I stay in a hotel most weeks and have stayed in lots of countries, including Italy, so this rating is based on many comparisons.

Biggest asset is the hotel's location: just yards from the main square and 3 minutes from the sea front. The hotel looks slighly odd and misshapen from the outside. However the check-in was very efficient and quick with the staff noticeably friendly and helpful.

The room was slighly small but perfectly adequate. It was contemporary and very much with a minimilist style: crisp and clean rather than cosy. The wardrobe space was limited and could have been a problem if we'd been there more than 4 days.

One big omission was the lack of a kettle to make drinks in the room. This was the first time in over 30 years I've seen a room without one. For all I know, this might be typical for Trieste but I've had a kettle elsewhere in Italy. In particular, it made waking up in the morning that much less pleasant. It felt tough to have to wait until breakfast for the first hot drink, especially when you got only one coffee then.

Breakfast was buffet style and was good and in a fairly pleasant small breakfast room. Many Brits and Americans might find it inadequate - 'full English' it wasn't - but this is typical for the continent. There was ample food, a wide choice and you could eat as much as you liked.

The outstanding aspect of this hotel was the staff. They were effiicient, invariably pleasant, friedly and helpful. I know we should be able to expect his as basic but this seemed a genuine attitude as opposed to the drilled-in training that is common elsewhere.

Location is excellent - literally yards from Piazza dell'Unita - center of Trieste. Rooms a real value, if a bit sparse for my taste. Excellent breakfast, friendly and helpful staff. Left wanting for nothing.

We stayed here for one night and found Urban Design well designed (living up to its name), conveniently central, near the grand piazza, yet set back from any noisy road. The simple modern decor is combined with very friendly, helpful service. Our room was comfortable and clean, overlooking a quiet pedestrian street and the bathroom was very good. Breakfast was excellent. The hotel, being near the sea-front, but also at the bottom of the hill of St. Giusto cathedral, was a great starting-point for walks anywhere in the city. We would stay here again.

Very central hotel, with natural parking issues for those traveling by car and a quite expensive parking service (24€). It is just nex to central Trieste square, a short walk from everything.

The rooms are good, with a nice bathroom, mininal decoration, a comfy bed.