B&B Monte Oliveto

I did a solo trip traveling around northern Italy earlier this month and absolutely loved this B&B. The atmosphere was very welcoming and it was much nicer than staying in a typical hotel. I stayed in the room that has a terrace and greatly enjoyed being able to sit out there with a cup of tea enjoying the evening. The breakfast was also wonderful, it's served downstairs in a group setting so you can meet the other guests if you like. I especially loved the granola and yogurt. I will definitely stay here again if I return to Florence!

My partner and myself stayed for a week long city break in Florence and my partner found this B&B. Absolutely perfect!!! If you like hotels with modern IKEA fittings, marbled bathrooms, huge walk in showers and a television hung on the wall then this is not for you. If you want a Mediterranean style house with cool tiles, window shutters, a huge cool bathroom, a private terrace, AC and fridge then this is definitely for you. It's a 20 minute walk from the train station (Florence is not a place to be getting taxis) and is situated on a wide and very quiet residential road. We can only speak for our room with the private terrace which was on the other side of the building from the street, but there was zero noise at night. The private terrace overlooks the garden and then onto woodlands - if you're there are the right time of year you get the firefly light show late at night. The house is a stones throw from the main entrance to the Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace and a 5 minute walk to get to the streets that will take you directly to the Ponte Vecchio bridge and on into the main tourist area, or along streets with good nightlife; bars and restaurants (try the Mysterium Bar for laid back trance music and easily the best cocktails - a little pricey but worth it). You are also 2 minutes walk from a bus stop that has a direct bus to Sienna which is worth a day away from Florence. The thing worth its weight in gold about this B&B though is the host, Marta. Tourist info and guide books are great but local knowledge is better and Marta will tell you all the best places that the locals go from the best ice cream to the best church (ask Marta about her favourite church which is well worth the extra 5 minutes walk uphill!!!!). Go down last for breakfast and engage with Marta and she will happily fill a map in with tips on what to do. A lovely woman; so helpful and interesting. I think my partner, a languages teacher, who is fluent in French and almost in Spanish, really enjoyed talking to Marta about the Italian language. Oh, yes, the breakfast.... that was perfect too! 1. Come to Florence for 5-7 days to get to know the city. 2. Stay at B&B Monte Oliveto and ask for the first floor with the private terrace. 3. Get the local knowledge from Marta Can't wait to visit again!

A lovely place to stay in a more local area of Florence away from the centre. The breakfast was outstanding and the room comfortable and clean. Our room opened onto the shared dining room but was not noisy at all. Marta gave us excellent suggestions for fabulous gelato, traditional Tuscan restaurants and nearby spots for aperitif (Il Santino wine bar).

Pleasant 4 day stay with quiet room with patio and delicious breakfast every morning. Great conversations with 4 or 5 guests each morning who came from different countries. Close to train station an in walking distance to popular sites. My wife and I enjoyed our stay and would recommend it who like a kind reception.

We didn't want to leave! A simply amazing residence, quiet and proximate to the city centre. Our hosts couldn't have been more accommodating. A sumptuous breakfast was served in an outdoor patio with eggs made to order. You can trust the positive reviews. A real gem.

An incredible experience! The location is perfect, close to city centre but still quiet and private. You can walk to almost everything. The rooms are very clean and nice. Breakfast was exquisite! Marta is the perfect hostess, she’s warm and welcoming and makes you feel like home. She even made us breakfast-bags to our flight home because it was so early. Magical. We would without doubt come back here again, the best B&B there is!