Sina Bernini Bristol

Wonderful staff, especially delightful Chiara, ensured that our stay was utterly memorable. A fantastic central location with well appointed accommodation. Our weekend break felt a lot longer because we enjoyed our stay so much. Our guide, booked by the hotel, Federica Bruni, was warm, patient and knowledgeable.

4 rooms, 4 nights at the Sina Bernini Bristol hotel. Nice location, good size rooms and bathrooms. We stayed at a sister property in Florence and expected the same if not a better property. However, this hotel has some work cut out for it to boost my rating. Our location on the 7th floor was wonderful. That is until they had to take one of the lifts/elevators out of commission leaving only one working in the main bank of elevators... this made for a LONG wait and the stairs were not an option with 2 senior citizens. Check-in was smooth as half the rooms were ready well before check-in and the following 2 available within the hour. The issues began with the 3rd room (714) which had a leaking in the ceiling due to the A/C. The leak caused a hole in the ceiling panel which looked like it needed immediate fixing. The technician, which I was informed would be there in 20 minutes didn't show up for several hours. Issue fixed was what I was told...however, the ceiling was still dripping onto the hardwood floor when checked and no patchwork done on the ceiling hole (size of a quarter or 2Euro coin)... Thus, room was taken out of inventory and we had to move rooms. Turns out the room across the hall was also taken out of commission as the ceiling was being serviced (assuming the same issue) and something large was being replaced. The re-assigned room (710) does not get a good WiFi signal so you either have to reconnect or stand by the hall door. The side of the hotel has scaffolding (which we were informed of the construction) which only partially obstructed the view once you approached the window. The only pitfall was the construction lift (elevator) meant that the workers could see right into the room and watch you if you were sitting at the desk or on the edge of the bed. If you opt to stay here in the next month or so... just avoid any room ending in 10. The hotel does have a lovely lobby and lounge area. Plenty of seating if you need to wait for any reason or just want a place to read and relax. The rooftop restaurant/bistro/bar has some amazing views and should not be missed. The food is very good for a hotel. The only disappointment when it came to food was the breakfast. It was very sub-par for this caliber of a hotel. The make-your-own waffle station was the only truly edible item. Scrambled eggs were very runny (and I like mine wet) and the omelets were overcooked and then left to further dry out in the chaffing dish. Reminded me of a mini-frisbee. Fruit was good. Bacon and Sausage left a lot to be desired. Pastries ...pass. Coffee was weak. They did have a nice assortment of juices and even offer a gluten free selection. For an included breakfast it did have a lot to offer, but quality-wise it just did not meet the standard that this hotel is known for. The staff were all very accommodating and friendly. They went out of there way to make sure all needs were met. The staff would be one of the reasons to return after the construction and little idiosyncracies are ironed out. The issues stated should not be deal breakers, just issues that can and hopefully will be fixed. The location is wonderful as you are in walking distance to so many of the sites - Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, high-end shopping, side alley shops, Piazza Navona, etc.. The #85 bus will take you right to the Colisseum and from there a short walk to a number of other sites and neighborhoods (like Trastevere). This is an older hotel, I believe it is a former palace from back in 1874 so there are going to be some issues, but again, nothing that cannot be fixed. If you can get a discounted rate this property is worth a stay. I