Review: Hotel kraft, florence, italy

On our family trip to Florence at the end of November 2025, we stayed at Hotel Kraft, located at Via Solferino 2 in the “Centro Storico”, a quieter, more residential pocket of the historic centre. It offered the perfect balance of calm surroundings and walkable access to the city’s main attractions. The Arno river was just a few minutes away, the Ponte Vecchio was an easy 15 minute stroll, and it was also around 15 minutes from Santa Maria Novella train station, which was incredibly handy as we took the train to Pisa one day. For families or travellers planning day trips, this proximity to the station is a real bonus.
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​A Tale of Two Interiors

The hotel’s lobby is really lovely,  modern, polished, and very welcoming. My eldest loved the art on display and the furnishing was very sumptuous.

However, once you head beyond reception, and along the ground-floor corridor where our room was located, the décor felt noticeably more tired and in need of a refresh. It didn’t affect our stay, but the contrast between the chic lobby and the older guest area is quite clear. I didn't visit the other guest floors to compare but the restaurant and bar were similarly as stylish as the lobby. The rooms themselves looked quite similar to what you see on the website images. 

The stylish lobby

Our room for four

We had booked a Quad room and were expecting a larger size room with four beds, but were pleasantly surprised to actually have two spaces: two single beds in a lounge area as you entered the room and a double up some steps and through a door in a separate space.  With separate sleeping areas, everyone had enough space to relax and sleep (and the girls didn't have to listen to Husband's snoring all night) plus a bit of privacy which is good when travelling with teens. ​

A helpful bonus: there were TVs in both rooms, and the kids were able to sign into Netflix on the TV meaning they managed to keep up with the Season 5 release of Stranger Things, which conveniently coincided with our weekend away! We didn’t spend much time in the rooms, but it was a fun treat for them and kept everyone happy.

The suite had just one bathroom, with a big walk in shower (no bath). This worked ok for us as we were only staying for 4 nights, but you can book a Family room which has two bathrooms so that may be better for linger stays.

The only thing to note is the presence of a some steep tiled steps inside the room to reach the bathroom and the double bedroom, which were ok for our family but could be a hazard for much younger children. (Ok, I admit I nearly stacked it down them on one occasion.)

​As it was the end of November, Florence was already quite cool at about 12 degrees during the day and cold at night. We were super lucky to have sunshine all weekend but you definitely needed thick coats, gloves and scarves - esspecially when venturing out in the evenings. Our room was very chilly, and while there was a wall mounted heater, it was so loud that keeping it on overnight wasn’t realistic. Thankfully, the beds were  comfortable but quieter heating would make winter stays more comfortable. If you stay in winter take some slippers to combat the cold tiled floors!

A Quad room - and yes, those stairs!

The Rooftop Pool and View… 

One of Hotel Kraft’s standout features is its heated rooftop pool, a rare treat for a centrally located Florence hotel. Although the water was a bit too cold for the kids in late November, they did have a couple of dip albeit very short ones! It would be fine if you were swimming laps and building up some body heat. 

But the true highlight is the panoramic view,  a sweeping, spectacular look across Florence with the Duomo rising proudly above the rooftops. It’s absolutely breathtaking as you can see in the photo! Looking the opposite way you can see the Arno river.

The amazing view from the rooftop pool

​Breakfast & Dining: Exploring Florence Instead

The hotel offers breakfast, but at €20 per person, we chose to skip it. Part of the joy of visiting a city is stepping out each morning and grabbing a fresh pastry and coffee from one of the many local bakeries for just a couple of euros. And, not surprisingly, my youngest had pizza for breakfast every day which was available on every corner! Husband did head up to the restaurant each morning for a quiet coffee overlooking the city while the rest of us got ready. 

We didn’t dine in the hotel restaurant in the evenings either as we wanted to explore the city’s incredible food scene. We did stop for drinks in the hotel bar, and once again the staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, offering warm service.

Filled croissants at a local bakery

​Outstanding Staff: The Heart of the Hotel

​If there’s one thing we cannot praise enough, it’s the hotel staff. Every interaction was warm, helpful, and genuinely kind. Nothing was too much trouble, and their hospitality made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. 

Cocktails in the hotel bar

​Final Thoughts

Despite  the chilly room and the noisy heater, we really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Kraft. The excellent location, the spacious room, the unforgettable rooftop views, and the wonderful staff, made it a fantastic base for our Florence trip.

Would we stay again? Absolutely, especially during warmer months when the rooftop pool and terrace would be at their best. For families wanting a quieter corner of the city that’s still central, and within walking distance of both major sights and the main train station, Hotel Kraft is a great choice.

Us in the lobby!

The view of the Arno river from the roof terrace