These are the very best boutique and luxury hotels in Bologna, Italy
Where to stay after indulging in all the tagliatelle al ragu and Parmigiano Reggiano.
While Venice has its famed canals, and Rome is jam-packed full of historic cultural highlights, beautiful Bologna is an underrated gem of city just waiting to be discovered. From the iconic porticoes that line the streets to the famed cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region, of which it is the capital, visitors here will never be short of new things to discover and taste. Be sure to stay at on of the best boutique and luxury hotels in Bologna, Italy while you take it all in.
You may also be interested in the fantastic Tastes and Traditions of Bologna Food Tour with Market Visit that we joined.
The very best boutique hotels in Bologna, Italy
1. Elizabeth Lifestyle Hotel
At the Elizabeth Lifestyle Hotel, guests witness the marriage of traditional Bologna with its modern-day artistic persona at the cusp of rebellion. Every corner and room of the property, located close to the fairgrounds, screams vibrancy through contemporary art exhibits from Galleria l’Affiche, curated furniture, elegant arrangements, minimalistic branding, and bursts of bright shades.
The 51 rooms at the hotel are a mix of junior suites, deluxe rooms, and standard accommodations, awash with boutique features like the La Bottega-designed bathroom line and fragrance by Laura Tonatto. At the same time, free WiFi, air-conditioning, flatscreen TV, and coffee machine with pods sweeten the luxury quotient several notches.
The hotel’s bar is a quaint little spot for a sundowner, while guests can also savour breakfast on-site every morning before heading out to explore the city’s many marvels.
Find out more about Elizabeth Lifestyle Hotel
2. The Social Hub Bologna
The Social Hub Bologna defines the changing nature of the tourism industry wherein hotels have become playgrounds to simultaneously rest, work, and mingle. The young and energetic atmosphere of the complex near the central train station results from its versatile nature as a hotel, student accommodation, co-working outlet, culinary destination, and networking space.
Offering short-term and yearly stays, The Social Hub gives traditionally dull and boxy student rooms a makeover using functional furniture, en-suites, and a hint of colour. On the other hand, the hotel rooms push the design features further, like the round bed in the Playroom, comfy lounge chairs, and a private kitchenette in the Deluxe Studio.
If you like to mix business with pleasure, The Social Hub covers you via its various office space and co-working plans. However, we love their common areas conceptualised by Rizoma Architetture. Spacious, multicoloured, and ideal for socialising, there’s everything here, from a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, and fitness centre to our favourite, the transparent hanging pod chairs by the window.
Learn more about The Social Hub Bologna
3. Phi Hotel Bologna, Al Cappello Rosso
A holiday at the Phi Hotel Bologna is a chance to immerse yourself in the city’s history. Started in 1375 as a tavern, Phi is arguably the oldest hotel in Bologna today. While the residence changed hands over the centuries and underwent restoration in 2001, it has managed to retain elements of its past that give the space an alluring character.
Centrally located close to Piazza Maggiore, the abode is intimately quirky with its 33 rooms. The interiors articulate the more imaginative side of Bologna through moody colour schemes, accent walls, conversation-starting showpieces, and an array of pop art. Although amenities such as a mini-bar, free WiFi, television, and air conditioner ensure the rooms aren’t devoid of creature comforts.
Gourmands planning a stay will find the in-house Osteria Del Cappello Restaurant convenient and remarkably authentic. Plan a meal here to relish home-style local recipes served with a touch of fine dining in a casual setting.
Find out more about Phi Hotel Bologna, Al Cappello Rosso
4. Almarossa
While the exposed red brick facade of Almarossa gels splendidly with the early 20th-century architecture of the neighbourhood, the hotel always surprises first-time visitors with its modernist approach to decor.
This pet-friendly accommodation has no shortage of original features, mind you. Still, the rooms at Almarossa, from singles to long-stay apartments, display a sleek look with homely interiors accentuated by designer components like brightly coloured headboards and contrasting kitchenette counters. Interspersed between the furnishings are niceties ranging from WiFi and climate control to extra-large showers, towel warmers, refrigerators, and multi-drinks dispensers.
Walking distance from the university, Central Station, the Palazzo Re Enzo, and the city’s old district, Almarossa is one of the best boutique hotels in Bologna, perfect for a business, romantic, or family stay.
Learn more about Almarossa
5. Grand Hotel Majestic
Fashionably vintage, the 106-room Grand Hotel Majestic invites guests to experience a historical Italian sojourn with a traditional soul. Built in the early 18th century by architect Alfonso Torregiani on the instructions of Cardinal Prospero Lambertini, this is among the oldest hotels in Bologna, famously positioned over a Roman road, visible inside the building.
The rooms and suites bask in the glory of ancient opulence, brimming with antiquities, silk furnishings, Murano glass chandeliers, mosaics, and royal colour schemes of gold and beige. Also worth noticing is the spaciousness of the abodes, allowing a comfortably spread-out living arrangement. Our favourite among an array of room choices is the Art Deco Terrace suite with a private lift, fireplace, bar counter, and fantastic city views from its 5th-floor location.
Dining at the Grand Hotel Majestic is an equally spectacular event. Cafe Marinetti constructs an informal scene, ideal for an afternoon coffee and cake. However, the culinary highlight of the visit is a meal at the exquisite l Carracci restaurant, famous for its frescoed ceiling, age-old wine cellar, and contemporary take on Emilia-Romagna cuisine.
Find out more about Grand Hotel Majestic
6. UNAHOTELS Bologna Centro
Polished with a heavy dose of in-vogue minimalistic design is how best to describe the conveniently situated UNAHOTELS Bologna Centro. A few steps from the Central Station, the stylish hotel with a glass frontage stands out amongst the historic constructions of the city. Nevertheless, it ticks all the necessary boxes for an enjoyable stay – buffet breakfast, large rooms, free WiFi, and friendly service.
The 93 double rooms and six apartments at UNAHOTELS follow a chic decor pattern with singular tones of either red, yellow, brown, or blue, adding a pop of vibrance to otherwise muted backgrounds. In-room amenities include a desk, satellite TV, en-suite, air-conditioning, and a safe.
The standout element at the hotel is the attention to detail throughout the property, but especially the added room features that place UNAHOTELS among the best boutique hotels in Bologna. For instance, you can opt for personal gym equipment in the Executive room instead of a third extra bed.
Find out more about UNAHOTELS Bologna Centro
7. Hotel Corona d’Oro
Once a residence of the Azzoguidi family, the origin of Hotel Corona d’Oro dates back to the 13th century. Over time, it has undergone several restorations, each adding a distinct aspect to the building’s character, from the Madonna con Bambino fresco in the 15th century to the Liberty-style Hall refurbishment during the 20th century.
As a result, the ambience throughout Hotel Corona d’Oro reflects the luxury of the past. The 40 rooms comprise wooden floors, large drapes hiding windows looking over the old city and the “two towers”, plush furniture, and large en-suites. Simultaneously, air-conditioning, 32″ TVs, and a digital newsstand bring a hint of modernity to the abodes.
Hotel Corona d’Oro’s in-house Casa Azzoguidi restaurant is a relatively new feature, having opened in 2021. However, its housing in a 14th-century building, along with a menu featuring traditional Bolognese food, gives it an essence of authenticity that blends remarkably well with the hotel’s theme.
Find out more about Hotel Corona d’Oro
8. Aemilia Hotel Bologna
With its recent refurbishment integrating quintessential modern services and design, Aemilia Hotel Bologna has quickly transformed into one of Bologna’s best tourist and business hotels. Situated near Sant’Orsola Hospital, it’s close to the central attractions yet distant enough to put you in a peaceful city neighbourhood.
The hotel’s new look emphasises contemporary design, uplifting the decor from standard business-like to more in tune with the fashionable travel crowd. Technology and healthy living take precedence, with the Amelia guaranteeing fresh air every 36 minutes, blackout curtains, WiFi with speeds of 1000 Mbps, 49″ TVs with streaming services, Nespresso machines, and backlit mirrors in bathrooms as standard in all its 124 rooms.
The hotel’s Gurmè Restaurant is a buzzing space with a bar, summertime Terrance, serving classic Italian cuisine. However, the one underrated feature of the hotel is its rooftop solarium and jacuzzi, an idyllic spot to enjoy the luxuries of life complemented by panoramic Bologna vistas.
Learn more about Aemilia Hotel Bologna
9. Albergo Rossini 1936
Albergo Rossini 1936 is brimming with pleasant contradictions compared to some of the best boutique hotels in Bologna. First, it denounces being called a hotel, preferring to label itself as a “house.” Then, it proceeds to devise an intimate hideaway in the city’s heart using 20th-century art, a fireplace, and a welcoming lounge in the lobby.
The rooms at this alluring residence follow the trend, mixing and matching diverse ideas that somehow magically work. The Superior room, for example, has original wooden beams contrasting a sparkling chandelier. The Loft is a pretty straightforward abode made all the more special by the skylight over the bed. The suites exhibit clean designs with extravagant attributes like an in-room king-size jacuzzi and Bisazza mosaics in the bathrooms.
Rossini Cafe is the Albergo Rossini 1936’s quaint little culinary hotspot in an 18th-century room. Come here for your morning breakfast and then return to enjoy a soothing cocktail before bedtime.
Learn more about Albergo Rossini 1936
10. Art Hotel Commercianti
You simply cannot help but appreciate the gloriousness of a stay in Bologna that puts you alongside the mesmerising Gothic stained-windows of the Basilica of San Petronio. Art Hotel Commercianti does precisely that while hosting guests in a thoughtfully curated, newly furnished residence centred around original features.
The rooms at the Art Hotel take inspiration from its moniker: bright, colourful, eclectic, bohemian even, it is eventually the juxtaposition of the current with 12th-century classic elements like wooden beams that give these spaces an atmospheric quality. Although in-room amenities such as TV, desk with lamp, shower, air-conditioning, room service, and free WiFi are standard, we recommend picking a bedroom with a terrace for extra indulgence.
A pet-friendly boutique property in Bologna, Art Hotel Commercianti offers a series of services to enhance your holiday. Be it the paid private parking, free bike rentals, EV charging station, or the complimentary buffet breakfast, this is Bolgnese living at its creative best.
Learn more about Art Hotel Commercianti
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