Sometimes you have to go beyond the star rating when you choose a hotel, that’s why we highlight in all our hotel reviews some key points like the hotel design, the offered activities, the room or the service quality… And more than ever, the Firenze Number Nine is a good example.
This official four-star property located in the city center – close to the Duomo and the train station – has no reason to envy the Firenze Four Seasons or Westin Excelsior thanks to its amazing restaurant, fitness center and a fully renovation in 2012. We spend there 6 nights for both business and leisure purposes and I highly recommend it regarding the value for money and all offered services: complimentary access to a huge fitness & spa center, internet access, breakfast and free minibar. Wow !
Living
Firenze Number Nine is a combination of traditional and recent styles ; indeed it has been designed in 2012 by Massimo Pierattelli which gives to that property a modern style and furnitures while the building is a typical Florentine palazzo. I especially love the lobby that shows the elegance of this “mix”, as well as the restaurant and its glass ceiling.
Then of course, you are not in a true five-star place so will not find all key points you are used to in a luxury hotel, like a dedicated concierge desk and communication center ; here they are both integrated in the lobby but it’s quite convenient and it worth it, don’t worry.
A great particularity of Firenze Number Nine is its partnership with The Klab, the best Florence fitness & spa center in the building next door directly accessible from the lobby for free. Once again this is surprising for a four-star property to find such a spa, mainly in Florence where even all best awarded hotels – Westin, Four Seasons – do not have.
Room
We stayed in a Smart Classic Room – 20sqm – with indirect street view. Yes it is quite small but honestly the room is very well-arranged: first the ceiling is very high – around 3,5 or 4m – giving the feeling of a large room, then the king size bed and the dressing furnitures fit perfectly in the space and finally the bathroom is super huge with its bubble bathtub and walk-in shower. Wow, I wouldn’t have imagine that the room had seemed so great!
Once again, I want also to acknowledge the work of designer Massimo Pierattelli as the room reflects totally the overall hotel architecture and spirit.
Dining
We went to La Prova Del Nove restaurant for each breakfast and I can’t complain: plenty of choices for the buffet breakfast with high quality products, both hot and cold dishes, homemade cakes and some organic yogurts. The concept of the restaurant is quite unique: cookers, waiters and butlers are all selected among the best graduates of Saffi Institute – Hotel Institute in Florence – and they can find at the Firenze Number Nine a creative laboratory where they can bring ideas and new interpretations of old dishes and local traditions to life. The property is discreet about this feature but in my view they could highlight it far more, as I am convinced it is a true opportunity for the hotel.
Level of exigency
Even if Firenze Number Nine is officially rated as a four-star hotel, it is clearly at level of a five-star regarding its service quality. We especially liked the front desk staff and its concierge, very smart and proactive helping us for each of our needs ; for instance we highly appreciated how they organize our tour to the outlet The Mall with a private car.
Gallery
Stay from 25th to 31st January 2014
The Firenze Number Nine opened in 2012 and is composed of 42 room and suites on Via dei Conti, few steps from the Duomo and the train station. We stayed in a Smart Classic room (20sqm) which standard rate is 169EUR/night.
