I stayed in the 4-bed female dormitory and absolutely loved it. The room is super spacious with high ceilings, and unlike other hostels, the beds are independent—no bunk beds—so you don’t have anyone above or below you. The beds are also nicely spaced out, which gives you more privacy and comfort. The location is excellent—close to everything you need. However, it can be quite hard to find since there’s no big sign and it’s located on the second floor with a fair number of stairs. I recommend asking the hostel for a photo of the entrance ahead of time, especially if you’re arriving late at night. That said, the staff was incredibly kind. One of them even helped me carry my huge luggage up the stairs, which I really appreciated. All in all, a cozy, quiet place I’d definitely recommend!

One of the best hostels I've stayed in all my life. Walking distance from the train station. A two-minute walk from the central market (where you can have a decent, quick lunch). Just around the corner from the Basilica di San Lorenzo, and a 5-minute walk to the Duomo. The bedroom is large, with a powerful AC (during the summer, it was a lifesaver), comfortable beds (actual beds, not bunker ones), and decently spaced apart from each other. They clean the room every day and even make your bed. In the common area, a shared kitchenette is available where you can enjoy complimentary espresso. But the highlight of Emerald Palace is its staff. From the manager to the cleaning lady, everyone goes the extra mile to make your stay pleasant and memorable, with a special mention to the sweetheart Enis, who will wholehearted grab a map and explain step by step your daily itinerary, from where you can get the best Gelato of your life, to at what time you must be at the Piazzale Michelangelo to grant the best spot to watch the breathtaking and frame-worthy sunset. I will definitely stay there again when I visit Florence.

The shower cabin could have a basket to hang shampoo, soap, etc, while we shower.

The location is good. I like the view from the room. And the room is really big. You have a common room where you can cook and eat your meals or drink free coffee/tea. The people are really nice and helped make my stay enjoyable. The location is quite nice. It's very near the Mercato Centrale, Sta Maria Novella train station and the Duomo.

It's not what I don't like but just a fair warning to people, city tax needs to be paid in cash, so make sure to bring some. And the wifi doesn't in the rooms are bad. It was difficult to get wifi signal sometimes. Guess it means no doom scrolling late into the night.

Staff were so friendly and helpful. They had a spare bed in a female dorm and offered to switch me from a mixed to a female dorm which was so nice! They have single beds which are much nicer than bunk beds too! Lots of room in the shared room, and good amount of storage space for each persons private locker in the room. Good set up with one power socket each and shared bathroom. Rooms and bathroom cleaned daily so bathroom is clean and hygienic to wash in (it can’t always be said for shared bathrooms!!) Great location right outside the leather market and other attractions

Nothing

It's a hostel that feels more like a boutique hotel: spotlessly clean, stylish, and thoughtfully designed. The rooms have powerful AC, comfy beds with crisp linens, and everything feels brand‑new and perfectly equipped, from hairdryers to lockers and beautiful shared spaces. It also gives the vibe of Florence's culture and history. The location? Absolutely unbeatable, close to everything, with a breathtaking view that makes mornings feel magical. And the best part? It’s surprisingly affordable, so you get that luxury vibe without the luxury price. A real dream stay for women who want safety, beauty, and comfort, without sacrificing budget.

This was our only dorm experience throughout our 18 days in Italy to experience different accomodation types. Loving the privacy & safety of our all female dorm. Centrality of the location (next to market) & the shared facilities were GREAT! 👍 Enis provided amazing customer service upon check in, with recommendations of where to go for food, attractions & transport (how to) 😃 Made my stay most enjoyable! 😍

There was another colleague who was less service oriented. Louder, more brash, who condescendingly told me our food was cleared from the fridge because it was past the checkout time 😅 Would've been different if he spoke nicely or offered a compensation for our thrown out food. We'd checked out & left drinks & food for lunch before catching our train to Siena.

Staying at this hostel has truly been one of the best experiences I've had when it comes to hospitality. The level of service here goes above and beyond, every single member of the team puts so much care into making guests feel at home. A special shoutout to Matteo, who was incredibly sweet, helpful, and genuinely accommodating. You can really tell they love what they do. The place itself is clean, thoughtfully maintained, and has a great energy. The shared spaces are ideal for remote work, quiet, comfortable, and with good vibes all around. Definitely coming back.

- Amazing hostel for location! The view from my room was INSANE. Everyday i'd wake up, and go to sleep and in a short walk from my bed i'd see the Duomo. - It was super hot outside but the hostel was pretty cool inside and provided nice respite from the heat. - I liked the kitchen, the common area and the outdoor terrace which was very peaceful at night. - Rooms are reasonably comfortable, I like the single beds vs a bunk bed. - I'm not writing this as a negative but you're literally above one of the most walked streets, it's kinda noisy but I mean you're literally in the centre of Florence! it didn't keep me awake, tbh I thought it was prettty cool. But you should be aware, it's not a quiet room:)

- Honestly, the shower mat sucks. If they could improve one thing, it would better shower mats because they don't take much to be completely sodden.

The rooms are quite spacious, the facilities in the room were nice as well.

The door of my room was tricky and hard to open

This was my very first time staying at a hostel. Despite 6 people in one room, privacy was still provided (3 beds on each floor and fabric partitions between each bed). Very clean and calm for a hostel! Emerald Palace staff are 24/7 very polite and helpful! The location is in the very center of Florence in a beautiful place next to the Medici Chapel! Nearby is the central market with many cafes for every taste and budget. I got to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in literally three minutes! I think, this is an ideal location for a traveler because everything is literally within walking distance.

Since this is a hostel, different people live there and you have to compromise. For example, the neighbor from the lower floor was sick and closed the window when it was +20°C outside, which made it stuffy! But in case of possible problems, the staff will always help - just ask! Just keep in mind that other people can prevent you from sleeping at night - take earplugs and eye masks if you have problems with sleep. The sound insulation is very poor - you literally can hear everything. Also bring slippers with you so you can visit the bathroom without any problems. If possible, avoid occupying the top floor, because there are very steep steps and the windows can only be opened from the ground floor.