Even if it was unfurnished, the Hotel Cellai would have appeal, with architectural highlights like arched brick ceilings, exposed wood beams, and terra-cotta floors. Several parlors with antique furnishings make up the lobby area. In one parlor, satin, slip-covered chairs on a tapestry rug surround a fireplace. In another, seating is clustered around a black piano topped with two candelabras. The effect is elegant, but some guests may find the tassel-backed, velvet opulence to be overkill. Old, charming black-and-white prints and paintings decorate the walls throughout the hotel, and the lobby is used to exhibit local art. Breakfast is served on a wooden table under a big chandelier, and guests dine in a formal dining area with velvet-cushioned chairs. A small elevator is used for accessing higher floors, and on the roof there is a breezy garden with potted plants shaded by swags of white fabric. Iron daybeds and rattan chairs create charming seating areas in the garden for guests to take in the views of the Duomo.  

Hotel Cellai is located on a congested road used by public buses. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops nearby. The Duomo and San Lorenzo Market are around a 10-minute walk away, and the Bargello Museum and Piazza San Firenze are within a 20-minute walk. Santa Maria Novella railway is around a 10-minute walk, and the airport can be reached in less than 30 minutes via public transportation or 15 minutes by car.

Rooms at the Hotel Cellai are on the small side, but they're particularly stylish with a keen attention to design. They all have wooden floors, white bedding, and black-lacquered furniture that hints at a Hollywood Regency style. Color schemes vary by room, but dark headboards, accent pillows, and framed artwork create an elegant vibe. Rooms are equipped with writing desks, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have stand-up-showers or shower/tub combos and are outfitted with amenity kits, slippers, and hairdryers.

Hotel Cellai provides a free breakfast including items such as eggs, salami, ham, cheeses, fruit, bread, cereal, yogurt, espresso, and cappuccino. Breakfast can be served in your room for no extra fee. There’s a bar that works on the honor system in the lovely library adorned with an etched mirror, swing-arm lamps, and preppy black seats bordered in white piping. Another pleasant place to sit is the charming rooftop garden with city views. The hotel has a pool table, meeting rooms, and bicycles available for guests to borrow. Wi-Fi is free throughout.