We checked out of Hotel dei Macchiaioli this morning. The hotel is on the second floor with no elevator but the owner came down and was eager to help with out bags. She is fantastic as is Paolo and the rest of the staff.
Located about two blocks from the Duomo it is easy to walk to everything in central Florence. It is also easy to reach from the central train station.
The rooms are on the small side but are modern and kept very clean. The TV's are small but you're likely not in Florence to sit in your room. For a small hotel Hotel dei Macchiaioli has big common areas which are beautiful and well kept with incredible ceilings. Breakfast is served in a large room overlooking the street below. There are an assortment of cold cuts and cheeses, juices, cereal, hardboiled eggs and fruit. There is an automated coffee/tea/espresso machine but you can also ask for a cappuccino from their bar and they'll happily bring you one.
Both Paolo and the hotel information sheet recommended Giglio Rosso for dinner. Usually when a hotel pushes for a restaurant I'm skeptical but on the last night of our three nights in Florence we ate there. We got there early and were wondering if we had made a mistake since there were no customers. However, once the gnocchi with radicchio and gorgonzola arrived all doubts were dismissed. The place did fill up as we ate with a many locals mixed in with busloads of tourists.
Paolo also sent us to Il Cernacchino for lunch. This is the best lunch spot that we found with incredible 4 euro sandwiches, breadbowls filled with stew or meatballs, fresh lasagna and a bunch of other incredible house-made dishes. If you have restraint you can walk out full and happy for 5 euro. If you, like us, you lack any restraint you can stuff yourself for a little bit more.
We booked two nights through the hotel's website and subsequently booked one more night while we were there. Both methods yielded great prices.
Our only minor complaints were that the heating/AC units had been switched to heat only since it was November. The windows in Rooms 112 and 110 open to an interior courtyard/shaft that is shared with a restaurant ventilation hood. When opened during business hours the rooms get to smelling like a restaurant.
All in all a great staff and hotel.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.