The reception is swanky and the rooftop bar a unique enhancement. Just everything in between is the problem. 

It's hard to believe that the room and the lobby belong to the same hotel.

Location

As centrally located as it gets. Not only are all the shops and sights nearby, but they are easy to navigate to from here. Florence's labyrinth of medieval streets makes this hotel's location on the junction of two thoroughfares one of it's main advantages.

The street is full of tourists, even after dark, and so feels quite safe. It's not pedestrianised, but was not used by many cars.

Room

We were assigned what must be one of the hotel's worst rooms: 209. This second-floor, inward-facing double room was gloomy and basic. The room is better suited to single occupancy, especially because the bed is so narrow. The room gets no daylight either - see below photo of the "view". That's the risk you take booking the lower room categories during high-occupancy times. It wasn't all bad - at least we were spared the street noise of the New Year's festivities and anyway we were hardly in the room except to sleep and shower - but such a room belongs in a three-star hotel. The photos during booking obviously painted a totally different picture. The bedding was low quality: very hard mattress, one flimsy pillow each and thin duvet. The hotel is spread across adjoining, centuries-old townhouses, so the rooms must vary in layout and quality far more than in purpose-built hotels.

Housekeeping was weirdly stingy. Sometimes even the toilet paper wasn't replaced. Used mugs were left on the desk for days, and it seems like shower gel/shampoo was being rationed and body lotion had completely run out.

The "view" from room 204

Service

The staff on reception, on breakfast and in the rooftop bar were all great: personable, attentive, efficient and happy to help. Just the aforementioned stinginess from housekeeping was the only blemish. 

Dining

The breakfast buffet has a large selection of familiar continental breakfast components, especially baked goods, eggs and fruit. Gluten- and lactose intolerances are very well accommodated (there are 6 different types of milk, for example). On some days, coffee was made to order and on others it was self-service, but both are equally high-quality.

The rooftop bar doesn't serve food, but we enjoyed excellent cocktails there twice. It was busy both times, so worth reserving to ensure you get a seat (there's no space to stand other than the small, open smoker's corner). In Winter, the space is heated and covered in a temporary roof, so no coat is necessary.

Helluva view, but not quite as unobstructed as the marketing would let you believe.

Gym

The gym is a joy here. Although the range of equipment is very limited (basic Technogym cardio machines, multi-gym, some freeweights up to 10 kg and a few kettlebells...), it is well taken care of. The true highlight is the setting: the gym has been put in a palatial room room with high, vaulted and vividly frescoed ceilings.

Spa

Other than the fitness room, the spa seems like an afterthought, consisting of a toilet with no lock; single, open shower cubicle and adjoining steam room.

It's clearly not a part of the hotel which sees much action: we even had to ask the reception to turn on the electricity.