection with AMEX travel and received such an amazing return. Giulia/Giuseppe were superb! Giulia took care of our check in and is full of amazing information! Giuseppe helped guide us to our rooms and was helpful in explaining how the room worked. The wait staff in the breakfast and the lounge/bar area were all very friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our honeymoon staying on property. A little bummed that the pool was closed but it was chilly in November so I totally understand. The rooftop was still open for use if you want to go take photos of the amazing view or bring your beverage to enjoy. I can't wait to come back to Florence and will be looking forward to staying on property again. My favorite was the breakfast buffet! The cappuccino, americano, the buffet spread.... Gah I dream about it still. Bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was beautiful, open and great water pressure w the rain style sprayer in the shower. Love the bidet but I think that's just standard in European style bathroom. Lastly, the view! We really lucked out w the room and the location... definitely the best hotel I've stayed at so far and we can't wait to be back.

We stayed here for 10 days, it is a nice hotel, located close to the train station, right in the hearth of the city center, spacious rooms inside and amazing breakfast in the morning.

Great location and wonderful staff Beautiful scenery and delicious dining Ambiance was very special and comforting

Very amazing experience in the rooftop bar. Drinks were great and the view was unreal. Definitely recommend.

This hotel was recommended by Perillo and the reviews were good. Staff is friendly and helpful but there have been issues. Our room was supposed to have a view and we look over rooftops. The smart TV is very hard to navigate and I asked for assistance that never came. And the regular tv only has Italian language except CNN and Bloomberg. The indoor jacuzzi closed is March ?? The the outdoor pool is too rainy and cold to use. Overall not a 4 star hotel. Checking out tomorrow and hoping for better in Venice.

Do not stay here. Safe did not work, we left the room for only 2 hours to have dinner and all cash and cards that were in the room were stolen. Front desk informed us it was "impossible" for someone who worked there to steal anything from the room.

Grand Hôtel Minerva has been absolutely perfect for our family's time in Florence. The greeting we got when we checked in set the tone for our entire stay - the staff knew who we were and were prepared for us. They gave the kids treats, offered to take our bags, made checkin easy, and got us 2 suites close together for our family of 7. The loft suites were perfect for us - the kids had their own fun space in the loft which allowed us to spread out a bit, which was so nice! The full "American" breakfast each morning was amazing with pastries, fresh fruit, and eggs/bacon/sausage. If it were a better time of year, we would have loved the rooftop pool and terrace (pool was still closed in March and work was being done on the terrace during our stay) - both looked beautiful, though! The location was ideal - a 5-min walk from the train station and only 10min walk to the main tourist sites in Florence. The staff greeted us warmly every time we left or returned, which gave us a feeling of leaving home each morning and coming home each evening. Couldn't have asked for better for our stay in Florence!

Two words! Amazing views! My wife and I love rooftop bars. She wanted to check this place out and I'm so glad we did. It really has the the most amazing views of the city. To get to the top floor for the bar. If you aren't staying there just go the front desk and they will give you a keycard to go to the bar. It definitely serves a more upscale clientele. We had been sightseeing all day and everyone was incredibly well dressed while I was in my corona T-shirt haha. If you don't want to stand out like I did I'd dress a little nicer lol. The drinks we got were great. We sat next to the pool and could see most of the city from our location. With your drinks you get complimentary snacks. Another reason I love Italy! The rooftop bar is impeccable taken care of. As for waiter she was incredibly pleasant and helpful with the drink menu. This place is definitely worth a visit!

A wonderful stay during our honeymoon! They upgraded our room for free and we had a great view of Florence. The breakfast was wonderful (the only meal we ever ate at the hotel). The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. When our checkout date was pushed back due to a positive covid test, they let us stay in our suite for a very discounted price and brought us breakfast to the room every morning for no charge. Would stay again!

After a fantastic dinner we stumbled upon the most quaint local square in Firenze. Scouting the scene, we saw what looked like a roof top bar. Upon further inspection, we found the highlight of the night, the outdoor patio, pool and bar up top of the Grand Hotel Minerva. While quite pricey, it was worth every penny. The views alone are worth the price of admission. With a great cocktail menu, jazz band by the pool and the best views in town, this place was simply magical. We will be back to soak it all in again. Ciao!

Location! Location! Location! Grand Hotel Minerva excellent location makes it my base whenever I visit Florence. Piazza Santa Maria Novella where the hotel can be a little dark, a little seedy and even a little rowdy with the crowds that hang out at night. But it is within walking distance of everything: bus station, train station, historical area and even a lot of the local tours has meet place just around the corner. Walking from the station the street can be quite uneven can be a little tricky if you have a lot of luggage. The rooms are sizable and comfy for Europe standard. The roof side pool gives you a great view of the Duomo in the distance... great place to chill and have a siesta after a whole day walking in the heat!

The Grand Hotel Minerva was the singular best hotel I've stayed at in Italy (although, admittedly, I've only been to about four or five, scattered around the country). From the moment I checked in to the moment I picked up my luggage, there wasn't a single thing I could complain about this hotel. The local is amazingly central, located an easy five-minute walk from the Firenze train station, right on Piazza Santa Maria Novella itself. It's a ten or fifteen minute walk away from the Firenze central shopping district and perhaps a twenty or thirty minute walk (depending on how leisurely you stroll) from sights such as the Boboli Gardens or Ponte Vecchio. It seems that all the staff are pleasant and speak English proficiently. This goes for all of the front desk personnel, as well as the lovely people manning the breakfast bar (included in my rate). My room was comfortable and well-accoutred and there's (gasp!) free, generally reliable wi-fi throughout the building! You will need to obtain a login and password from the front desk, but it's a painless process. I even managed to snap my room key (they're the old-fashioned turn kinds, -not- the more modern swipe cards) off in the lock to my room. Clearly, I don't know my own strength. I brought the two twisted and broken bits back to the front desk sheepishly, and they rapidly replaced it with aplomb. Utterly professional. Oh, and one of the guys working at reception is utter eye-candy. I mean... could it get any better than that? Methinks not!

We were looking for a rooftop bar and we found this place. Unfortunately for our group of four, I wish we hadn't. I give it two stars for the view, which is actually quite good (as long as you work your way to the edge of the rooftop. And here is the catch, it is a 1 drink minimum per person, which is fine, but... yes but, you have your choice of 4 drinks. And each drink is 18 euros. I opted for the Martini. Big mistake. It had a rotten anchovies in it and it was 90% vermouth. Oh and did I mention it was maybe 3 oz. They did put a bowl of "snacks" on the table, which was basically chexmix. What a ripoff. Stay away - you've been forewarned.

Staying here is an experience not to be missed. Beautiful rooftop (by the pool!) views of Florence. Close to most of what we came to see...and a treat is the Piazza in front of the hotel with late aft/eve music (street musicians. It was wonderful. Beautiful hotel, wonderful staff...a very comfortable stay. Recommend rlw

This hotel is located in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella which made it accessible to all the great restaurants and other hotels in Firenze! There is a rooftop swimming pool with a great view of the Duomo and Santa Maria Novella Square. Our family had fun swimming here! The daily breakfast had the best selection and service, we asked for soy cappuccino and the servers happily obliged. We had a toddler with us who needed milk and we didn't know where to buy milk or how to buy milk and when I asked the restaurant, they gave us milk in a teapot and didn't charge us for the 4 nights that we stayed! Amenities were good, robes, slippers, toiletries, coffee service and bottled water plus biscotti! Hotel was always clean and nice linen! I would give this place a five star but their front desk personnel was kinda rude and customer service was mediocre. We asked for two taxis for our family and had a communication breakdown with one of the front desk personnel and she got all excited, glared at me and condemned me!!! Excuse me?????????? The other issue we had was again lack of communication. Our suite was described as a two bedroom apartment but it was actually a one bedroom suite with a living room that had a sofa bed that was not the most comfortable pull out bed... Plus, the refrigerator in our room was supposed to have complimentary snacks and drinks but no one pointed this out to us and there was a price list on the top which made us think that we were to be charged. All in all, a great place to stay especially if you're concerned about location, location,location! I would just pay more attention to the little details and the communication process.

I really enjoyed my stay at this hotel! It was way more lux than I expected given the relatively moderate price point. The beautiful terrace areas and rooftop pools in the heart of Florence was really unbeatable. The room actually was not super tiny and even had a little sitting area with a couch and small table and chairs. The (free) baby ice-cream sandwiches served at the cafe on the terrace with my morning lattes were fabulous. As Renee Zellwegher would have said "you had me at hello." hahaha I hope to come back soon!

We got a beautiful new room overlooking the piazza. Everything is clean and modern and the room is huge in comparison to most hotel rooms. It has a separate living room area from the bedroom and an entire separate walk in closet to keep your things so you don't have to walk into the sight of suitcases everywhere. The only things that lost the 5th star are the shower wasn't consistent (it would be all the way to the left and go from warm to cold and back to warm throughout the shower) and the tempo of the room. We weren't able to get it to change and we got a little too warm at night. Also a little disappointed the pool wasn't open as they were working on it but not much you can do there. Overall pleased with the service and the room

We had a bad 1st interaction and impression when we got here that made it our least favorite hotel experience my wife and I had in all of Italy on our honeymoon. -The hotel is 1/2 remodeled and the other half is very old and feels like a hostel/2 star hotel. -The lobby has not been renovated it felt like it was stuck in the 80s. -Our room was in the old part of the hotel - it was dated, dirty and gross (my wife often used the common bathroom off of the breakfast area or pool because they were so much nicer than the one in our room). -There were cracks in the walls (see photos) and zero decoration in the room so it felt very stark. -The internet didn't work for almost 3 hours when we arrived and then we could only get it to work on the upper level floors, not the 1st floor room we were in. -We were really unhappy with our room, and when we told the man at the front desk about our problems he put us in a room on the 5th floor. -In this room, it was still old but there were no cracks, we had better sunlight and a nicer view over the piazza but... -Our shower didn't drain properly at all and I was constantly standing in 4 inches of water -When I went to use my towel there were several long, dark, curly hairs on it that did not belong to me or my wife. -The bed was old and we felt every single spring in it. -There was no safe in our room, just a note saying that we could keep things at the front desk. (I was not comfortable with that at this hotel). -The elevators are tiny and couldn't even fit 2 people with 2 suitcases and 1 carry on bag. -The fact that there is clearly a nice part of the hotel and a not nice part of the hotel is really crappy -The man who checked us in seemed pretty unsympathetic to us being unhappy with an old room. I asked if any of the updated rooms were available and at first he said no, but then he had a bit of an attitude that we booked "a certain class of room" and that it was on their website. I might have been inclined to pay more too until his attitude completely turned me off. (Just for reference we paid 285 Euro per night, which is about $315) -- I think for that I should have a room nicer than a Best Western, not worse. -On the website the room distinction is not clear, and my travel agent didn't know either when we booked. I looked it up and they call some rooms "classic" and some "contemporary style" - "classic" means outdated. "contemporary style" means renovated. -I asked the front desk to make a dinner reservation for me and they told me that the restaurant I wanted to go to didn't take reservations. I told them the website said they did. Then they said they do but only have 2 seatings 730 and 930. I asked for a 930 reservation. When I followed up the next afternoon they said they were going to call now. I never heard back from them, so I called the restaurant (from my US phone long distance) and did it myself with no problem. -The breakfast is good and the staff at the breakfast is great. -The rooftop pool view is great but the pool is smaller than it seems in photos and there are only 13 lounge chairs and about another 7-10 other kinds of chairs for the whole pool area. That means it accommodates 20-25 people at a hotel that has 102 rooms, which is not enough. It gets very crowded in the afternoon, especially with families and children and everyone has to hover for a place to sit. -The bar staff were all very nice as were the housekeeping staff. -The location is convenient to the train station. -One night of our stay, we were told that the pool was going to close at 6pm because they were offering a cocktail party with oysters and fireworks for a holiday (for an extra 65 Euro per guest). We understood but at 5:45 the staff started taking all of the chairs around us away and we felt pressure to leave early. It wasn't a huge deal but again, it was a bit rude and it just isn't 4 star service. -There was no staff at the pool, which is not typical for a 4 star hotel. I don't need a pool boy to show me to my chair or present me with towels, but you have to bring your own towels from your room and when people leave the pool and leave their towels behind, nobody takes them away. Food was left there long after the guests went to their rooms. I saw a pigeon eat a lot of snacks and then knock over a plate and bowl (that was actually the highlight of my stay). -Overall, our stay did not feel like it deserved the 4 Stars they claim to have and it was not romantic at all. -The service at reception was horrible and made us feel like they didn't care about our business. At 285 Euro per night I feel like they should. We paid a 4 star rate, but only got a 2 star room, 2 star service from the man who checked us in, better service from the breakfast staff and I will say the rooftop view is 4 stars. -My experience seems different from other reviews but this was my honeymoon and my best advice is if you are going on honeymoon or a romantic trip do not stay here.

Our Travel agent booked this hotel for us so I'm always a little concerned. The Hotel and staff exceeded all of our expectations. I would argue that this is a 5 star hotel not 4 star. The staff at the front desk is always willing to assist with any of your requests. The location is perfect, super easy walk to The Duomo and anywhere else in Florence. Breakfast in the morning is delicious and always met with a smile. I highly recommend staying here, as I will the next time we visit.

We decided to spend 1 night in Florence and found Hotel Minerva on Hotel Tonight (iphone app) for like $220/night. Not sure if that was a good deal or not, but it had good reviews and was super convenient. Its about a 5 minute walk from the train station which is great. The hotel is situated in a beautiful square about 8 minutes from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. When checking in be sure to request one of the renovated rooms. There were very sleek and nice. Our friends were staying in one of the older rooms, that had a great view of the square, but it was totally dated. I couldnt get the hot water to work on the shower, which was a bummer. Also, no conditioner in the bathrooms was just dumb! The roof top is really spectacular, with amazing views of the Florence skyline. The pool is a nice perk, though it was SUPER crowded and a bit chaotic. We went swimming right around closing time (7pm) as the sun started to set, and, despite the crowds, the view of the Duomo while cooling off in the pool was super memorable. We also had a quick drink on the other side of the roof, which has views in the other direction. The included breakfast was delicious and plentiful, and all of the employees were nice! Not sure I would rush back to the Minverva, but it was a good spot to stay for our 1 night in Florence.

Beautify hotel in the heart of Florence. Incredible staff and stunning rooms. A nice bar and restaurant. The outside cafe has a great view of the square.

The rooms are beautiful, we stayed in a three level suit ,very beautiful, The lobby is very nice and modern , this place is located on a nice big plaza, The lobby of the hotel is very luxurious contemporary modern The food is excellent and everyone is very polite and helpful. The pool is on top of the building which has an amazing view of the city of Florence. Bring your wallet, this place is expensive.

This hotel was very nice. Our room was relatively small, but we didn't expect much and wanted to spend most of our time out and about (or at the rooftop terrace and pool!) anyway. The staff were unbelievably helpful, offering restaurant recommendations and reservations, friendly service during meals, and just general congeniality. The location is perfect: near the train station, on a beautiful piazza, walking distance to most tourist spots and plenty of food. The only complaint we have is that our room's air conditioning had a bad smell. We probably could have switched rooms if we had asked, but we were too lazy.

I loved my 3 nights at the Grand Hotel Minerva! I stayed here in between my stays in Rome and Venice and this was an awesome place to stay. Very nice staff, rooms, and breakfast. If I ever come back to Florence I will stay here.

One of the best hotels I have stayed in to date. I stayed here May 2016 and had such a great experience we returned at the end of our trip to stay here again. Their rooms are all beautifully decorated and unique. They are spacious, luxurious. Everything you want in a hotel. The breakfast is delicious and the staff is incredibly kind and helpful. If you are staying in Florence you must book here! It is very central and in a beautiful piazza.

Perhaps I got the worst room here but I am genuinely surprised at the higher ratings. It's a fantastic location just west of the core and it's a minute walk to the train station and located in a picturesque piazza. The service is great... The room itself was the issue. If you're given room 102, ask for another one. The size is smaller than an office space with both the sink and toilet constantly leaking water. I was annoyed at the first but it provided some necessary white noise because the piazza attracts a drunken crowd that is loud. The room faces the centre and I thought that was great till I realized the noise level doesn't die down till 2 am. Seeing how I needed sleep to rise at 6 am for meetings, this was not a good thing. Also the furniture is dated but still decent. The included buffet breakfast is ok and it is a nice add in. It has your usual bread , muffin, yogurt, cheese, and cereal. Overall, it's a decent hotel in a fantastic location. If you can a great deal, it might be worth it but for business , I'd choose another place as it's near impossible to get a good rest here.

Stayed here as part of a 3-city visit of Italy (Rome, Florence and Venice). This hotel was by far our favorite during our visit. What I loved: Location: Amazing! Lot's of amazing restaurants in walking distance Hotel: clean, updated and an extremely helpful (and nice) staff. Also, the rooftop is amazing! You have to go up there for a glass of wine and to watch the sun set. Location: Amazing. A lot to do in walking distance. The hotel itself is a 4-star to me but an extra half star for the rooftop! Will come back here for sure.

The location is great. The room is very basic. You never need a mini bar until you don't have access to one. We had the eoom on the se ond floor the looks onto the plaza. The staff is very nice. I am hoping breakfast will make up for the basic feel of thus hotel. Two star because of the fact that this is our first night.

Hotel is great if you are a first time visitor. They have a rooftop pool that have views of the horizon and it is breathtaking. The staff is very accommodating and spoke English very well. We werent able to try the restaurant in the hotel, but it was always packed. I would definitely recommend waking up for the breakfast buffet. It is worth it, this coming from a person who's day starts at noon. Book early if you can, they get pricey as you wait. I would love to come back to this hotel if ever we go back to Florence. Also, all the local tourist sites are 20 mins walking distance from this hotel. Maybe not all but most :)

Having lived in Florence for 3 months, I had a firm idea of where I want to stay on my return visit a few years later. I picked the Minerva not just because it has wonderful views of Santa Maria Novella (when it's not have construction work done), but because it is the only hotel in the centre of Florence with a pool. No seriously; I did my research: other hotels in the centre have roof terraces, but if you want a pool you can either stay at the Minvera, or "head to the hills," literally, to places such as Villa La Vedetta. Florence is HOT in the summer, and the idea of being able to cool off with a dip in the pool was tantalising, as was the spectacular view of the city you got whilst doing so. Apart from the roof terrace (also great at night - especially on GioveDJ, when the hotel hosts aperitivo hour), the hotel itself was average. Rooms where clean, far enough sized, adequately decorated; breakfast buffet had a lot of choice, staff were helpful. Nothing spectacular. But the pool alone makes up for it all.

Beautiful Hotel in a great location, within walking distance to the train station and the Mercato di San Lorenzo. Travelling with food allergies is always hard, but Alessandro was very helpful. And the fresh breadsticks were to die for.

Fantastic hotel, great location, modern and clean also big room, friendly staff. Would stay here again.

Just arrived in Florence. Came upstairs for a cup of coffee. Fortunately the coffee machine was broken. Instead enjoyed an appertif, the wonderful rooftop terrace and the Spectacular view. Plus the Wonderful and friendly service. Amazing!! 5+ stars

This hotel is awesome! We had a family suite that could sleep 5. The beds were so comfortable, they had outstanding service, and the kids loved the roof top pool. Great location.