This is a tough review for me. The people at this hotel were 5 stars easily. The owner, a New Zealander was exceptionally nice and very very helpful. She spent time with us to show us on the map places of interest etc. Her husband (we are assuming here) was equally nice offering my wife second cups of cappuccino for breakfast. All the cleaning staff and the front desk reception were all outstanding.

We selected this hotel on the TA reviews alone, and I think people have reviewed this hotel at 4.5 because of the service and location. This hotel is smack bang in the heart of the city. As you walk out of the hotel in the morning the first view is the duomo and what a view. Beautiful beyond words. SO the location is amazing.

The hotel is nice, please don't get me wrong, but I was disappointed in a couple of things. 1. The Hotel is kind of in the centre of the building, so the entrance is up a lift, and in winter the entrance is cold and kind of uninviting. A small sacrifice but considering the location.....still it is a downside.
2. The breakfast room is very small and cramped, so if there are a lot of guests then there is a wait. The breakfast itself is OK. Toast, cereal, boiled egg, yoghurt (but not that cold which annoys me given it is a milk product).....but a cappuccino freshly made and outstanding service. 3. and this is the killer for me and why this hotel did not rate 4 stars.....the shower is woeful. The space inside....how to explain......you know what it is like when you move left or right and the razor crashes to the ground and the two parts separate and you have to somehow bend down and pick them up.....over ad over. then this is the space! Also and this is the worst....the pressure was one step up from steam! OK I'm exaggerating, but it is the type of pressure that has you yelling out to your wife.....man this shower is cr#p!

Now I don't know if it is because the building is so old that the pipes cant take it, or that they put restrictors in the pipes to save water, but it is crazy, because I spend 3X the amount of time to have a decent shower and it takes ages to wash out shampoo and conditioner! And it cheeses off the customer, so if it is done on purpose to save water, it aint working with me!

4. The room s tiled and in the morning regardless of the A/C, the floor is cold. If you have tiles, you also need a rug!

I know I have had a whinge, but real feedback is important. Service 5 stars, hotel room 3.5.

So far this has been out least favourite room, but it was clean, the bath towels were more like bath sheets which was a big plus ad they changed the linen after the 2nd of our 4 day stay which was terrific and these guys the only hotel that has done this for us. So a couple of big pluses there.

Would I stay here again........ yes for the service, no for the woeful shower.

But thanks for the fantastic service.

Pros: Service, staff, breakfast, value and location
Cons: Showerhead is weak; hard beds

Hotel Perseo is wonderful. The staff is so very helpful. They booked our reservations to Uffizi and Accademia at the dates we wanted; provided fantastic restaurant recommendations (where few tourists go to and at a decent price); made food recommendations when asked; and helped us get tickets to a Fiorentina soccer game.

The breakfasts are also very much needed (and we missed them on later parts of the trip) because they provide you with a good base to start your days in Firenze! The rooms are quite spacious as well with a BBC and free but at times spotty WIFI.

Two minor complaints: I found the beds rather hard and the water pressure for the shower a little weak. The latter may have more to do with Florence than the hotel.

Highly recommended and great value.

Travelling around Italy I stayed in 3-4 hotels all at a similar price point. This one was definitely the nicest - spacious rooms, spotlessly clean, comfortable bed, reliable wi-fi. By no means a luxury hotel, but very pleasant indeed and excellent value for money. Location was very good - close the Duomo, local shops, rail station and nice restuarants. The staff were very helpful - gave patient and thoughtful advice where to eat etc, and when the elevator broke down were very good about carrying my luggage up and down stairs. I will happily stay here again next time I am in Florence.

I was two nights before a month ago and it was great!!! The location is perfect- right in the center, near the Duomo.The staff were very very nice! The food was good, the room was clean and it was quiet and comfortable :)