The Westin Excelsior

We had the pleasure of staying at The Westin Excelsior in December 2015 for our wedding. The staff were accommodating. We travel with my daughters who had their own room. My youngest just turned 16 years old and they sent her fresh strawberries, brownies and Champaign (for adults). The day we married we had fresh fruit, pastries and another bottle of Champaign as a congrats! We worked with a few of their wedding coordinators/​planners who were wonderful! They understood what we wanted and needed. It was our first time in Italy and what a pleasant experience it was! They were professional, and always so HAPPY to see us all. I would love to return! This is a hands down 5 star experience!

Best place to have coffee in Florence. The terrace is fantastic. Be warned about having drinks up there in the evening, because all drinks cost a minimum of € 18 between 7 and 9 pm, different from their normal prices. The downstairs bar is very nice in winter and the prices do not go up between 7 and 9 pm.

MR says … walking distance to everything Florence
MRS says … it is indeed in a very centralized location but what else do you want in a hotel? a comfy bed. i could easily rate this 5star because everything else was great but of all the westin hotels i’ve been this by far the not so heavenly stay in terms of sleeping comfort. apparently the king size bed isn’t really king size instead it is two full beds tied together. no biggie but the two mattresses are sagging so bad. the middle part of the bed is the only area i don’t sink but i could feel the edges of the two beds. room service was fabulous. food was delicious. housekeeping can get annoying since they check the mini bar daily even if you have your «do not disturb» door hanger. they will call you to check if you’re needing toiletries/​towels. they check if you’re still alive. the MAKE A GREEN CHOICE program is only good for 3days so yeah, they have to clean your room. i have nothing against cleanliness and freshly made bed but with time zone difference, i tend to stay up late and wake up late and doesn’t want to be bothered.

You pay big money for very poor service and old, not taken care of room. They clean very badly: dusty everywhere, moldy in the bathroom. When you call for a service, they don’t pick up, then someone else does it, promise to call back and never do that. The only good think was the view to the city.

Love the hotel still but I down graded it one star because it is beginning to need a bit of a face lift and the bathroom needs some small tweaking
However the location is awesome because it is not in the middle of the tourist area but close enough for a nice a walk
The river backdrop is always a plus
But PLEASE update the hotel!!!

Fantastic SPG Property on the Arno River. Massimo the Concierge will take care of whatever you can drum up! One of the top locations in Florence, Close to Galleria Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Belvedere Tower, Duomo… all within walking distance. Valet Parking takes forever… this is not limited to this hotel, but Florence in General… Massimo took my car and «found» parking for me each night, though.

The location is excellent, right along the water and walking distance to all of the historic and notable parts of the city. The hotel also has historic beauty and charm, which if you travel also means the rooms are just ok. Nothing wrong with them, just nothing outstanding either. We had a «deluxe» room with a king bed and «rain» shower in the bathroom. The view from the room was nice with a direct frame of the cathedral. Speaking of views… a key feature is the rooftop deck restaurant/​bar, the view of Florence is outstanding stand after sunset. We had drinks/​dessert here every night we stayed. So while the rooms could use a remodel I’d stay here again, and even if I wasn’t staying here I’d try to grab a nightcap on the roof.

Hands down, the best service I’ve ever received at a hotel in my life was at The Westin Excelsior in Florence. The staff was exceptional. When we arrived to the hotel, we realized we did not have cash to give the taxi. We ran inside to ask where the nearest ATM was. The concierge, without hesitation, offered to pay it for us and just add it to our bill. Genius. Yes! I knew we were in for an amazing few days.
The front desk attendant was beyond helpful. He walked us to our room which was a dream by the way. We had champagne waiting for us with strawberries. Everyone was attentive and willing to help with anything we needed. For the rest of the stay, we were treated like royalty. I have no complaints about this hotel and I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. I can’t wait to come back again.

Rooms are stylishly decorated. Bathrooms need updating. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Andreas was very informative and helpful.

The most amazing staff I’ve had the pleasure of being a patron to. Beautiful hotel with an amazing view of the river. The rooftop bar at night is the perfect place for a late night vino.
Most of the must-​see spots in Florence are within walking distance. The cathedral at Piazza Del Duomo is stunning. I travelled by myself on this trip and said out loud to myself, «holy crap!». I hope that’s ok to say out loud. The statue of David is not far for the ladies who want to gaze at his magnificent marble hangy-​down parts.
The Central market is also close by. But back to the hotel. It’s a pleasant stay with full amenities and super friendly staff.
Ciao!

I had the pleasure of staying here recently and agree that this 5 star hotel is worthy of much more than 5 stars.
From the moment of arrival at this centrally located treasure, there was a complete sense of professionalism, calm and luxury. The doormen, concierge and check in staff efficiently exuded gentle kindness, knowledge and service. After traveling 16 hours, this was exactly what I wanted.
A friend and I shared a traditionally elegant, quiet and restorative 5^th floor room with a seating area and a large marble bath with a huge tub and separate shower. The famous heavenly beds and high thread count linens were just what you would expect here offering superior comfort and relaxation. The room included a huge terrace overlooking the River Arno, this view was a beautiful reminder of my unabashed love of Italy.
The daily breakfast buffet was also excellent, quite large with prepared dishes and fresh to order selections for many tastes and desires. The service was outstanding and I especially appreciated the steamed greens, sautéed zucchini and olive oil broccoli at breakfast.
I used the gym every day which was very clean and modern with newer machines and mostly empty, which I loved. I also loved its easy 24hr room-​key access, jet lag can be a funny thing. I didn’t notice a pool anywhere but didn’t ask.
Each concierge had a different spin on recommendations and all were knowledgeable, connected and seemingly tireless.
With all of this perfection, there is still one thing that must not be missed at this particular Westin, if you happen to stay off-​site, and that is the roof-​top restaurant Sesto-​especially at sunset. A complete departure from the traditional Florentine building housing the hotel, this all glass modern addition boasts an almost 360 degree view of Florence and the food was undoubtably some of the best I have ever tasted. The first night we tried the chefs menu consisting of vegetarian and fish selections, and every bite was a flavor filled journey. The monkfish cheeks were especially outstanding, incredibly tender and heavenly.
The head chef is a young woman bursting with talent, creativity and obvious knowledge of her craft way beyond her years. She created the menu and it was fresh, unique and completely unlike anything I have ever experienced in any city. Ten stars.
If you want to indulge in the ever-​popular, Florentine style
big steak on a plate, there are many, many good places nearby to experience that. (and they probably do serve it at Sesto, I was too busy with our plates to notice)
However, if you are seeking incredibly fresh, deliciously savory and memorable dishes, atmosphere and service, this just might be your place.

We stayed in April for 3 days and the hotel is amazing… The Concierge team is just top notch, they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable before and during our stay… The location is superb, walking distance to everything… Will stay again for sure

Beautiful place right on the river in Florence. I had drinks on the rooftop bar which was classy, had great cocktails, and offered breath-​taking views of the city.
Highly recommended.

The best service I experienced in Europe during our trip traveling in Italy and France.
Warm, friendly, tireless help and attention.
The front management was so amazing-​especially Francesca-​that we decided to stay there just for the attention and welcome we received.
The room was impeccable, the bathroom had a huge tub (two of us fit in it…) and shower,
the room was gorgeous, decorated reflecting the historical values of the hotel.
We had such an amazing sleep, that we overslept the breakfast (not happy… since we heard it is tremendous) woke up at 12 noon, asking for an extension on check out.
The location cannot be better, do not loo further!

I was very impressed with the service, décor, dining, and overall experience of this hotel. It definitely lives up to its 5 star status without the insane pricetag. Our room was newly renovated and had the perfect combination of classic Florentine style with a modern twist. Everything was impeccably clean and beautiful, especially the stunning marble bathroom. The service was fast, friendly and went above and beyond expectations. They have an amazing buffet breakfast that features American dishes, Italian and French pastries and some fresh italian hot foods like potatoes, spinach and broccoli in olive oil.
The roof top restaurant and bar offers a 270 degree view of the city and has a lovely aperitivo layout. Try one of the SuperFoods cocktails! They are inventive and delicious. They have a lounge area where the light snacks are served which include mussels, salami, sundried tomatoes, and cheeses. Spend an evening at sunset there.
That being said, the hotel is away from the bustle of the city center but only a 10 minute walk from the major sites and a 5 minute walk from the shopping. I will definitely stay at this lovely, well priced hotel again.

One of the best hotel experiences in Florence to be had. Reception is welcoming and easy. Our room was over sized with large windows and provided beautiful views of the Arno river with amenities that surpassed most European hotels.

located a short hop skip from the main train station in florence, staying at this hotel was quite the experience…
as soon as we checked in, they informed us that there was a mistake in our reservation and with no questions asked, gave us the proper room that i needed, with just a small increase in my original room rate. all the staff… from the concierge, to the front desk, to the housekeeping, to the people in the restaurant downstairs… were all very very kind.
as for the room we had… amazing…like how i wanted ALL my rooms during my vacation to be… large room, furnished «plushly», with über high ceilings to boot… amazing room and easily one of the nicer hotel rooms ive stayed in (outside of Vegas of course)
one of the best things about the hotel was where it was located… literally a block or 2 away from everything there is to see in florence AND being that it was located right along the river, there was never a point in time where we got lost looking for our hotel…
a bit pricey BUT would definitely recommend AND will definitely be back to stay there as well…

My wife and I stay here when ever we are in Florence, one of my (our) best hotel experiences at this hotel. Our last stay could not have been better. Up-​graded to their premium-​deluxe rooms, floor to celling french doors, 2 balconies, huge bathroom. Fantastic and very prompt staff (something that truly separates this hotel from others in Italy)
More review and pictures to follow, but as side note add the breakfast to your room ours was free but its is totally worth it. Have it delivered to your room relax and enjoy the morning. (oh and order everything!)

This review is for the roof top bar only. I did not stay here. We came here on a Saturday night and were able to find a table for our party of 3 fairly quickly. They have aportivo here which is a sampling of meats, breads, and cheeses for your enjoyment with a drink purchase. The selection was quality and refilled fairly often once it got low.
That said, the drinks were pricey and there were lots of foreigners here. My Long Island Iced Tea was $ 16 euro. The views from the roof are worth it though. You can see most of Florence unabated and at night it was gorgeous. We spent some time there and enjoyed the ambiance and conversation.
The service was perfect as it was not overbearing but attention was paid to us. Dress nicely and check out the bathrooms if you come up to the rooftop bar!

Since my experience at AC hotel (part of Marriott) in Florence was so so, I decided to move somewhere in the middle of the city and fancier so that extended stay in Florence could be more enjoyable. :p
I noticed they pre-​upgraded the room to one of their river facing premier rooms before my arrival. My room had two large windows (ceilings to floor) where you can get to a nice sized balcony facing to the Arno river. The sunset was awesome, and the reflection of those buildings from Middle Ages on the river was really amazing.
The room had high ceilings which made the room even larger. The bathroom was huge as well.
The location was perfect — pretty much all the sightseeing spots, restaurants, café, wine bars, and shops were within walking distance. All the hotel staff I encountered were very friendly and helpful. A couple of concierge folks gave me very good tips about where to go.
Very enjoyable stay and would absolutely stay again.